Compare And Contrast The Motives Of The Civil War

The Civil War, fought from 1861 to 1865, is often remembered as a noble fight to end slavery. While it s true that slavery was a central issue, the history of the Civil War is more complex than it may seem. Both North and South had their own motives and actions that were not always honorable. By examining the aspects of the Civil War, particularly focusing on the North, we can gain a more nuanced understanding of this pivotal period in American history.

Firstly, it's essential to recognize that the North's primary aim at the beginning of the war was not to abolish slavery but to preserve the Union. Abraham Lincoln himself stated in 1862 If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it. The emancipation proclaimation, which declared the freedom of slaves in the confederacy, was issued in 1863, two years later into the war. It was as much a strategic move to weaken the south as it was a moral stance against slavery. Therefore, the North's commitment to ending slavery was not as clear-cut from the beginning as sometimes portrayed.
General William Tecumseh Sherman's famous "March to the Sea" in 1864 is a prime example. His troops moved from Atlanta to Savannah, destroying railroads, factories and civilian property along the way. Sherman believed in total war, a strategy aimed at destroying the South's ability to sustain its war effort. This approach caused significant suffering for civilians, both black and white, plundering, robbing, murdering, burning, destroying and raping everyone and everything that stood in the way of his army, and left a legacy of bitterness and devastation in the