What They Fought for
What They Fought For Book Review
Did the south have the right to popular sovereignty or were they being inhumane and infringing upon the North’s Industry? During the civil war the south were fighting an Invading force. In their minds the Union was a tyranny, one very much like they faced in the revolution. England had ruled over them for many years, setting the rules and dictating what was right and what was wrong. The south was not going to allow another tranny to take over them, especially after they had spent so much time and effort in fighting against England. â€All the hope and confidence of the world in capacity of men for self-government will be lost… and perhaps be followed by a long night of tyranny (30).†It was this perception the south had and they genuinely thought that they were right to defend their nation against an invading force. That it was their god given right to choose to have slaves and they did not see how it affected the north. Now the north did not look at it as affecting them besides the fact it jeopardized their economy and that it was inhumane to have slaves in chains and bondage. The Inhumanity of the South though the Union blamed more on “ignorance and backwardness†more so than out right inhumane treat meant of the slaves. Though Slaves were at the time considered private property to the Individual owner, and with label of property is what enraged the south so much when the North wanted to take it away, in a sense taking away what they rightfully own. The South’s entire economy was supported by slave labor; they felt that if slavery were to be taken away that they would have a rapid decline in production. “We can only live & exists by that species of labor: and hence I am willing to continue to fight to the last (48).†The south would have preferred to live as “Dual heirs of the Revolution,†but the north refused to allow any states to succeed the Republic because “once admit that a state can secede at will,
Did the south have the right to popular sovereignty or were they being inhumane and infringing upon the North’s Industry? During the civil war the south were fighting an Invading force. In their minds the Union was a tyranny, one very much like they faced in the revolution. England had ruled over them for many years, setting the rules and dictating what was right and what was wrong. The south was not going to allow another tranny to take over them, especially after they had spent so much time and effort in fighting against England. â€All the hope and confidence of the world in capacity of men for self-government will be lost… and perhaps be followed by a long night of tyranny (30).†It was this perception the south had and they genuinely thought that they were right to defend their nation against an invading force. That it was their god given right to choose to have slaves and they did not see how it affected the north. Now the north did not look at it as affecting them besides the fact it jeopardized their economy and that it was inhumane to have slaves in chains and bondage. The Inhumanity of the South though the Union blamed more on “ignorance and backwardness†more so than out right inhumane treat meant of the slaves. Though Slaves were at the time considered private property to the Individual owner, and with label of property is what enraged the south so much when the North wanted to take it away, in a sense taking away what they rightfully own. The South’s entire economy was supported by slave labor; they felt that if slavery were to be taken away that they would have a rapid decline in production. “We can only live & exists by that species of labor: and hence I am willing to continue to fight to the last (48).†The south would have preferred to live as “Dual heirs of the Revolution,†but the north refused to allow any states to succeed the Republic because “once admit that a state can secede at will,
Cited: McPherson, James M.. What they fought for 1861-1865. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 1st anchor books, 1995. www.anchorbooks.com