To what extent was the American Civil War a conflict about...

To what extent was the American Civil War a conflict about the rights and wrongs of slavery The American Civil War was an intense, violent war fought within one of the most powerful countries in the world. The reasons for the outbreak of this war are varied. From the formation of America to 1860, the people in this country were divided. This division was a result of location and personal sentiments. Peace could not continue in a country filled with quarrels that affected the common American. There is a common misconception that the American Civil War was fought only over slavery, when in fact there were several other reasons for why the War Between the States was fought. One cannot deny that issues over the rights and wrongs of slavery†¦show more content†¦Lincoln believed slavery was wrong but necessary. During the Lincoln-Douglas debates he stated, I am not, nor ever have been, in favour of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races. I am not, nor have ever been, in favour of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, he added, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior and I as much as any other man is in favour of having the superior position assigned to the white race. Before the War Between the States Lincoln left the option open for the South to return and just as he had stated in the elections he told the South he would not free any slaves. Lincoln later said that he would do whatever it takes to win the war. In a letter dated August 22, 1862, he wrote, My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it. To him this included breaking the Constitution for wartime benefit which left many unhappy and felt that they could not trust Lincoln. Again,Show MoreRelatedThe Civil War Was Fought Over African American Freedom1331 Words   |  6 Pagesquestioned what was the cause of the civil war. Till this day there has not been a straightforward answer, but many people still have different views and beliefs on what caused it. Many people believe that political issues or even taxation was the cause of the civil war. However, it was rea lly over slavery. This essay will go over the civil war and explain why slavery caused the southerners and northerners to fight in the civil war. To what extent was the Civil War fought over African American freedomRead MoreSlavery And The Civil War1641 Words   |  7 PagesThe American civil war was in no doubt the most crucial event in history. No other war compares or even comes close to the casualties suffered. It helped conserve and maintain the Union, drastically changed the relationship between the federal and states government, and led to slavery’s abolition. This war has also stirred up many conflicts until this day about the conflicts and causes. Among the countless and even undiscovered questions comes the most common as being why the Southern states wereRead MoreThe Fate of Their Country Essay1081 Words   |  5 Pagesthe most direct causes of the American Civil War, he contends in the preface, one must look at the actions of governmental officeholders in the decades before that horrific conflict. Professor Michael F Holt needs no introduction among historians. 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It’s hard to find a clearRead MoreEssay On Cause Of Civil War2356 Words   |  10 Pagesï » ¿Ã¢â‚¬Å"Slavery cause the Civil War† Jeffrey W. Crawford Instructor: Dr. Peter Skirbunt Course: History 1301 College: Central Texas College Did slavery cause the Civil War? While slavery was not the only cause for the South to secede and take up arms against the United States, it was the central motivation for the Civil War. While many still debate the ultimate causes of the Civil War, Pulitzer Prize-winning author James McPherson writes that, The Civil War started because of uncompromising differencesRead MoreIs Hate A Crime?1322 Words   |  6 Pagestheir helmets and football uniforms. The James F. Byrnes High School Rebels is what we are called since its founding in 1955. I have studied history ever since elementary school and have read much about the civil war, rebel soldiers, confederate flags, and slavery. However, that is all it was to me, history. Now I sit at my desk by the window and see over 40 clansmen in white sheets waiving the Confederate flag and the American flag and marching up and down the street in front of my school. Looks likeRead MoreThe Battle Of The Confederacy3672 Words   |  15 Pagesthan it was in the 1860s. Arguments over its symbols, its flags, its leaders, its memorials, and its legacy have been almost constant over the past several years. These battles are always about one thing, the meaning of the confederacy. This usually devolves into an â€Å"it’s about slavery, it’s about states’ rights† argument with neither side listening to the other, each side convinced that it is right. Nevertheless, the question remains: what did it mean to be a confederate during the Civil War? TheRead MoreViews of American Culture in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1899 Words   |  8 PagesHuckleberry Finn, written in 1885, is a literary satire written by Mark Twain. The setting of the novel takes place prior to the Civil War along the Mississippi River. This novel presents moral and ethical problems that southern culture placed on individuals during the time period it was written. Twain wrote his Realist period novel to criticize what he believe d was wrong with the society of his time. Twain presented his novel through the eyes and speech of the twelve year-old Huckleberry Finn to