Seven misconceptions about the Civil War...

[RMNIXON]

Another misconception is the war was fought strictly over the issue of slavery. There were several issues of which slavery was but one, tariffs and expansion were also important issues.

Just for starters labor competition was a major issue.

Thanks to massive immigration of the 1800's in the Northern USA wages and working conditions were down. Slaves in the South were cheap labor by comparison and in many cases better off than Northern free "White" workers.

But you won't here any of than from revisionists of course. Many slaves were property but treated quite well because it made sense that a lifetime investment paid off.

[Chris]

South Carolina started the war. It said it was to protect slavery. That was the only reason stated. I think they'd know why.
They had grips about a lot of things but it was slavery that drove them over the edge.

Actually, it and the other Southern states seceded because the federal government had violated and made null and void the Constitution. From South Carolina Declaration of Causes of Secession, December 24, 1860:

Thus was established, by Compact between the States, a Government with defined objects and powers, limited to the express words of the grant. ... We hold that the Government thus established is subject to the two great principles asserted in the Declaration of Independence; and we hold further, that the mode of its formation subjects it to a third fundamental principle, namely, the law of compact. We maintain that in every compact between two or more parties, the obligation is mutual; that the failure of one of the contracting parties to perform a material part of the agreement, entirely releases the obligation of the other; and that, where no arbiter is provided, each party is remitted to his own judgment to determine the fact of failure, with all its consequences.

Now it is true that one of the main grievances had to do with article four of the Constitution:

In the present case, that fact is established with certainty. We assert that fourteen of the States have deliberately refused for years past to fulfil their constitutional obligations, and we refer to their own statutes for the proof.

The Constitution of the United States, in its fourth Article, provides as follows:

"No person held to service or labor in one State under the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up, on claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due."

This stipulation was so material to the compact that without it that compact would not have been made.

The Declaration of Causes of Seceding States list other grievances.

Thus states' rights, as understood then, the right of the states to protect their citizens from intrusions on their rights by the federal government, was the cause and violation of that, including article four, were grievances.

States' Rights provides the long history of that struggle.

[Dr. Who]

What is rarely discussed is the fact that many of the poor whites in the South were not supportive of slavery because slave owners were using their slaves to disenfranchise poor whites, rendering them unable to compete in the economy. The oligarchy of slave owners would threaten to replace white workers with slaves, even in non-agricultural jobs like construction and mechanical work, if they demanded higher wages. By 1860, there were poor white labor associations throughout the Deep South and the workers were protesting having to compete with slave labor. They were threatening to withdraw their support for slavery if something was not done to raise their wages. They literally could not compete with slavery and earn a living. Often they were forced to take highly dangerous work for which slaveowners would not dare risk the lives of their slaves. It was not unusual for poor whites to have even less to eat than slaves.

There were very few schools in the antebellum South. It wasn't only slaves who the slave masters didn't want educated, it was also the poor white underclass. Illiteracy guaranteed that they couldn't read newspapers and get any ideas about abolition or politics, because although desperately poor, they still possessed voting rights. In fact, any persons attempting to disseminate abolitionist propaganda were treated to lynch mobs.

When the South brought in conscription, many of the poor whites simply evaded the draft and many others who didn't evade, eventually deserted. The unreliability of loyalty to the cause by the southern soldiers is said to be partially responsible for the South's defeat.

While the impoverished white population was no less racist than the wealthier population, they were not enamored with slavery, nor can it be said that they aspired to be slave owners themselves, since many were lucky to even have a roof over their heads. The seeds of the demise of slavery were growing from within the slaveholding states and had there not been secession leading to civil war, it is likely that there eventually would have been some sort of revolt by the white underclass. This possibility may have even contributed to the decision to secede, rather than risk the underclass being aided by northern abolitionists.

[nathanbforrest45]

Although brief and not very well put, I agree. The civil war is not well understood because of the way it’s taught or not being taught dependent upon where you’re receiving the history.

How was it that Tennesseans fought for the north? Why did soldiers REALLY sign up?

Tennessee fought for both sides. Learn your history

[nathanbforrest45]

Actually, it and the other Southern states seceded because the federal government had violated and made null and void the Constitution. From South Carolina Declaration of Causes of Secession, December 24, 1860:



Now it is true that one of the main grievances had to do with article four of the Constitution:



The Declaration of Causes of Seceding States list other grievances.

Thus states' rights, as understood then, the right of the states to protect their citizens from intrusions on their rights by the federal government, was the cause and violation of that, including article four, were grievances.

States' Rights provides the long history of that struggle.

I cannot thank you enough for this post. I find it rather telling that the reason for the war is always given as SLAVERY but there were no laws or suggestions of laws coming from Congress designed to outlaw slavery. The South was not in danger of losing its "Peculiar Institution" but was in danger of losing its identity and its rights under the Constitution.

[Mister D]

What is rarely discussed is the fact that many of the poor whites in the South were not supportive of slavery because slave owners were using their slaves to disenfranchise poor whites, rendering them unable to compete in the economy. The oligarchy of slave owners would threaten to replace white workers with slaves, even in non-agricultural jobs like construction and mechanical work, if they demanded higher wages. By 1860, there were poor white labor associations throughout the Deep South and the workers were protesting having to compete with slave labor. They were threatening to withdraw their support for slavery if something was not done to raise their wages. They literally could not compete with slavery and earn a living. Often they were forced to take highly dangerous work for which slaveowners would not dare risk the lives of their slaves. It was not unusual for poor whites to have even less to eat than slaves.

There were very few schools in the antebellum South. It wasn't only slaves who the slave masters didn't want educated, it was also the poor white underclass. Illiteracy guaranteed that they couldn't read newspapers and get any ideas about abolition or politics, because although desperately poor, they still possessed voting rights. In fact, any persons attempting to disseminate abolitionist propaganda were treated to lynch mobs.

When the South brought in conscription, many of the poor whites simply evaded the draft and many others who didn't evade, eventually deserted. The unreliability of loyalty to the cause by the southern soldiers is said to be partially responsible for the South's defeat.

While the impoverished white population was no less racist than the wealthier population, they were not enamored with slavery, nor can it be said that they aspired to be slave owners themselves, since many were lucky to even have a roof over their heads. The seeds of the demise of slavery were growing from within the slaveholding states and had there not been secession leading to civil war, it is likely that there eventually would have been some sort of revolt by the white underclass. This possibility may have even contributed to the decision to secede, rather than risk the underclass being aided by northern abolitionists.

It is true that desertion was a serious problem for the Confederate armies. They had proportionately more desertions than the Federal forces.

[jet57]

Tennessee fought for both sides. Learn your history

I had a paternal line uncle who war blue. His father was born in North Carolina. I know about the history of Tennessee as well as I know that Nathan Bedford Forrest and his KKK set up in Pulaski. You forgot to tell everybody that Tennessee was a Confederate state who wound up with an anti secession governor. Enter the KKK...

Now, why did you people kill the southern battle standard? Ya’see the mess you made??

[Mister D]

wut

[carolina73]

Just for starters labor competition was a major issue.

Thanks to massive immigration of the 1800's in the Northern USA wages and working conditions were down. Slaves in the South were cheap labor by comparison and in many cases better off than Northern free "White" workers.

But you won't here any of than from revisionists of course. Many slaves were property but treated quite well because it made sense that a lifetime investment paid off.

You can certainly argue that slaves in the South were certainly better off than they were under their African slave owners, prior to their being sold and shipped to the Americas.

[carolina73]

wut

Appropriate response to whatever that thing was, that Jet posted.