The Civil War

[crazytp93]

In the Civil War would you choose to be on the Union (North) side or the Confederacy (South) side?

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

Neither. None of my ancestors were in the US at the time.

 

[STOPxmickeytime]

Do you really expect someone to say, yes, I'd prefer to be on the Confedarate side, I'm for seceding and slavery?

And like Jaimie said, my family was chilling in Ireland at the time :]

 

[ComfyinNautica]

My family was in Italy at the time, but since I'm assuming it's a hypothetical question, I would have chosen to be on the union side...obviously.

 

[HDD]

Union...
Why would anyone chose the Confederate side? lol

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

Union...
Why would anyone chose the Confederate side? lol

As I learned in US History 1 [feel free to argue if you don't agree with me - this goes for anyone] at the time, slavery was vital in the southern economy. The Confederates were fighting to protect their ultra sensitive economy & way of life.

 

[STOPxmickeytime]

As I learned in US History 1 [feel free to argue if you don't agree with me - this goes for anyone] at the time, slavery was vital in the southern economy. The Confederates were fighting to protect their ultra sensitive economy & way of life.

That's true, but honestly, if anyone came out in present day and age and said "Yeah, I definetly would have been a Confedarate soldier," no one would back that up.
Back in that time period, yes, slavery was a way of life, and a lot of people didn't see it as wrong, because that's what they'd grown up knowing.
But a person today could not say they'd support slavery and expect to be supported.
Slavery is one of the darkest stains in America's history, and I doubt anyone would openly share that they believe it's acceptable.

 

[Columba]

The Union. I come from a huge Irish Iowan family. I had ancestors who went down with Uncle Billy helping him with his urban renewal and some who fought with the 4th Irish brigade.

You'd be surprised by how many people would support the South and still say stuff like "The South will rise again" and all that. I personally find it sickening that they will still fly their traitor flags and defend a nation that tried so hard to keep slavery.

 

[Sparx]

your opinion of this is enough to make me change my opinion of you:

I am an american. I am an american. I am an american. I am not part of the confederacy (though the area I am in did succeed.) Put me in the time period. Put me under the pressure of sustaining my lifestyle. I would not have succeeded. I would never abandon my country for such disgusting reasoning.

These photos make me want to vomit:

(yes ladies and gents. thats a prom dress)

(a confed flag, but no American one?)

(a child touching that piece of filth)

Wanna know where Confederate flags are sold? The Klu Klux Klan store.


I have no respect for someone who respects that flag. I understand its their heritage, its mine too. But that doesn't make it okay, and that doesn't make it cool or fun. It makes it a dark part of our history.

-a proud (southern) american.

 

[crazytp93]

Do you really expect someone to say, yes, I'd prefer to be on the Confedarate side, I'm for seceding and slavery?

And like Jaimie said, my family was chilling in Ireland at the time :]

I think Shelby pretty much answers that question for you, that yes, people would say "Yes, I'd prefer to be on the Confederate side."

your opinion of this is enough to make me change my opinion of you:

I am an american. I am an american. I am an american. I am not part of the confederacy (though the area I am in did succeed.) Put me in the time period. Put me under the pressure of sustaining my lifestyle. I would not have succeeded. I would never abandon my country for such disgusting reasoning.

These photos make me want to vomit:

(yes ladies and gents. thats a prom dress)

(a confed flag, but no American one?)

(a child touching that piece of filth)

Wanna know where Confederate flags are sold? The Klu Klux Klan store.


I have no respect for someone who respects that flag. I understand its their heritage, its mine too. But that doesn't make it okay, and that doesn't make it cool or fun. It makes it a dark part of our history.

-a proud (southern) american.

 

[DisneyGirl421]

Living in Gettysburg, the Civil War plays a big part in this town. Alot of my friends are reenactors, and during the tourists months, we still people in Civil War garb all the time.

My ancestors were from New England and the mid-atlantic states, so they fought on the Union side.

Two of my reenactor friends, one from NY and one from Georgia, both reenactor Confederate. The main reason the girl from NY does Confereate that the reenacting group had a music corp (she's a fifer), and the Union didn't.

 

[tinkerbellblondie19]

Honestly, the war was a lot less about slavery than pop culture would let you believe. The North had a very strong majority rule, and in the 1860 election the entire South united behind John Breckinridge, and they still lost. This was the last straw for the South, because if that was the case they were no better off with the United States than they were as subjects of England. Everyone was coming to realize that slavery had to end, but it couldn't be abrupt. Yes, some people in the South were fighting for slavery, but the main trigger for South Carolina seceding was Lincoln winning the election.

Because of this, I probably would have ended up on the Confederate side.

 

[STOPxmickeytime]

Honestly, the war was a lot less about slavery than pop culture would let you believe. The North had a very strong majority rule, and in the 1860 election the entire South united behind John Breckinridge, and they still lost. This was the last straw for the South, because if that was the case they were no better off with the United States than they were as subjects of England. Everyone was coming to realize that slavery had to end, but it couldn't be abrupt. Yes, some people in the South were fighting for slavery, but the main trigger for South Carolina seceding was Lincoln winning the election.

Because of this, I probably would have ended up on the Confederate side.

The South was in the majority rule in the House of Representatives, which was the main reason that Northern abolitionists COULDN'T rule out slavery, because the Southern representatives would veto it.
The trigger for South Carolina seceding was Lincoln being elected, but it was because he was from the new Republican party, which was blatantly against slavery.
Plus, the Southern economy was actually stronger than the North pre-Civil War, due to its slave-run plantation economy.

Yes, there were other reasons for the Civil War.
But slavery was the main one. The United States couldn't stay united if half the country was for slavery and the other half was against it. The war was strictly to keep the Union, because if slavery still ruled the South, there would be total secession.

I'm gonna disagree with you there, because while the South was fighting for its independence, the main reason it wanted independence was to ensure slavery would stay in place.

 

[tinkerbellblondie19]

The Democrats did have majority rule, but in 1858 the Republicans took almost 50 of their seats, and in turn, the majority.

 

[chisnpeke]

As I learned in US History 1 [feel free to argue if you don't agree with me - this goes for anyone] at the time, slavery was vital in the southern economy. The Confederates were fighting to protect their ultra sensitive economy & way of life.

That's exactly right.

Anyway, this question is in no way relevant to today's society so I am not sure why it's even being asked.

 

[Axel]

The Union.

While I respect a person's right to their own way of life, owning and beating another human being for profit (and without their consent) is just wrong.

 

[Thumbs18]

Ok I'm gona say it. I would be on the confederate side. No I am not a racist and I don't support slavery but the history is fascinating! It's part of american history and in my opinion everyone should just get over it! It's n the past but I'm not gona lie and say 'd b in the union when I wouldn't. I hail from the south so it's a major part of my history as well as everyone elses. My cuzin has a shirt with a confederate flag on it the says if this flag offends you then you need a history lesson. Like I said I'm NOT racist. This is just my opinion.

 

[imabrat]

Based on my geographical location, the Union.

Based on my opinion, IDK. I'm not afraid to admit I don't know that much about the Civil War. It bores me.

 

[DisneyGirl421]

Honestly, the war was a lot less about slavery than pop culture would let you believe. The North had a very strong majority rule, and in the 1860 election the entire South united behind John Breckinridge, and they still lost. This was the last straw for the South, because if that was the case they were no better off with the United States than they were as subjects of England. Everyone was coming to realize that slavery had to end, but it couldn't be abrupt. Yes, some people in the South were fighting for slavery, but the main trigger for South Carolina seceding was Lincoln winning the election.

Because of this, I probably would have ended up on the Confederate side.

You are completely right.
Slavery was a major cause, yes, it being the only cause is wrong. The South felt like their rights as states were being taken away from them. The Civil War was fought over State's Rights more than it was for slavery.
Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, although it was a major contribution to ending slavery, really did nothing. He did not have the authority to end slavery in the south, and that proclamation did not even end slavery in the border states, only the south. So in actuality, it did absolutely nothing.

 

[Columba]

You are completely right.
Slavery was a major cause, yes, it being the only cause is wrong. The South felt like their rights as states were being taken away from them. The Civil War was fought over State's Rights more than it was for slavery.
Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, although it was a major contribution to ending slavery, really did nothing. He did not have the authority to end slavery in the south, and that proclamation did not even end slavery in the border states, only the south. So in actuality, it did absolutely nothing.

What rights were they fighting for?