[tired&retired]

Pay the families of the soldiers killed fighting to free the slaves in the Civil War, all 360,222 of the Union Army who died.

[jeffersondem]

“Pay the families of the soldiers killed fighting to free the slaves in the Civil War, all 360,222 of the Union Army who died.”

That is an interesting comment; one I do not understand.

Why were Union soldiers “fighting to free the slaves”? If the north wanted to free the slaves, their Congressmen and Senators could have introduced a Constitutional amendment in 1860, or before, to do just that - peacefully.

All the killings and hard feelings could have been avoided.

[DiogenesLamp]

The notion that the North went to war to free slaves is just propaganda. They had absolutely no intention of freeing slaves when they invaded the South, and they didn't even free their own slaves till 8 months after the war was over.

But people believe this claim because it has been so oft repeated for the last 170 years or so.

[GingisK]

Exempt those families who never owned slaves. Better yet, make any currently living slave owner pay reparations to all of his currently living slaves.

Nobody in this country is eligible for reparations, and nobody is liable. This I will take to the battlefield.