When you say “No”, do you mean the North did not fight to “free the slaves.?”
The song, Battle Hymn of the Republic, which is the topic of this thread, states otherwise. The song gives one clear reason for the war: “As He died to make men holy let us die to make men free.” The song actually says little about using federal ports to collect import taxes.
Many millions of people then and now have sung the song vigorously believing the valorous union army was fighting to "free the slaves." If that is not correct, then we can dismiss the notion the North fought for some high moral purposed like ending slavery.
Of course, if the North was fighting because it was in the North's economic and political best self-interest, then, arguably, that was a high moral cause worth killing 600,000 people.
That's correct. I don't know too many people with any knowledge about the Civil War who believe the North fought to end slavery.
The song, Battle Hymn of the Republic, which is the topic of this thread, states otherwise.
And the "Bonnie Blue Flag" says the South was fighting for liberty. Songs on both sides were meant rally people and were not necessarily statements of national policy.
If that is not correct, then we can dismiss the notion the North fought for some high moral purposed like ending slavery.
As a Confederate supporter I can understand how you could see slavery as the only high moral purpose worth fighting over. But you would be wrong. There were others.
Of course, if the North was fighting because it was in the North's economic and political best self-interest, then, arguably, that was a high moral cause worth killing 600,000 people.
And the Confederacy fought to protect slavery. Is that high moral cause worth 600,000 lives?