Most southerners who faught, did so in defense of his native state, and had no care about slavery, because they were busting their asses just to feed their families. Some folks seem to conveniantly forget that just as many yankees owned slaves in that era. Lincoln decided to make it politically advantageous for himself to make the war about slavery in '63, with the Emancipation Proclamation (which actually did not free anyone). The south AND the north were as guilty as each other in the slavery issue, and I doubt anyone here actually believes it was right for any American to hold slaves. R.E. Lee did not think succession was a good thing, but told his wife that if it came to the federal government against the southern states, then he would fight for his beloved Virginia. Back then, most were loyal to their state before the federal collection of states.
According to the census of 1860 there were 77340 slave owners in Northern states and territories. There were 316,632 slave owners in the confederate states. You might want to take another look at that claim.
Back then, most were loyal to their state before the federal collection of states.
"Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations." But hey, what did George Washington know, right?
> Some folks seem to conveniantly forget that just as many yankees owned slaves in that era.
"Just as many?"
So, presumably, "just as many yankees" decided to launch a pre-emptive treasonous war to maintain their slaves?
> Lincoln decided to make it politically advantageous for himself to make the war about slavery in '63
He hardly needed to, since the Soputh had already made the war about slavery in the first place. Read their Secession papers (reproduced in part in this very thread).
And that's why Sherman was a hero, because he not only did what it took to stop the waste of those Southern boys' lives, he struck at the people who started the Secession fever for their own benefit: The plantation crowd.
Some folks seem to conveniantly forget that just as many yankees owned slaves in that era. There is no "some folks" who believe that. I have yet to meet a Northerner who doesn't know that a few Northern states allowed slavery. Teaching that fact is absolutely necessary to teaching the Emancipation Proclamation.