Actually, over 90% of southerners did not own slaves. The main reason for the fight was the fact that the federal government was trampling on states rights. (Gosh, that sounds like a conservative position!! Horror!!!!)
disclaimer:I am not now, nor have I ever advocated slavery, nor am I attempting to defend a despicable and incredibly monstorous practice
I am merely pointing out that the Civil War was not ONLY about slavery.
I grew up in a family with three children. We had one car, titled in my father's name. So it can be correctly said that 80% of the people in my family did not own a car, but 100% reaped the benefit of car ownership. Likewise with slavery. A look at the census data of the period would show that only about 6 or 7 percent of the people owned slaves, but those people had families. A further look at the census data shows that in some states the number of slave owning families approached 50%. Overall in the states that originally seceded the percentage is just over 30%. So it may be difficult to understand why the south would launch a war to defend an institution that only 7% of the people benefited from, but when the percentage approaches 1/3rd then it isn't so hard to understand.
The main reason for the fight was the fact that the federal government was trampling on states rights.
Other than the expansion of slavery what states right was being trampled?
I am merely pointing out that the Civil War was not ONLY about slavery.
Perhaps. But defense of the institution of slavery was by far the single most important reason for the rebellion.
Actually, over 90% of southerners did not own slaves.
Slave ownership devolved on 50% of whites in LA, MS and SC, and on 1/3 of whites in the rest of the south.
Walt
Can you show that in the record?
Walt
There were no other issues.
Walt
The percentage of slaveowning households was much higher in the first states to secede: 46% of free households had slaves in South Carolina, 49% in Mississippi. Secession began in Deep South areas with a high percentage of slaveholding families. After secession and the establishment of the CSA regime, many other Southerners rallied to it in a "them vs. us" spirit.
Does that figure include the 4 million who were slaves?
Try again bubba.
Sigh!!!
Which states' rights were being trampled on in late 1860/early 1861 when the majority of southern states seceded,well before Lincoln was inaugurated? If you are going to make such statements, you should be able to back them up with facts, rather than hyperbole.
I have asked this question many time of The South Will Rise Again boys. I have never received a coherent answer.