The Civil War the Real Reason Essay Example
The Civil War the Real Reason Essay Example

The Civil War the Real Reason Essay Example

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  • Pages: 3 (676 words)
  • Published: September 26, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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The Civil War, which commenced on April 12, 1861, due to the attacks on Fort Sumter and culminated on April 9, 1865, when General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Confederate Army resulted in a catastrophic loss of over 620,000 lives. Infectious diseases accounted for twice as many deaths as those lost in battle while amputation was the fate of about 50,000 survivors returning home. Despite popular belief that President Lincoln fought to emancipate slaves from bondage; the cause behind The Civil War remains controversial.

Despite the common belief that he cared about the slaves, based on "The Anguish of the Emancipation" video, I disagree. The abolition of slavery was not the sole motivation for sacrificing one's life during the war. Factors such as economics, tariffs, political power or even slavery itself are not strong enough to compel someone to take extreme actions.

In

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my opinion, the Civil War occurred when the North and South battled to defend their distinct lifestyles and systems. The ultimate goal was not to free slaves but to shape America's identity and values. This division of America into two regions, North and South, transpired in the 1800s.

The North and the opposing side had conflicting economic systems, with the former adopting industrialization and paid labor while rejecting slavery. This tension eventually culminated in a war.

The North and South had different lifestyles causing conflict between them. The North wanted to preserve their new way of life without slavery, while the agricultural South depended on slave labor for production of natural goods. The South acknowledged slavery's role in their success, but the North considered it an unethical practice that required elimination.

The South maintained an advantage ove

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the North due to their ownership of slaves, thereby eliminating labor costs. The North viewed this as unjust. Furthermore, a dispute arose regarding whether new territories could join the Union as Slave states. The South favored this concept to prevent their slaves from fleeing to free territories.

In the 19th century, there was a debate between the North and South regarding the status of new territories. The North believed that these territories should have autonomy in deciding whether they would become free or slave states. This view was strengthened by President Lincoln's election in 1860, as he believed that it was impossible for a government to simultaneously support both free and slave states. Consequently, South Carolina and six other states chose to secede from the Union and form the Confederate States of America (CSA). The main concern of Southern states was how their economy and way of life would be affected by Lincoln's plan to emancipate slaves, which at that time was seen more as an economic issue rather than a moral one.

Despite going against America's principle of equality, the Southern economy heavily relied on slave labor for cotton production, and its absence would result in the collapse of the entire socio-economic structure. However, following the Civil War, slaves were granted freedom through the Thirteenth Amendment.

December 6th, 1865 marked the passing of a law that granted freedom to African American slaves. The ratification of this legislation followed on January 31st in the same year. It is worth noting, however, that the Civil War was not directly caused by this law. While some advocates for Lincoln argue he did not initially intend to abolish slavery, the war

began as a debate over Union and States' rights before evolving into an ideological struggle for liberty in America. As both sides fought to preserve their respective systems, the country became divided.

While the conflict was necessary for improving the country, both sides were oblivious to the fact that slavery was at its core. Despite America being renowned as a land of freedom, it was founded on enslavement. The notion that Lincoln initiated the Civil War to end slavery or out of guilt for how slaves had been treated is a common misconception. His true objective was to establish equality due to the South's dominance over the North. Therefore, he fought to preserve and safeguard their way of life.

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