Quote:
Originally Posted by BuckCuller
The civil war was not all about slavery.
It was about statesmanship vs union. Slavery was used as political recruitment tool the same as immagration and victim hood is today. The government didn't actually care but used it to there advantage.
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I think you are correct, in that slavery was not the only issue and for many southerners was not the most important issue. For many southerners the issue was individual rights which extended to the right for their state to leave the union. I think that many fought just to protect their homes and felt that Washington was a threat like some of us today think that Ottawa is a threat.
I doubt if many of the grunts who fought and gave their lives on both sides were slave owners. The politicians and the generals knew what this war was about.
I think that the USA like many countries do not like to remember bad military leaders or bad policy. They like to justify policy and remember their leaders as heroes no matter what. Custer comes to mind.