As such, American social studies curricula have long been hobbled by one of the most pervasive myths in US history: that the Civil War was fought to preserve (or undermine) the spectral concept of “states’ rights.”
Yes, it fucking was. I love how people forget about New England almost backing out of the union during the War of 1812.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Except the part where the states of the new Confederate Union were not allowed to outlaw slavery within their states. So other than that state's right....
"... and then I was forced to walk the Trail of Tears." - Elizabeth Warren
It was in their constitution. Buried down in there a ways, but it was there. I'd heard that not too long ago and went to verify it for myself. Was about to give up on it as urban legend when I found it. Buried deep.
"... and then I was forced to walk the Trail of Tears." - Elizabeth Warren
The whole point of a confederacy versus a federal system is that the states have more power over the people than does the federation.
The rules by which the CSA operated were sometimes contradictory. They had enough problems and the operational laws came in a distant second to "dealing with this war thing."
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
I did notice a few contradictions within their Constitution beyond the "you can't outlaw slavery" thing when I was reading through it. Didn't seem like a good starting point had they won.
"... and then I was forced to walk the Trail of Tears." - Elizabeth Warren
I have read theories that suggest slavery was pretty much going to be gone soon anyway with the advent of the cotton gin and other farming tech.
I heard the real nail in the coffin was the sudden availability of the Egyptian variety of this on the market. Far higher quality than the cotton being produced down south in the US.
Edited By Malcolm on 1428524528
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Yeah, slavery as an economic model is not long-term viable. Never has been. Underpaid workers are much cheaper than maintaining and supervising slaves.
No doubt for some in the Confederacy the war was about keeping their slaves. But only the elite owned slaves. The actual men fighting in the war did not. They were fighting for something else entirely.
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Additionally, no Union soldier or citizen prior to 1863 would've said, "We're fighting this war to end slavery." They would've said, "We're fighting this war to keep the country together." My favourite fun fact ... number of slaves freed by the Emancipation Proclamation: 0.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."