What is the relationship between the Civil War and the American tradition of violence?

Question

Serious answers ONLY!!!!!

Answer 1

you confuse rightness with violence
USA rescued England and France in WWII

Answer 2

I am not sure about American tradition of violence, but I am sure the Civil War was among fellowountrymen, fighting for equal rights, still there are many differences between Americans White, Black, now Hispanic and others.

Answer 3

I'm going to simplify here because such a question really requires an essay, but here's my simple version of an answer:

There is no question that what went on with native Americans when the country was new was awful. In spite of that, though, I don't particularly think it is accurate to say "American tradition of violence" as if Americans are horrible aggressors who love violence.

This country has been at war in order to defend itself or to defend other nations and/or people. The Revolutionary War was fought for the right of this nation to exist as a nation without a king. The Civil War was fought to preserve the unity of country, and slavery was abolished; wars this country has involved itself in since then have been about attempting to gain or preserve freedom for other nations or people.

Some people view oppression, dictatorships, tyrannies, and any other denial of freedoms as violence in one form or degree or another. Maybe the relationship of the Civil War to any other wars this country has been in is simply that an awareness of how horrible it is to treat people as less than equals and to deny them freedom became even more ingrained than it had been.

The Civil War preserved as one nation this nation which was founded on a set of principles to which it continues to endeavor to adhere. I suppose the fact that one nation was preserved is the reason this nation is as powerful as it is today, and I suppose, too, that its acute awareness of the immorality of denying any people their freedom has at least in part resulted from the Civil War.

American tradition of fighting for democracy, freedom, and/or the principles on which this nation was founded: Yes. That is this nation's tradition. "American tradition of violence"? That somehow doesn't seem to quite accurately describe this country to me. Violence no doubt occurs when fighting has become necessary, but violence can also be in the eye of the beholder.

Answer 4

The civil war in the US was not the first time people tried to end slavery, was it? Perhaps it was the most dramatic, though incomplete, effort. As for a realtionship with some sort of "tradition," this was the era of Thomas Nast who popularized the trivial Donkey and trivial Elephant for the two dominant "political" parties. (He also gave us the secular Santa previously known as St. Nicholas.) These are great symbols, if we tenaciously hold on to the zoo and jungle metaphors of governance (or "politics" as we know it). They are immature symbols if, and when, we actually want to admit that conflict, debate, and war are ineffective in solving problems.

Answer 5

This country has had to fight to survive, again and again. It wasn't built by weak, feel good, don't offend anyone liberals.
The American Tradition of violence? You had better look at history as a whole, it's 99% violence.

Answer 6

of course, america was created by liberals, whatever this other poster means by that comment.

But, it is true that the british colonists and their descendents used violence again and again to get what they wanted, slaughtering indians, enslaving africans, then freeing the africans... this was not using violence 'to survive,' of course, but to steal from others without consequence. such arguments in response to your question show the sick strain in america that has learned to rationalize murder as strength and justice and the american way.

actually, we didn't want to use violence to free the slaves, but the southern states, after openly declaring in their Declarations of Cessation that they were leaving the Union in order to keep their slaves (despite modern apologists who want to pretty it up) fired upon an American ship going to an american (south carolinian) harbor.

We've also used peaceful means to solve problems, as in the civil rights, womens rights, and workers' rights movements. Yes, the state used violence against those groups (least against the women, of course) but those groups used non-violence and prevailed.

there is a tension in america, as probably in all countries, between those who feel it is manly to kill indians for their land (this is "offending" people, to such americans) and that might makes right and those Americans who wish to live out the true meaning of our creed, that all [humans] are created equal.

Answer 7

"Hello pooky, please consider the fact that the Civil War was simply one of many conflicts (which you allude to) in our tradition of violence. I can tell, from your question, that you have never fought in any American conflict and because of this you seem to have doubt as to where your freedom derives. Please let me inform/remind you:
It is the VETERAN, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the VETERAN, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
Yes I'm proud. These are men and women of my kind.
Conflict between people will always be with us. Progress is the finding of new ways in which to deal with it."

Answer 8

It becomes divided into usually two main groups: one who has and one who has not. The one who has not wants what the one who has - has, and since the one who has isn't giving it up without a fight, it's on. That's about as serious as I can get.

Answer 9

What is it...is the moon in its full stage or what?

You keep asking the same question over and over and over
Is everyone off their medications?

Get off the gerbil wheel...you are a total bore.

Answer 10

man will always war not just America tell me a time in history that there was total world peace