American Civil War?

Question

How was the American Civil war transformed from a war to preserve the union to a war to end slavery?

If anyone knows a website to find this answer in details. According to my professor this answer is supposed to be very length but I'm not really finding anything except for what is in the book and that's not much.

Answer 1

Try looking up Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. The answer is in Lincoln himself, he started off with a "preserve the Union" position but then decided to issue the Proclamation, which freed the slaves in territory he didn't control (the Confederate States). It may have had something to do with international relations as much as anything, because it helped prevent England's entry into our war on the South's side--the English working class was anti-slavery.

Although it is not citable as good authority, here's what is written in the Wikipedia on the Emancipation Proclamation:
"Abroad, as Lincoln hoped, the Proclamation turned foreign popular opinion in favor of the Union for its new commitment to end slavery. That shift ended any hope the Confederacy might have had of gaining official recognition, particularly with Britain. If Britain or France, both of which had abolished slavery, continued to support the Confederacy, it would seem as though they were supporting slavery. Prior to Lincoln's decree, Great Britain's actions had favored the confederacy, especially in its construction of war ships such as the CSS Alabama and CSS Florida. As Henry Adams noted, "The Emancipation Proclamation has done more for us than all our former victories and all our diplomacy." Giuseppe Garibaldi hailed Lincoln as "the heir of the aspirations of John Brown." Workers from Manchester, England, wrote to Lincoln saying, "We joyfully honor you for many decisive steps toward practically exemplifying your belief in the words of your great founders: 'All men are created free and equal.'" This eased tensions with Europe that had been caused by the North's determination to defeat the south at all costs, even if it meant upsetting Europe, as in the Trent Affair."

This should give you good buzz words to research this issue and learn more from authoritative sites.

Answer 2

I'm not aware of a particular website, but I can tell you what I know...a lot of it has to do with the central figure of Abraham Lincoln. His position at the beginning of the war was that if he could preserve the Union and leave slavery in tact he would do it, and if he could preserve the Union and abolish slavery he would do it, but his chief goal was to preserve the Union. His view, which was typical Whig (which he used to be before the Republican party was created) philosophy, was that the best way to end slavery was to let it "die on the vine" and whither away over time. This view changed as the war went on and I think he realized that if the country was going to through this terrible war, then slavery had to go with it. - - - Also, there was some international politics to it as well, because most European countries had already abolished slavery and by the North abolishing slavery, Lincoln made it virtually impossible (politically) for Britain or France to come in on the side of the South.

Answer 3

hello there,

what i know is that at first it was a war to preserve the union. when the north became desperate about winning the war, they called it a war to end slavery supposedly to get the sympathy of the international community, especially Britain at that time. my understanding is that the north used the slavery issue as a way of making the war "look more honorable." the emancipation proclamation was signed by lincoln as a signal that they have turned the war issue from preserving the union to slavery issue.

what baffled me was the fact that not all northerners actually believed in freeing the African Americans from slavery. they just feared the uprising of the slaves so they fought hard, not really for the slaves but for themselves, for their own safety.

unfortunately, i didn't find this facts online. i read them from old books that i bought from street booksales.

Answer 4

try typing in "emphasis of slavery in the American Civil War" in yahoo search,,,,,

you should find alot of sites,,,, yes the war was about preserving the union,,,,,, then the focus moved to slavery,, at the same time, the union was falling apart due to conflicts over slavery, among other things,,,,,,, so in a way , its all tied in together,,,,,, Lincoln was anti slavery, and when he was elected,, many southerners were upset,, which led to the withdrawal and formation of the Confederacy,,,, so then the war started about their withdrawal, yet slavery was a major, major factor,,,,,

one site with some info is ,,,

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAcivilwar.htm

Answer 5

Slavery replaced into the overriding difficulty. States' rights replaced into smoke and mirrors, an excuse, not a reason to insurrection. The South wanted to steer away from making slavery their reported reason. It replaced into seen as undesirable P.R. They knew that they might wish help from Europe, possibly Britain. Many ecu international locations might have favorite that the U.S. be fractured. States had ceded their authority, while they ratified the form. The shape replaced into designed to place the federal authority over the states, because of the fact the unique plan. of a weaker federal government had failed, decrease than the Articles of Confederation. Newspaper articles, from the time of the ratification votes, reported ratification because of the undeniable fact that it would steer away from states from secession.

Answer 6

try this link, it's very detailed

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War