Robert E. Lee left the Union for his beloved Virginia during the Civil war even though he was against slavery.

Question

Would you do the same thing if your state decides to leave the Union? Even if it goes against your principles? What would you do?

Answer 1

I love my state! However, if I had to decide between taking up arms against my state and my principles, I would choose my principles. If I were in his position, I would've led the union army.

The reason why he led the Confederate army was because he said he couldn't take up arms against his home state. Too bad! Maybe the war would've ended quicker! Northern generals were idiots and drunks!

By the way, historians say that it wasn't about slavery, it was about preserving the union. That is true. Still, why did the South leave in the first place? They believed Lincoln would take it away from them! He wasn't planning on it, he just didn't want them spreading it into the South. They just didn't believe it. So, they seceeded. So, the war was pretty much over slavery.

Answer 2

Common misconception about the Civil War is that it was about Slavery, when in fact it was about States Rights, one of which was to choose slavery or not, the newly formed republican party had stated that it would push to prevent any new territories or states from having slavery, not giving any choice to the state what so ever, this amongst other policies of the new party is what lead to the south seceding from the union. The emancipation proclamation did not outlaw slavery either, it made it so that only the states which didn't join the confederacy could keep slaves after the union was reunited, a really cocky stance on the part of the north assuming they would win there, it wasn't until the 13th amendment that slavery was officially banned in 1865 after the Civil War ended. The southern states felt that the government leaning towards the side of the northern opinion on slavery would also mean that the growing antislavery sentiment in the north would spread further and end up getting slavery banned from the US all together and the south loosing any say in any further decision making in the US. Irony of the civil war was by succeeding from the union it lead to laws and acts which ended up leading to the 13th amendment getting passed and slavery being abolished which was one of their primary concerns in the reasoning for breaking away.

Answer 3

He wasn't "against" slavery. What documentation can be found, suggests that he, like many southern elites, believed it to be, "Ordained By God". Which means it could end tomorrow, or never for that matter. He was opposed to secession, believing that some sort of compromise could still be reached (Virginia was one of the last states to secede.)
As far as doing the same, I really can't answer that question. America's view of itself has changed tremendously, in large part due to the Civil War itself. At that time, most people referred to themselves by the state or territory they lived in, not just as "Americans", and their loyalties were to their region. This was reinforced at the time by the lack of mass communications-each state had a different accent; sometimes different regions in that state couldn't understand each other. Finally, if you look at official documents from the US Congress, they state "The United States ARE" rather than The United States IS. This is directly a result of the Civil War.

Answer 4

Times are different these days. People mostly now follow their principles instead of their homeland.

Answer 5

efw would chose his state. I would sell mine, California, out in a minute. In fact, if any of you wants to invade California, I'm your man. Just as long as you let me reduce San Franpsycho.

Answer 6

I would have to follow my principles. Even if it meant I had to move my family.

Answer 7

I would choose my state (Nevada), is that a 'western' thing, i wonder where the people above are from?

Answer 8

never