instead he join the confederate army
2007-05-03 18:32:47 · 9 answers · asked by TraderJoe 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Loyalty to the flag of his state...a real states' rights kind of guy....
2007-05-06 10:57:59 · answer #1 · answered by Its not me Its u 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Chris's answer is correct. It was loyalty to Virginia that swung him to the Confederate side. He was immediately offered command of the Army of Northern Virginia and was one of the most effective generals in the Confederacy.
By the way, Lee was already in the U.S. Army, serving as a colonel. He had earlier served in the Mexican War. Lincoln offered him field command of Union forces. Lee declined the offer and went back to Virginia.
2007-05-03 18:38:20 · answer #2 · answered by Warren D 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
He spent the better part of a week agonizing over this decision before declining the President's offer. In the end, he felt a stronger allegiance to his home state of Virginia than to the US Government. The idea of seeing Virginia as an enemy was just too much for him.
2007-05-03 18:38:30 · answer #3 · answered by schenzy 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
As I comprehend it Lincoln did supply Lee command of the Union military on the commencing up of hostilities. After some soul-looking Lee refused the supply and moved south to take command of the accomplice military.
2016-10-04 08:58:00 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
good question. Lee did not believe in the Confederate cause, but he also could not fight against his native Virginia. so when Virginia seceded, he joined it, even though he found slavery despicable and could not justify the southern secession at all. pity him; he had to fight and kill many of his former comrades during the war. he was truly a torn man.
2007-05-06 14:45:05 · answer #5 · answered by F-14D Super Tomcat 21 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Robert E. Lee was a great man who hated slavery. However, he had grown up in Virginia and refused to raise his sword against his home. Back in those days, people were more loyal to their home state than to their country.
2007-05-03 18:59:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
All the above answers are great! But I just wanted to add that Federal Government was suppose to be small and almost invisible. States had more rights prior to the civil war and Lee thought it best to keep it that way. Slavery was on it's way out at the time anyway thanks to population increases. The war just sped it up.
2007-05-03 21:30:41 · answer #7 · answered by sonofmary 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He agreed with the ideological objectives of the North but refused to fight against his home state of Virginia.
2007-05-03 18:35:27 · answer #8 · answered by Chris 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It was a difficult decision for him, but in the end he felt his loyalties lied with his home state of Virginia.
2007-05-03 18:35:47 · answer #9 · answered by St. Dave 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋