Why did Robert E. Lee decide to lead the Confederate army although he was opposed to slavery and secession?

Answer 1

Lee was a native of Virginia and felt that his loyalty to his state was more important than his loyalty to his country.

Answer 2

As with many Confederate officers, they felt a stronger allegiance to their state. An under standing of the early politics of the US helps. The original governing document of the US was the Articles of Confederation which favored strong state governments loosely associated to a weak central government which had no real power. This failed on many levels so it was scrapped and the Constitution replaced it. The Constitution provided for a stronger central government at the expense of states rights. Many southern states did not agree with this since the north had a greater population thus a majority rule, thus the two chamber congress was created to allow for equal representation in the government. Even though many Confederate officers were highly decorated soldiers for the American army before the was, it was their loyalty to their state that put them in the Confederacy. Lee was actually offered the position General over the Union army at the outset of the war, but based his decision on the voters of Virginia choice to stay or secede from the union. As Virginia voted, so did Lee.

Answer 3

Yes he was opposed to slavery and secession but he would not turn his sword against Virginia as he told Lincoln who asked hin to lead the Union armies before McClellan was asked.

Answer 4

In his own words taken from a letter to his sister:

"With all my devotion to the Union and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relatives, my children, my home. I have therefore resigned my commission in the Army, and save in defense of my native State, with the sincere hope that my poor services may never be needed, I hope I may never be called on to draw my sword....." Lee in a letter to his sister, April 20, 1861

Answer 5

He felt such strong loyalty to his home state (Virginia - a southern state) that he couldn't bear to 'betray' it. Though he was opposed to slavery and Southern secession, his loyalty to Virginia won.

Answer 6

Lee considered himself a Virginian first and an American second. He saw the war in its initial terms: an issue of the state's sovereignity.

Answer 7

He hated that people in the North knew how to read.

Answer 8

he felt obliged to his people

Answer 9

he would be opposing his home