Why didn't we just allow the Confederacy to be a nation and avoid the war altogether?

Answer 1

Obviously it is much better that "we" fought the war and did not let the Confederacy become a nation. When any state leaves a union based on democracy because it does not respect or accept the results of a democractic election, and forcibly takes control of previously-constructed Federal forts, arsenals, mints, and post offices - they do so illegally.

In the case of the Confederacy, the slave-owning states left the Union so they could retain their backwards "peculiar institution" of slavery, and consistently refused to move forward by accepting abolition (even in the states that were not part of the union yet). The Confederacy chose war, since up to the time of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, S.C. - the Union did allow the secessionist states to do what they wanted without resorting to military action.

Why didn't the slave-owning states find a peaceful solution within the Union and avoid war altogether?

Answer 2

This is actually a good question. First of all there was the ideological reasons the newly formed Republican party had (abolition, etc.). Lincoln and his administration also had a strong motivation based on Constitutional Law. Had he allowed the Confederacy to break away, what would have stopped any other state from doing so in the future. What if California had decided later it would like to reform its own republic, or Vermont decided it wanted to join Canada. For Lincoln it was an all or nothing prospect to preserve the United States as a whole.

Lincoln also saw the Constitution as a binding agreement between all the states, and one which could not be broken by one or more choosing to break away.

Britain was not waiting in the wings licking its chops for a chance to re-conquer North America, and any suggestion they even could have is pure speculation. In fact, by the end of the Civil War the US had the largest standing military on the planet, and the largest and most powerful navy afloat to that time. That was just for the Union, not including the Confederacy.

Answer 3

Lincoln seemed to feel that constitutionally he was required to preserve the union and there's a decent basis for that.

But my personal beliefs are a bit more cynical. It would require quite a leap to believe that the majority of the people wanted to go to war to force others to remain part of the nation. Mostly it was about money, as is the case with most wars (not all, but most). The South's resources were huge for the time. For instance Charleston, SC was the busiest port and reportedly the richest city in the United States at that time. Since the North had 2/3 of the population, they could democratically impose tariffs on Southern goods at will.

Answer 4

are you serious or just saying this to stir up controversy? i would suggest you to read up on the american constitution, the reasons for breaking away from britain, all those lives lost from 1776 to 1787 (and beyond) defending a solid america and also define lincoln's famous saying that a house divided can not stand. two nations, flags, presidents, currencies, treaties with foreign countries? my head spins with such thoughts. nothing like divide and conquer and england was licking its chops waiting for THAT to happen. no my sweet, can't and thankfully didn't happen. and i would sanction another civil war if and when it ever would possibly occur again. terrible, terrible prospect. i'd rethink your thoughts a little more seriously - this time!

Answer 5

There was some objection to slavery as well as political reasons.

Answer 6

abe was a greedy ***