Why did we have a civil war in America and why can't a state leave the union?

Question

How is this American?

1) Slavery was not the real reason for the civil war and was only used as a reason to go to war with the south.

2) Most people in the south were not slave owners only the rich could afford slaves.

3) In the declaration of Independence it talks about having ther right to break away from your government and make your own if you are unhappy with your government.

4) Why don't states have the right to leave the union?

Answer 1

Wrong on all counts.

Slavery underpinned the economic wealth of the South. It was the very reason why there was a civil war.

The rich could afford slaves because their wealth was not based on paying fair wages but getting labour at less than knock down prices. Again the wealth of the South was based on slavery (cheap labour), the number of wealthy individuals is irrelevant.

States have rights, unlike in the UK and that is enshrined in the Constitution. The gun lobby quotes the Constitution every time gun control is raised as an issue, but the right to bear arms is a State right, not an individual right.

Why don't states have the right to leave the union? If they wanted to they could - even if that meant changing the Constitution. However, I've not seen many protests by States wanting to bail out.

Answer 2

1 Southern states began seceding immediately after Abraham Lincoln was elected. Why ? Because they feared he would abolish slavery and ruin there way of life.
2. Poor southerners dreamed of someday owning a plantation and slaves. Lincoln was going to ruin there dreams.
3. The Declaration of Independence speaks of the basic rights of man and the right to throw off tyranny and tyrants.
4. A union with a revolving door can not stand. The union must be able to count on it's member states when the need arises. Stability is Paramount in any nation if it is going to succeed
5. Ask George Washington and our founding fathers how this is american. They seemed to think it was.

Answer 3

I've studied history for well over a decade, and I can honestly say that you are dead wrong about #1.

In answer to your ultimate question, if every state had the "right" to leave the country, we wouldn't have a country, now, would we? In any case, you are taking the Declaration out of context. The same line that says we have a right to break away also says, "whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends," with 'ends' referring to our unalienable rights. Having slaves is not an unalienable right. On the contrary, it is the very opposite: it is preventing other people from THEIR unalienable rights. Therefore, the South, being wrong and contrary to the spirit of the Declaration, did not have the right to secede from the Union.

Answer 4

Saying the civil war wasn't about slavery is naive. The primary "right" the states were so eager to leave over was slavery. To say slavery wasn't the issue is like saying that jumping off a building doesn't kill you, the landing does. Technically correct, but wholly beside the point.

Answer 5

When did we have a civil war in America? A civil war is when one faction of a country tries to take power militarily over the government. The South was not trying to take over the American government; they just wanted to be independant. We had a War for Southern Independance.

Answer 6

We are called the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA partly because we all rely on each other. Each state has different things it contributes. Different foods grow in different areas, some places even buy their electricity and water from other states. Even if we aren't the perfect place, we are kind of like a family. We each have our own unique place and make the others better for our contributions. It is kind of like when I was a kid, I can gripe all I want, but any outsider saying bad things about my family better watch out. That is kind of what the United States are like. If you don't like it here, leave, we would probably be better off without you, but I think any state leaving would be in big trouble. We all need each other.

Answer 7

The War of Northern Aggression was initiated to keep the Union intact. Wasn't until later when Lincoln issued the Emanication Proclamation that it became about slavery

Many southerners did own slaves...amybe only one or two but more that the "rich" owned them. Many non-owner merchants profited in the human trade as buyers, sellers,,brokers dealers, auction house owners and so on

States still have the right to secede...would not be practical now as it was in the past.

Answer 8

Texas can leave the union at anytime and also split into 5 state.It was in the negotiation to becoming a state.

You are right in your reasons.

Good Question.

Answer 9

Slavery was not the reason for going to war.

The issue before Congress was that of States Rights.

In other words, who controls what.

The Southern States said that the Federal government was only a overseeing committee and that States were more powerful.

The Northern States said that the Federal Government was more powerful and the states less powerful.

The South seceded and said that they would establish their own government, The Confederacy.

A Confederation is a loose association of persons.

The North won.

Answer 10

If you want to leave the great country of American then we don't want you and you should leave, just don't speak on behalf of a state because you are not the voice of that state. If a state really wanted to leave they would have tried by now.


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