What do you think about the Civil War?

Question

Was the American Civil War inevitable? If so, what made this horrific war inevitable?

Answer 1

Nothing in history is inevitable. There is always some combination of factors that could alter the course of history. The question you need to ask is "Was the A. Civil War avoidable in 1861? If so could civil war be avoided to the present time?" and then look at probabilities.

Since the inception of the United States, slavery had been an issue. As the north abolished slavery, the south became increasing reliant on slaves both economically and socially. Things like the 3/5ths compromise and the slave trade clause show this. Further evidence comes from the invasion of Spanish Florida, the Mexican-American War, the attempted invasion of several Central American countries in the 1840s and 1850's, all attempts to expand slavery. Then you have the Fugitive Slave Act, Taney's decision in Dred Scott, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the Missouri Compromise,. All of these incidents show an increasingly divided and hostile people.

With John Brown's Raid in 1859 the South becomes justifiably afraid of forced emancipation. The election of Lincoln in 1860 with his previous statements against slavery (despite saying he would take no radical steps) and the growth of the Radical Republicans and the strength of the Republican party made Southern leaders afraid that they would not be able to prevent anti-slavery legislation on a national level.

With the Secretary of War putting either Southerners or ineffectual men in control of most military resources in the south (with the exception of a fort in Florida and Sumter) for the year preceding Lincoln's inaguration, the South had the ability to wage war in 1861. Putting it all together and the probability of war in 1861 is great.

Were there things that could have prevented war? Yes. If Buchanan had done things differently or prevented his Secretary of War from handing the South an the capability to wage war. Had Douglas dropped out of the 1860 election. I believe that these (and other factors) would have only served to delay civil war. The issue of slavery would not have gone away on its own, nor would it have gone quietly into that good night. It is possible that with time, southern states would have abolished physical slavery (economic slavery is a different matter) on their own. Any attempt at a national aboltion law would have been meet with staunch resistance, and if it passed, war. The South was too invested in slavery economically and socially to allow outsiders to force the issue.

If, by some chance, a peaceful solution to slavery was found, civil war would still likely occur before 1900. The issue of nullification would have raised its head again over another issue (trade most likely). Most nations have had to experience at least one civil war in their history. The American Civil War decided many things besides slavery that have a high probability of causing internal strife.

The American Civil War wasn't inevitable. There are many things that several people could have done to avoid it in 1861. The probability of war, in 181 or another year, was high. There were many issues that needed to be resolved such as slavery, nullification, and expansion that would have led to sectional conflict and eventual war.

Answer 2

Yes, the Civil War was inevitable. Much like nation-states imperialize the weak, the more powerful North could not coexist with the South under one government. The North simply sought to control the South The South could not succeed because the North had grown dependent on the agricultural contributions of the South. As a result, the South became a peripheral state to the North. Likewise, if Canada proved to have an enormous economic advantage, the United States would use economic and militaristic influences to control that advantage for their own benefit. Same with Mexico and much of the World.

Essentially, governments constantly compete for more power, influence, wealth, etc. It matters not what you call it (imperialism, Civil War, Colonialism, Globalization, etc.). The ultimate goal is the same. Yet, it is unfortunate when governments resort to War for their survival and growth. Unlike Alexander the Great or early Kings, the heads of state no longer fight in the front. Most death is distributed amongst the poor and uneducated.

Do not misunderstand, I'm not saying that the North was particularly evil b/c it did not allow the South to succeed. I am merely saying that war is currently an inevitable part of the human condition. Maybe someday, long after we are gone, people will evolve past war and government. Until then, it is inevitable.

Answer 3

From a historical standpoint I believe it became inevitable once the Missouri Compromise was repealed through the Kansas-Nebraska acts. The South needed more slave states to maintain their power base, and the North needed desperately to prevent the spread both of slavery and the slave state power. It was not inevitable in the sense that further compromise and agreement would certainly have prevented it, but I don't see any reaosnable method whereby that would have happened. both sides felt they were in the right, and that the other was out to destroy them.

To say that the North rules the South and that the Southern slave states had no choice is without foundation. The Southern states had tremendous power in congress, and from the earl 1850's started their plan of secession. They used their power to deplete and spread out the army and navy to where it could not immediately or effectively respond to an emergency. They sold arms to secessionist leaders under a shady law designed to arm the slave states for a planned rebellion. The election of Lincoln was something many secessionist leaders wanted, because it gave them the excuse they needed to rally support among the people in the South. This was not some poor, oppressed people trying to break the chains -- this was a caluclated, oprganized group of some southern leaders who had power, and wanted to use that power to completely break free of their country. They took oaths to protect the Union and the Constitution at all costs, even at the cost of their lives, and they broke that oath -- Jefferson davis took the oath on March 4, 1857.

Answer 4

No of course it wasn't inevitable. Like all wars it was created by the politicians and the newspaper editors, neither of who ever carry a bayonet into battle. Mass hysteria, geurilla gangs killing people on the borders, all these played a part, but if the Northern and Southern politicos had tried and cooperated they could have stamped out the killers and calmed the flames of rebellion and belicosity. The slavery issue would have become immaterial anyway in a few years when there were enough free men without a job to do the work much more cost effectively, but anyway the real reason for the war was States Rights not slavery.

Answer 5

It both was and wasn't inevitable.

Before the succession of the south it wasn't. The country had existed in a state of reasonable equilibrium, with free and slave states, before the election that year. The way that the election became so vital was the idea that Lincoln would free the slaves against the will of some states. If that hadn't become such an issue, succession may never have occurred.

After the succession of the south, the war was inevitable. The North was not going to trust the South, nor the opposite. The North had a fortress in the mouth of the South's most important harbor (Fort Sumter in Charleston). The South had land almost within artillery range of the Capital of the North.

Answer 6

The Civil War was inevitable because of the"hothead" politicians from both factions. Had the southerners been more willing to compromise on some issues then they would not have seceeded. The northern politicians decided they knew what was best for everyone and they were the only ones who could possibly be right.

Had there been compromise, none of that would have happened.

Answer 7

Not a darned thing civil about it...I believe both sides were spoiling for a fight, regardless of the "cooler heads" of whom there were far too few...the South did not want Congress interfering in their internal affairs, of which slavery was way down the list...perhaps the Union could have been preserved without such massive bloodshed and destruction, but in retrospect, I am not sure the powers of the day could come up with a way to prevent it...
dickserrill

Answer 8

I think it could have been sorted out without more than a half million estimated deaths on both sides. It was half going that way. You have to remember even Robert E. Lee had freed his slaves and disapproved of it as a fact. He was not alone. And the old picture of slaves being a part of family was not that wrong. Simple truth is you can't live to close quarters with anyone on the same patch of ground for life times without that happening. But extremist's on both sides were beating the war drum. I am not excusing slavery. In any form it was one of the worst abuses of humanity that ever existed. Or Racism. I have stood up to that all my life. It really is the fact people on both side's had been bred on the fact of different issues for half a century. They were boiling mad both ways. It only took a spark to set off....

Answer 9

I seldom think about it at all. Given Lincoln as president and his controlling mindset it was inevitable. Perhaps someone else would have not been so threatened and greedy and would have allowed the South to secede and work out their own issues.

It is correctly called the War of Northern Aggression, you know.

Answer 10

USA would not have been the USA of today , united and strong , if there was no Civil War ! What would you do if a few seceded away from your country ?