The American Civil War: Interpretations of Democracy

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One of the most convoluted themes in history is that of the meaning of war. The American Civil War specifically offers many differing explanations as to the true cause for which over 600,000 men dedicated and lost their lives. The Civil War was particularly so, in that there was no universal acceptance of the objectives or causes of the war from either side. Leaders from the Union and the Confederacy delineated distinctly different reasons for fighting, magnifying the hostility between the two regions both before and during wartime. The Confederacy insisted that, based on overwhelming sentiments, its secession was an inevitability that was within the bounds of constitutional law. The South justified this secession and subsequent violence by claiming that the federal government had become tyrannical and was infringing on state rights. In the years leading up to the Civil War, a matter that was pertinent for both sides was the issue of the implementation of slavery into newly admitted states as the nation expanded westward. The subject of slavery in this instance was more political than it was moral, as the issue revolved around the concept of representation in Congress. The North focused its efforts on preventing the union from dividing into separate factions. From the Union standpoint, the Civil War represented a fight to protect the union of the states and the future of democracy for the entire world. The Civil War, for both the Union and the Confederacy, was a fight for the preservation of each side’s conception of legal and natural rights as they pertain to liberty for all. Throughout the war, both sides put forth a substantial effort toward gaining support from nations abroad. Foreign acknowledgement and support of southern... ... middle of paper ... ..., and both claimed to be fighting against the tyranny of the other. The Union sought to see the end of the tyranny of the minority before it caused the destruction of democracy. The Confederacy felt that it was being abused by the tyranny of the majority. The Union maintained that it was impossible for the South to “legally” secede from the United States. The South insisted that state rights were paramount in the instance of secession, and that it was possible to secede peacefully and lawfully. The issues that divided the North and the South were both complex and fundamental and endure to this day. The causes, goals, and significance of the war for us as Americans are still a part of our national discussion as we debate the issues of representative government, the tyranny of the majority/minority, and the importance of adherence to constitutional principles.

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