Having grown up in the city that was home to the decisive turning point of the Civil War, I've always enjoyed reading about it...
Ran across an interesting article that illustrates some of the parallels between now and then, and dispels some of the misconceptions as well.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/04/08/civil. ... tml?hpt=C2
(...by the way, read "The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Civil War" - pretty interesting read from a different perspective.)
A look back - Civil War similarities?
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themadscientist
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Re: A look back - Civil War similarities?
I read that article a few days ago. Very interesting take and I agree with much of it. America has never really forgotten that time in our history. There are several divisive issues that were forced to resolution by the gun and American still harbor various resentments. Many of the comments illustrate it quite well.
There is no doubt that the south was invested in maintaining the slave system, but the fundamental right of individual states to choose their own path if their people wish it that was destroyed is unfortunately forgotten in the shadow of the repulsive practice the south chose to stand on. When southerners call it the "War of Northern Aggression," I can't dispute the kernel of truth in the statement.
There is no doubt that the south was invested in maintaining the slave system, but the fundamental right of individual states to choose their own path if their people wish it that was destroyed is unfortunately forgotten in the shadow of the repulsive practice the south chose to stand on. When southerners call it the "War of Northern Aggression," I can't dispute the kernel of truth in the statement.
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IBCoupe
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Re: A look back - Civil War similarities?
Look, every issue in the civil war tied back to slavery. That's what the other issues were about, fundamentally. And it makes sense because slavery was a bigger addiction then than oil is now. Slavery was a larger industry than everything else in the United States combined.
That's why, for the first 90 years, slavery was accommodated. That's why there were no fewer than nine provisions in the Constitution protecting slave-owner rights that were overturned by the Thirteenth Amendment. That's why slaves had three-fifths of a vote instead of none at all. That's why the Supreme Court ruled that Americans of African slave descent were ineligible for citizenship That's why the first hint of a President that might hold abolitionist sympathies sparked a desire to secede. That's why Confederate leaders planned to build an empire greater than Rome on the back of that one industry. And, please, a State's right to determine its own policies does not amount to a State's right to take their ball and go home. The South fired the first shot of their own volition, and they did so having already committed less violent acts of treason. "War of Northern Aggression" my hairy patoot.
But, with that out of the way, the parallel that disturbs me the most is that today, as then, voices of moderation are drowned out, and "compromise" has been turned into a dirty word.
That's why, for the first 90 years, slavery was accommodated. That's why there were no fewer than nine provisions in the Constitution protecting slave-owner rights that were overturned by the Thirteenth Amendment. That's why slaves had three-fifths of a vote instead of none at all. That's why the Supreme Court ruled that Americans of African slave descent were ineligible for citizenship That's why the first hint of a President that might hold abolitionist sympathies sparked a desire to secede. That's why Confederate leaders planned to build an empire greater than Rome on the back of that one industry. And, please, a State's right to determine its own policies does not amount to a State's right to take their ball and go home. The South fired the first shot of their own volition, and they did so having already committed less violent acts of treason. "War of Northern Aggression" my hairy patoot.
But, with that out of the way, the parallel that disturbs me the most is that today, as then, voices of moderation are drowned out, and "compromise" has been turned into a dirty word.
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AZhitman
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Re: A look back - Civil War similarities?
^ Well-said, for the most part.
My gripe with the whole issue, and it's a bit off-topic, is the revisionist history that assumes that magically, slavery only held sway south of the Mason-Dixon. Truth be told, the North benefitted from slavery as well.
And, at the risk of sounding like I'm rationalizing, I often wonder if the current descendants of 19th-century slaves would prefer to hop in a time machine and find themselves where they'd have been without the unwilling and extreme sacrifices of their forebears. I think there's a real opportunity for honoring those people that's been lost forever in the din of "reparations". Don't freak out, just think about it.
My gripe with the whole issue, and it's a bit off-topic, is the revisionist history that assumes that magically, slavery only held sway south of the Mason-Dixon. Truth be told, the North benefitted from slavery as well.
And, at the risk of sounding like I'm rationalizing, I often wonder if the current descendants of 19th-century slaves would prefer to hop in a time machine and find themselves where they'd have been without the unwilling and extreme sacrifices of their forebears. I think there's a real opportunity for honoring those people that's been lost forever in the din of "reparations". Don't freak out, just think about it.