Secession of the South
Let me start by saying that the majority of the population did not anticipate a civil war.
How can you tear a whole country in half? Well...
Let's start with slavery. It wasn't the reason for the war, but it was definitely a catalyst. Slavery was the "way of life" for so many Americans living in the south. But when treaties and compromises came out to try and find middle ground for all the controversy over slavery, the southern states were not happy.
When the election for president started in 1860, leaders in the south told the people to secede from the union if Lincoln was elected. Why? They thought he was an abolitionist, and they really, really liked the extra cash that slavery got them. If Lincoln made slavery against the law while he was he office, that extra cash would disappear. The south flourished on slavery; it made them successful.
Lincoln's election brings me to the real reason why the civil war was fought. Contrary to popular belief, it was not over slaves themselves, though they were a big part of it. It was about the south seceding and becoming its own country.
On December 20, 1860, South Carolina officially seceded from the union. Followed by Mississippi, a month later. Eleven states had seceded from the union in less than a year. Incredible.
The United States became the divided states. The new half was named the Confederate States. These Confederates were all over the secession. To prove it, they printed their own money, elected leaders, and made their own laws.
What better way to deal with half your nation turning away from you? A war of course! This wasn't the first solution to come to mind, though. Many approaches to this were considered. They were not moving fast enough, however.
Impatient, the south made a first attack on Fort Sumter in Charleston, beginning the four-year war. The union did not fight back to end slavery. It fought to conserve itself.
Four years later, the war ended and peace was finally found.
Don't believe me? You should. I have proof and everything:)
I personally learned a ton from this. I think the clarification on why the civil war was fought is very important. People say and think it was all about slavery, without knowing the entire reason. I apologize for being stereotypical, mentioning some big causes of this war. This blog is about secession, with details about the major causes.
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