The battle cry of freedom
This recounts the history of the New England Aid Company and its battle against slavery in Kansas from 1854 to 1861.
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What Hacker News says
- > The South seceded explcitly so they could keep black humans as slaves. Full stop. Any defense saying otherwise is playing into a bullshit narrative spun over years by southern apologists and the KKK.
Did you read the comment you're responding to? It doesn't say otherwise.
> The South fought to maintain black humans as slaves. The South fought to preserve white supremacy.
Here's where you become confused. The south seceded to maintain black humans as slaves. The south started a country to preserve white supremacy. The south fought because it was invaded.
> Anyone who argues otherwise is an idiot or a white supremacist trying to hide it.
Anyone who claims that an invaded country 'fought for' their moral failings as opposed to fighting against invasion is high on the invader's propaganda. Anyway, now that you know how to spell 'secede', consider continuing your education so as to prevent further embarrassment. Read 'Battle Cry of Freedom' by James McPherson--it's a good start.
- * They planned to fight a defensive war
* They had more military experience and a stronger military tradition
* They were more motivated
* There were a not-insignificant number of Northerners who weren't particularly in favor of fighting a war against slavery (which, despite the "states' rights" commentators, was the real cause of the war)
* They expected recognition from the British government due to their supposed dependence of southern cotton
I just finished the book _Battle Cry of Freedom_ a couple of weeks ago. It's a fantastic and very readable single-volume history of the war and the ~20 years leading up to it, and I think every American should read it for a clear understanding of why exactly the US Civil War happened
- Imperialism against people with abominable ethics is still imperialism.
When the southern states used their democratic institutions to secede, and then the North invaded 'to preserve the union', that was imperialism. Waging an imperial war and then freeing the slaves of the conquered doesn't retroactively make your war a just, non-imperialist one. It just makes you an imperialist whose moral views on slavery are superior to those of the people whom you conquered. But you're still an imperialist.
Now, if the Yanks had actually engaged in a moral crusade to free the slaves, that'd be one thing--but they didn't. If you think they did, then I'm guessing your understanding of the civil war comes from your education by said Union, or from movies. If this is the case, read a history book (Battle Cry of Freedom is a good start) and you'll find it impossible to believe that the Union fought the war to free the slaves. That the "moral crusade" nonsense is still peddled throughout the United States is a simple matter of the winners writing the history books (and nobody wanting to be seen sympathizing with slavers).
And since I'm certain you'll follow up with that tired old canard about the South starting the war at Ft. Sumpter, I'll provide you with the relevant history in advance:
0) Abraham Lincoln wins the 1860 presidential election on November 8, 1860. 1) On November 10, the South Carolina General Assembly passed a resolution calling for the people of S.C. to elect a commission to determine whether the state should secede. 2) Convention delegates were democratically elected on December 6. 3) These duly elected delegates convened in Columbia on December 17th. 4) They voted unanimously for secession. 5) The South Carolina General Assembly declared their independence on December 24. 6) At this point, American troops occupy Fort Sumpter, which at this point is foreign soil. 6) On Jan 9, the US attempts to reinforce the fort. They are prevented from doing so when Confederate artillery fires on the resupply ship. 7) On Jan 31, 1861, Governor Pickens demands the surrender of Fort Sumpter. 8) Lincoln sends multiple ships, with hundreds of soldiers and sailors, to reinforce the fort. 9) On April 11, knowing Lincoln plans to reinforce the occupying force, the Rebs once again demand the surrender of the fort. The commanding officer refused (then tried to play for time by making up conditions, which were refused). 10) At this point, American troops have been occupying foreign soil for ~4 months, and are effectively signaling their intent to stay indefinitely. 11) On April 12, the Rebs start shelling the fort. They shell it for 34 hours, then the Americans surrender. 12) After their surrender, before the Americans took down their flag, the Confederates allowed them to honor the flag with a 100 gun salute. One of the Yanks' guns misfired, killing Edward Galloway--the only American soldier who died.
You should feel free to say "well they were slavers, so fuck them". That's perfectly valid! But facts is facts, and the Civil War was imperialism.
- History:
* Russia Leaves the War by George Kennan * The Battle Cry of Freedom by James MacPherson
Fiction:
* Hunger by Knut Hamsun * White Teeth by Zadie Smith
Philosophy:
* Philosophy of Logic by W.V.O. Quine * Modes of Being by Paul Weiss * Phenomenology, Its Genesis and Prospect by Quentin Lauer * Philosophy of Right by Hegel
- I'm not sure how you conclude that from even your quoted source: slavery, states' rights to own humans as property, and the westward expansion of slavery and slave-holding into the territories are all about slavery. Slavery was a root tension from the founding of the Republic with an earlier Civil War in the 1820's only staved off by the Missouri compromise.
Since you are one of the top HN posters, I encourage you to read the founding documents and speeches of the Confederate States, as well as reputable historical works such as McPherson's "Battle Cry of Freedom".
- That is an absurd take. For all fields, most people are on the outside. Historical work for most people - produced by those on the outside - is how our society and culture understands itself.
I recently finished an excellent one volume history of the Civil War, "Battle Cry of Freedom." It was written by James McPherson, a historian. This book has informed my understanding of not just the Civil War, but also the lead up to it. I believe this context is essential for understanding where we are now.
