What They Fought For Chapter Summaries

The challenges that the Union and the Confederacy faced during the Civil War were very different. Critical weaknesses that seemed unfit for war, plagued the opposing American forces, and would serve to be a continuous obstacle that would need to be conquered by patriotism of the people, for their opposing views. To allow for both sides to be competitive, the efforts put forth had to mold to the varied needs of the armies by both the civilian population and their militaries. To the people in the south the similarity to the colonists in the Revolutionary War, was assimilated to their separatist cause in the Civil War and would be their drive to compete with the dominating Northern states. This mindset started the Confederacy in the Civil

Ironically, both the Union soldiers and the Confederate soldiers appear to have been fighting for the same overall causes. Both, the Confederate and the Union soldiers, “expressed about the same degree of patriotism and ideological conventions.” Confederate states fought for “independence, for their property, for their very survival as a nation,” as well as “resistance to tyranny” (McPherson 13, 27, 36). Similarly, the Union states portrayed the same causes as the Confederate states, including patriotism, liberty, upholding of the constitutional law, maintaining the legacy of the American Revolution, and additionally the dissolution of anarchy. Just as the inclinations for the continuance of the warfare were quite similar, both Union and Confederate soldiers attempted to justify their reasons and causes by reflecting on the Revolutionary War. The Revolutionary War (1776-1783), also referred to as the American War of Independence, was the fight of the thirteen colonies to become an independent

The first side that gets addressed is the Confederate side. While there are many different reasons that the soldiers fought in this civil war, the one of the main causes was for the use of slavery. Many soldiers had the mindset to fight for “a free white man’s government instead of living under a black republican government” (53). This will to uphold the racial inequality was seen in the way the South fought with passion and hatred against the change of their lives (19). Confederate soldiers were mostly bought into the war, due to the plantation owners sending someone else in their names. Soldiers

Both sides, the union and confederacy, had different opinions as to what honor for their country. The Union believed that should if they should fail in the fight for preservation of the union all that the original founders fought for would be lost. The Confederacy believed possessions, such as slaves, were part of the right to freedom. This is the main reason North wanted to separate from the confederacy. The division between the North and South were very apparent. The South was primarily fighting for “property and homes” (McPherson 117). On the other hand, the North was fighting for freedom of all men and unification.

The question was asked: "Why did the north fight"(pg.27). The confederates battled for their liberties, independence, and property. Also, letters were talked about how the northern troopers battled for the heritage of the American revolution. These officers trusted that as Americans it was their obligation to battle. They felt in the event that they didn't get enrolled in the armed force or left the war before the deed was done they weren't Americans and were sell outs. And the men of the war felt themselves as men and warriors for their mother country.

The Civil War began as a purely military effort with limited political objectives. The North was fighting for reunification, and the South for independence.

In Shaara’s description of the battles, he gives the impression that the civil war is just about southern secession, but in reality the war is based on a number of reasons. The Confederates are trying to gain southern independence, and the Union is trying to prevent this from happening. Also, aside from southern secession, the northern soldiers are convinced the war is based on slavery, as exemplified when Chamberlain’s brother, Tom, says, “If it weren’t for the slaves, there’d never have been no war…that’s what it’s all about, and that’s what them fellers died for…I don’t understand it at all.” (343) This represents an equally agreed opinion of the North, who don’t understand the importance of slavery to the South and why they are dieing

Was the Civil War really about slavery? Often, there is conflict surrounding the Civil War and why it was fought. Overwhelmingly, most people believe the motive for The Civil War was slavery. However, Many Historians argue that other factors must have superseded the cause of the Civil War: factors including states ' rights, economic differences between Northern and Southern States, and social reputation. The belief that the Southern States were willing to fight for a morally repugnant institution, such as slavery, is difficult to believe for many people. In spite of skeptical beliefs, The abundance of information regarding the Civil War suggests that slavery was the major cause of the conflict. Alexander Stevenson, vice president of the confederacy stated “Our new Government is founded upon exactly the opposite ideas; its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the Negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and normal condition. Still, in the midst of clear evidence there are those who are reluctant to acknowledge slavery as the main cause of the Civil War. The reason why people neglect the mistake of slavery is the difficulty in accepting that American People were involved in such a catastrophic event. Moreover, Slavery was the biggest reason for the Civil War, and will always be the

Confederates believed that fighting in the war would be the only way to preserve their new Southern nation and if they did not fight they would “no longer have a country worthy of the name”. Southern identify themeselves as they wanted a glorious new nation that must be preserved through fighting the war. Fighting for their country meant to protect and defend their families. Although it was hard for the soldiers, as they were men who were used to a different lifestyle, to leave the comforts of their home and family but they knew that fighting for their beliefs was the only way to secure their families. Family was their motivation to continue fighting.

organization of the book is a compare and contrast organization method. The first chapter discusses the Confederates view of the war and how they felt about the situation at large. However, the second chapter is about the Unions side of the war. They both felt that they were fighting for the same things their forefathers fought for such as freedom and liberty. Finally, the third chapter discusses one of the main platforms of the civil war slavery. The Confederates wanted to keep their slaves because they felt like it was their god given right but the Union wanted to get ride of slavery since they felt that it was against the constitution. This method is very effective

Civil War is defined as a war between citizens of the same country. Why would America have this fight? The Northern states of America decided that they would no longer tolerate the Southern states treating African Americans as slaves because of the color of their skin. When disputes were brought up over this issue between the North and South, the South was too persistent to have slaves. They worried that the North would be successful in abolishing slavery, so in result, the South went against the North. There were many elements that the Civil War was know for, some of the main ones were causes, key figures, battles, and the outcome of the war.

The Civil War divided America in two groups the North and the South. From the Southern point of view, this war was a War of Rebellion or a War for Southern

Wars are not fought in a vacuum, and the Civil War is no exception. The Confederacy--which lacked the manpower, industry, and infrastructure of their Northern counterpart-- lost the war on the battlefield. However, a failure to examine the social and cultural landscape before the bombardment of Fort Sumter and after Appomattox does a great disservice to the Civil War era.

The Confederates did not share this same worldview. For the South, there was nothing Civil about this war. This was a revolution. Misguided or not, the Southern States saw the Union as a tyrannical oppressor, and they wanted their freedom. They wanted to become a sovereign nation. They wanted to become the Confederate States of America. This was easier said than done. To the United States of America, the Confederacy was an insurrection that needed to be extinguished. The longer the war waged, the better suited the Union was to win the war. If the Confederate States were to survive, they needed international help. Badly.

When did the civil war start? On April 12, 1861, the confederate forces attacked the Union in Charleston Bay and fought till about April 9, 1865. Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia in the village of Appomattox Court House. How many people were injured and killed in the civil war? The exact number of people killed or wounded is not exactly known, between 640,000 and 700,000. What reasons lead up to the civil war. There were many causes that lead to the civil war but it was mainly because of the idea of slavery. What started the civil war? Most people are lead to believe that they were started after the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Who won the civil war? The war was won by the Union also knows as the northern states.