Why did the North fight the civil war?

[Dr. Keith]

It has not actually been explained. So, they were concerned about competition expanding west. Why do they want to expand west? Why do they value that?

You are questioning the value of new territory to a fledgling country?

 

[TraneWreck]

It has not actually been explained. So, they were concerned about competition expanding west. Why do they want to expand west? Why do they value that?

You really need to ask why a young, expanding country would want to limit competition for land and resources?

 

[Spindrift]

It has not actually been explained. So, they were concerned about competition expanding west. Why do they want to expand west? Why do they value that?

You can't think of any reasons why they would want to expand west and value that?

 

[TraneWreck]

They just didn't like competing with slave owners. I think TraneWreck gives the north a bit more credit than I would with regard to wanting to abolish slavery. It wasn't the moral outrage that won the day, it was the unfair competition. They had to pay the Irish and other working classes up north, but the south was getting free labor and it tipped the tables unfairly. In many ways.

Of course the North didn't fight solely for humanitarian reasons, but don't forget that the Republican Party was formed to oppose slavery and their candidate won the election. Ending slavery was not the primary reason the North fought, as I said, it was a war fought by the South to defend slavery, but anti-slavery sentiment was strong enough that it won the presidency.

I think it's wrong to pretend like the Union was entirely made up of angry John Browns; so, too, is it wrong to think that no one cared about slavery, as a disgusting institution.

 

[BobTheCoward]

You are questioning the value of new territory to a fledgling country?

No. If you answer that question, you will say something like new resources. Whatever those resources flow into is some final product. Why do humans value these things?

 

[TraneWreck]

No. If you answer that question, you will say something like new resources. Whatever those resources flow into is some final product. Why do humans value these things?

Relevant portion begins at 0:55

 

[Spindrift]

No. If you answer that question, you will say something like new resources. Whatever those resources flow into is some final product. Why do humans value these things?

Really? Why do humans value things? You're in the wrong section, this ain't philosophy.

 

[BobTheCoward]

Really? Why do humans value things? You're in the wrong section, this ain't philosophy.

Okay, Why did people value things in history?

 

[Dr. Keith]

Of course the North didn't fight solely for humanitarian reasons, but don't forget that the Republican Party was formed to oppose slavery and their candidate won the election. Ending slavery was not the primary reason the North fought, as I said, it was a war fought by the South to defend slavery, but anti-slavery sentiment was strong enough that it won the presidency.

I think it's wrong to pretend like the Union was entirely made up of angry John Browns; so, too, is it wrong to think that no one cared about slavery, as a disgusting institution.

I think it is a spectrum. I think you are pretty close to the right balance, I would place myself a little closer to the line of slavery be an economic problem than a moral one, but either way it was a problem.

But, for the bigger picture, I really liked your position as stated here:

The way to say it is, the Civil War was not fought to end slavery, it was fought to defend it. Fortunately, it was a loss.

 

[Jungle Jim]

Okay, Why did people value things in history?

Bob, now your just being obtuse. Several posters have provided you with meaningful answers to your questions. At some point you have to try and think for yourself.

 

[Spindrift]

Okay, Why did people value things in history?

Because things are valuable.

 

[Locknar]

1) Wanting to eliminate slavery
2) Wanting to preserve the union
3) Wanting more turf and more stuff. Countries are rarely just OK with a big chunk of it seceding. Are you surprised?

I think you could bundle #2 and #3 into economics. The last thing wanted was a competitor doing a "land grab" along with the industrialized north needing raw materials to process and turn into goods...raw materials that came from the south.

That aside, it really depends on your point of view (as it were). In the south, they were viewed as fighting for freedom, etc. In the north, they were viewed as traitors that wrongly stole Federal land, resources, etc.

 

[crescent]

No. If you answer that question, you will say something like new resources. Whatever those resources flow into is some final product. Why do humans value these things?

You might as well ask the British, the Russians, The French, the Dutch, The Spanish, the Belgians, and the Portuguese. They all fought wars in the 19th century to acquire territory for resources. It was the normal Euro-centric thinking of the time (Japan did it too, perhaps influenced by Europe). The Germans tried it in the mid-twentieth century with less enviable results.

It has not totally gone away. Why did the Chinese fight to retake Tibet and Xinjaing? Why did the Indians and Pakistanis fight each other for Kashmir? Why did Britain and Argentina fight over the Falklands/Maldives? Why does modern China want to control the South China sea? Why does Russia care about what happens in Syria and Ukraine? Lest I appear unreflective, why are the U.S. and its allies still so involved in the mid-East?

Human nature is a thing.

 

[Belz...]

Okay, Why did people value things in history?

- Daddy why is the sky blue?
- Because there's water in the air.
- Why?
- Because water turns to vapour at certain temperatures.
- Why?
- Water just doesn't have very strong bonds.
- Why?
- Physical properties.
- Why?
- Go to your room.

 

[BobTheCoward]

Bob, now your just being obtuse. Several posters have provided you with meaningful answers to your questions. At some point you have to try and think for yourself.

And I thank them for those answers because they are very good. But while we are here, and people are interested, we might as well dive deeper into it.

 

[Spindrift]

And I thank them for those answers because they are very good. But while we are here, and people are interested, we might as well dive deeper into it.

Why is that a good idea?

 

[BobTheCoward]

Why is that a good idea?

I didn't say it was. Like most of my ideas, it is likely terrible.

 

[Belz...]

I didn't say it was. Like most of my ideas, it is likely terrible.

Why?

 

[BobTheCoward]

Why?

My life is practically crippled by these types of questions to the point I am unable to think straight.

 

[Spindrift]

I didn't say it was. Like most of my ideas, it is likely terrible.

Okay, if you think it's a terrible idea, let's not bother.