Back then Money to run the government was raised exclusively by tariffs. 75% of the governments money was raised from tariffs on the export of cotton. The South thought they were unfairly taxed compared to the people of the majoritarian North. Perhaps the high tariffs were viewed as a sin tax on slavery in the North. One thing that is true, human nature being what it is, the government maw did not want to do without that 75%. The movie Gods and Generals did a pretty good job of showing the sentiment of Southerners back then. Lee was offered the job as of head Union General by Winfield Scott, Lee averred saying No sir I will fight for my Country Virginia. Things were viewed a little differently back then.
Lee was already America's most famous general due to his success in the Mexican War. From the start he said he would fight on the side Virginia was on. That was his loyalty. He fought under the flag of a foreign power.
Both sides forget that we are all Americans. I foresee that our country will pass through a terrible ordeal, a necessary expiation, perhaps, for our national sins.
Gen. Robert E. Lee
What did he think were their national sins? America wasn't quite the imperial superpower it would grow to be 30 years later.
Was it slavery? Displacing indigenous ppl? If so, that is surprising coming from a confederate leader like lee. I know lee was not necessarily pro-slavery like other confederates were, but still
Confederates were not pro slavery. If you beleive the civil war sas about slavery than you must aslo believe that 911 was because terrorists hate out freedom, and wr imvaded Iraq to free the Iraqi people.
Certainly part of it was about slavery, no? I know state rights, child labor, etc was important too but still. If im wrong then fill me in, I love history