Was the American Civil War fought to free the Slaves

        The tension between the two increased in 1777-1858 as Northern States banned slavery and there were calls for the central government to abolish slavery in the South as well. For the North this was a case of imposing themselves on the South and the South did not like the sound of that. After Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party came to office in 1860 they feared that there whole way of life was threatened. However all president Lincoln was concerned about was saving the Union as explained in a perplexing speech he gave in 1862 (Source 7, page 29).

        The main reason for the war was economic division. The issue of slaves was a bit on the part, more of a valid excuse for going to war. There were many economic issues. The two opposites had different ways in which the economy developed. The North wanted import taxes to be increased to protect their manufactured products from foreign competition. However the South opposed these taxes as they’re whole life was based on trade between countries. The South was basically envious of the North as they thought they received better treatment from the government.

        More support for the North in their views on slavery came streaming in from all across the world. Laws had passed in 1833 banning slavery throughout the British Empire. Industrialists also supported it so that the freed slaves could leave plantations and work for cheap labour in their factories. 11 Southern States broke away form the United States of America and formed the Confederate States of America in November 1860 sparking outrage and war.

        The result of the war was simply ironic. The importance of black soldiers was justified with the victory of the North who took them on. Although they were paid less than some white soldiers they proved a decisive factor. The South would obviously not take on slaves. 37,000 black Union soldiers died in ‘their fight for freedom.’ The South soon realised the Blacks were significantly helped the North. The ban on black soldiers in their army was lifted in 1865 but by the end of the month the South was truly beaten. The war proved that blacks needed to be involved in society. The South made the mistake in not giving blacks the opportunity to prove themselves and the North prevailed thanks to their trust of the blacks. Near the end of the war the black soldiers also started to receive salaries competitive with the white people, so even the North discovered the full value of them.

        I conclude the freedom of slaves may have been just one of the reasons of the war, but in most respect it was just an excuse for the war- a reason for the North to take over. The war accidentally, proved thoroughly the high worth of the blacks in everyone’s eyes as equals.