The History of the Civil War and our Southern Heritage have been clouded for years in our public schools, slavery was an issue but not the reason for the Civil War it was actually fought for economic reasons, most Southerners did not own slaves so why would they fight to preserve it. The Confederate Battle Flag stands for Pride and Heritage in the South not hate and racism.
Cause of The War for Southern Independence
The Civil War was a war of aggression against the South. The Northern states had the majority of the industrial capabilities and depended on raw products from the South to survive. The Southern states grew tired of high tariffs and over taxation without sharing in the revenue received by the Northern states from Southern products.
The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 was the beginning of the secession of seven states in the South. South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas seceded from the union and formed The Confederate States of America. The Confederate states were able to trade directly with other nations with a much lower Confederate tariff. Rather than fairly compete with the low Confederate tariff by lowering the federal tariff, The Lincoln Republicans and their Northern financial backers chose instead to destroy the Confederacy by force.
One of the first things Jefferson Davis did after assuming office as president of the Confederate States of America was to send a peace delegation to Washington, D.C., in an effort to establish friendly ties with the federal government. The Confederacy offered to pay the South’s share of the national debt and to pay for all federal installations in the Southern states. Lincoln rejected all Confederate peace offers and insisted that federal armies would invade the Southern states if they didn’t renounce their independence and recognize federal authority.
The Confederate government attempted to negotiate the withdrawal of a small federal garrison that occupied Fort Sumter, South Carolina, on December 26, 1860. Lincoln decided not to withdraw the garrison. Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. Lincoln issued a call-up of 75,000 troops to put down what he claimed was a "Rebellion" in the South. Four more Southern states joined the Confederacy Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Lincoln sent federal armies into the South. Kentucky and Missouri joined the Confederacy even though their efforts to secede had failed.
Slavery was not the issue for The War of Northern Aggression (aka Civil War); Lincoln himself stated, "The war is being fought for the Union, not slavery". In 1862 in Tennessee a squad of Union soldiers captured a lone, ragged and underfed Confederate soldier. It was obvious that this Confederate soldier owned no slaves and was a worker of the land himself.
The Union soldiers asked the Confederate "What are you fighting for?"
The Confederate soldier simply replied, "I'm fighting because you are down here".
The Confederacy did not want to go to war. Simply put The War for Southern Independence was fought by The South to preserve their God given right to govern and defend themselves as provided under the Constitution. The North losing the Southern States and allowing them their independence would mean economic disaster for the North. This would never be tolerated and would be stopped by whatever means necessary! The war was not fought to end slavery; the war was fought because Lincoln refused to allow the South to go in peace.
Flags of The Confederacy
The Bonnie Blue was the first unofficial flag of the Confederacy. It can be traced back to 1810 and was used as a symbol of Southern Independence. Sometimes used as a flag of secession. The Bonnie Blue served as the unofficial flag of the Confederacy until the Stars and Bars replaced it.
The First Official Flag of The Confederacy (The First National or Stars and Bars) was used from March 1861 to May 1863; the seven stars represent the original seven states, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. This flag was replaced because it closely resembled the Stars and Stripes used by the union making it hard to distinguish on the battlefield.
The Second Official Flag of The Confederacy (The Second National or Stainless Banner) was used from May 1863 to March 1865, The ANV Battle Flag or Southern Cross was placed on a white background to set it apart from the Stars and Stripes. The thirteen stars represent the original seven states plus four more that joined us, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The two remaining stars represent Kentucky and Missouri who joined us although their efforts to secede had failed.
The Third Official Flag of The Confederacy (The Third National) was adapted in 1865, a broad band of red was added to the end of the flag because when hanging limp the solid white background resembled a flag of surrender. This is the Adopted Flag of The Confederate States of America.
The Confederate Battle Flag "The St. Andrews Cross" flew from 1863 throughout the Confederacy, The Battle Flag was designed as an official banner to distinguish it from the Stars and Bars on the field of battle, and it flew proudly over every battlefield.
The Confederate Navy Jack or Southern Cross was used as a navy jack beginning in 1863, Although it was not actually a National Flag of the Confederacy, This is the most recognized Flag of the South which many people misquote the name as The Stars and Bars. The Confederate Battle Flag or Southern Cross brings a sense of Pride and Heritage to the South. Let's keep her flying.
The Civil War was a war of aggression against the South. The Northern states had the majority of the industrial capabilities and depended on raw products from the South to survive. The Southern states grew tired of high tariffs and over taxation without sharing in the revenue received by the Northern states from Southern products.
The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 was the beginning of the secession of seven states in the South. South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas seceded from the union and formed The Confederate States of America. The Confederate states were able to trade directly with other nations with a much lower Confederate tariff. Rather than fairly compete with the low Confederate tariff by lowering the federal tariff, The Lincoln Republicans and their Northern financial backers chose instead to destroy the Confederacy by force.
One of the first things Jefferson Davis did after assuming office as president of the Confederate States of America was to send a peace delegation to Washington, D.C., in an effort to establish friendly ties with the federal government. The Confederacy offered to pay the South’s share of the national debt and to pay for all federal installations in the Southern states. Lincoln rejected all Confederate peace offers and insisted that federal armies would invade the Southern states if they didn’t renounce their independence and recognize federal authority.
The Confederate government attempted to negotiate the withdrawal of a small federal garrison that occupied Fort Sumter, South Carolina, on December 26, 1860. Lincoln decided not to withdraw the garrison. Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. Lincoln issued a call-up of 75,000 troops to put down what he claimed was a "Rebellion" in the South. Four more Southern states joined the Confederacy Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Lincoln sent federal armies into the South. Kentucky and Missouri joined the Confederacy even though their efforts to secede had failed.
Slavery was not the issue for The War of Northern Aggression (aka Civil War); Lincoln himself stated, "The war is being fought for the Union, not slavery". In 1862 in Tennessee a squad of Union soldiers captured a lone, ragged and underfed Confederate soldier. It was obvious that this Confederate soldier owned no slaves and was a worker of the land himself.
The Union soldiers asked the Confederate "What are you fighting for?"
The Confederate soldier simply replied, "I'm fighting because you are down here".
The Confederacy did not want to go to war. Simply put The War for Southern Independence was fought by The South to preserve their God given right to govern and defend themselves as provided under the Constitution. The North losing the Southern States and allowing them their independence would mean economic disaster for the North. This would never be tolerated and would be stopped by whatever means necessary! The war was not fought to end slavery; the war was fought because Lincoln refused to allow the South to go in peace.
The Bonnie Blue was the first unofficial flag of the Confederacy. It can be traced back to 1810 and was used as a symbol of Southern Independence. Sometimes used as a flag of secession. The Bonnie Blue served as the unofficial flag of the Confederacy until the Stars and Bars replaced it.
The First Official Flag of The Confederacy (The First National or Stars and Bars) was used from March 1861 to May 1863; the seven stars represent the original seven states, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. This flag was replaced because it closely resembled the Stars and Stripes used by the union making it hard to distinguish on the battlefield.
The Second Official Flag of The Confederacy (The Second National or Stainless Banner) was used from May 1863 to March 1865, The ANV Battle Flag or Southern Cross was placed on a white background to set it apart from the Stars and Stripes. The thirteen stars represent the original seven states plus four more that joined us, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The two remaining stars represent Kentucky and Missouri who joined us although their efforts to secede had failed.
The Third Official Flag of The Confederacy (The Third National) was adapted in 1865, a broad band of red was added to the end of the flag because when hanging limp the solid white background resembled a flag of surrender. This is the Adopted Flag of The Confederate States of America.
The Confederate Battle Flag "The St. Andrews Cross" flew from 1863 throughout the Confederacy, The Battle Flag was designed as an official banner to distinguish it from the Stars and Bars on the field of battle, and it flew proudly over every battlefield.
The Confederate Navy Jack or Southern Cross was used as a navy jack beginning in 1863, Although it was not actually a National Flag of the Confederacy, This is the most recognized Flag of the South which many people misquote the name as The Stars and Bars. The Confederate Battle Flag or Southern Cross brings a sense of Pride and Heritage to the South. Let's keep her flying.
Just one thought--it wasn't a Civil War. A civil war is two groups fighting to control one government/nation. The South was fighting for independence. though it is confusing for many people, maybe The War Between the States, or the War for Southern Independence, the War of Northern Aggression, etc.
ReplyDeleteVery true statement, it wasn't a civil war at all in spite of what we have always been told, any of your suggestions are correct WBTS works for me.
ReplyDelete