As Jeffrey Blankfort and others have pointed out the freeing of the
slaves takes on many facets in the dynamic of the Civil War. 40 years
ago in Jr. High we were taught (in Kerman, CA) that the Civil War was
not fought over slavery, but over states rights.
I found that a disingenous interpretation of fact considering that the
issue of states rights arose over slavery and the apportioning of slave
holding status among newly admitted states. Of course it is a
convenient interpretation for southern apologists.
On the surface the war was fought over slavery, even if the actual
freeing of the slaves was done in steps and in response to other
concerns. Of course beneath the surface flow the economic reasons which
may have been the real precipitators of the conflict, but whatever the
underlying causes, slavery was the prominent issue and an end to slavery
was a fortunate result of a Union victory.
-- Jerry West Editor/publisher/janitor ---------------------------------------------------- THE RECORD On line news from Nootka Sound & Canada's West Coast An independent, progressive regional publication http://www.island.net/~record/
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