Skip to main content

What are some reasons why southerners might oppose the secession?

After Abraham Lincoln won the election of 1860, eleven southern states seceded from the Union. While they had various reasons for doing this, there were also good reasons why some southerners might have been opposed to secession.


One reason why southerners might have opposed secession was that the odds of the South winning the Civil War were very low. The North had many advantages over the South. The North had more people, more minerals, more...

After Abraham Lincoln won the election of 1860, eleven southern states seceded from the Union. While they had various reasons for doing this, there were also good reasons why some southerners might have been opposed to secession.


One reason why southerners might have opposed secession was that the odds of the South winning the Civil War were very low. The North had many advantages over the South. The North had more people, more minerals, more miles of railroad tracks, more factories, and more weapons. The North also had an established government with a brilliant leader. These advantages would make it very hard for the South to defeat the North.


The South also didn’t have support from the European countries. The Europeans weren’t willing to risk angering the Union by the supporting the South. Since the odds were against the South winning the war, the European countries withheld their support from the Confederacy. The Europeans wanted to see if the South could win a significant battle in the North before considering offering support to the South. That victory never occurred.


Another factor in opposing secession is that the southern war strategy would have led to a long war and would have had most of the fighting occurring in the South. This could leave the South in ruins after the Civil War ended. There also would be a substantial loss of life on both sides, and there were people who felt that was too big of a price to pay.


Some southerners were concerned about the economic impact of a Civil War. Some southerners depended on the U.S. government for their jobs. These people would lose their job if the South seceded. The South would also have to establish its own financial system. There could be significant issues with debt and with inflation as the South tried to develop their financial system. The southern economy also might struggle if the North imposed an effective economic blockade on the South.


There were reasons why some southerners could have opposed secession.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is hyperbole in the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his... The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him plu
Post a Comment
Read more

How can I analyze Moon and Six Pence by Somerset Maugham?

In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of... In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of that society. His decision to e
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some literary devices in Macbeth, Act V, Scene 1?

Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not... Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh, oh! (5.1.53-55) Hyperbole - Obvious exaggeration  There is also h
Post a Comment
Read more