Slavery was on it's last leg long before the South's struggle for independence. It had already disappeared on the European front (for the most part). However, even after the war, the slave trading ships of the North still dealt in the supply of slaves to the Carribean areas. Even in European waters where slave trading had been outlawed, non-American slave trading vessels would often hoist the American flag if threatened, because authorities would ignore the American slave trading ships.
The northern states had dropped slavery only when enough cheap labor became available from immigrants. They didn't, however, drop racism. Northern states passed laws forbidding Negroes from entering their states, working, owning property, etc. Most people loyal to the northern cause, were thus not because they wanted to stamp out slavery, but because losing the revenues from the southern states would cripple their economy. Many of those in the north who did not agree with forcing the southern states to remain in the union were jailed when Lincoln ignored the constitution's habeas corpus. Many of these ugly facts of the war are not taught to the school children in their history lessons.
Virginia, a southern state, was the 1st to outlaw slave trading. Northern states still traded in slaves long after the war ended. Brazil was the last country to outlaw slavery.
If the Southern states had achieved their goal of independence, their economy, which had been ravaged by the northern states in unbalanced tariffs, would have blossomed. After cotton died out, the last remnants of slavery would have vanished. The south would have become more industrialized out of necessity. Their constitution, had it survived, would closer resemble the constitution of the American forefathers than does present day America. Race relations would undoubtedly be much better today, as southerners would not have suffered the atrocities of "reconstruction" where they were humiliated and ravaged by the victors. This, I believe, is the catalyst of the ensuing resentment.
The northern states, however, would had suffered great economical losses had the south won. They would have survived, but would probably pretty much resemble some of the present day northern industrial cities, filled with squalid living conditions, crowded tenements, and much poverty.
Chances are, the north and south would have eventually reunited, but would be more of a true "United" states with more state sovereignty as the writers of the constitution had envisioned, rather than a "Conglomerated" states with the federal govt. being the main governing body. The federal govt.'s main purpose would be defense, as was intended from the beginning.
References available. It's really interesting to study actual history, instead of the spoon fed kind of which textbooks are made. It's important to remember that the victors get to write the history books.
Comments
You are absolutely correct. Lincoln was the greatest traitor in American history. +5
by Ron C on July 7th, 2009
I do not like Mister Lincoln but I do not think I would call him that. He was doing what he thought right for the nation. I differ but would not call him a traitor. His is one birthday I do not celebrate
by Karen Anne Queen of AB on July 7th, 2009
What do you call a guy that suspended habeas corpus, ran a war that killed 100 thousand people, targeted non-combatants, and ruined the economy? I guess you could call him Mr. Bush.
by Ron C on July 7th, 2009
Dear Ron, on this we agree. Well said
by Karen Anne Queen of AB on July 7th, 2009
Thanks Karen Ann
by Ron C on July 7th, 2009
I thought the question was regarding the Civil War, so I'll go ahead and toss out my two-cents worth .....
The true reason the war was fought was to maintain the union.
If the southern states had been allowed to leave the union would cease to exist, and possibly have split into even more factions.
I doubt very seriously that slavery would still exist simply because dsit would no longer be an economic feasibility, and could not have expanded into newer/future states and territories.
Several of my ancestors fought in the war - for the Confederacy - but none of them - like many others - ever owned slaves. They were defending their families and homes.
by Anonymous on October 25th, 2009
Anonymous, you are correct and when the Civil war was happening, my ancestors were virtual slaves in eastern Europe.
The point of the war was to preserve the Union and was essentially a war brought by northern corporations against southern elite. Of course most of the dying was done by proxy. Very few of the corporate leaders were injured and the assets of the losers were confiscated. The net result was slavery for everybody, not just the blacks. In truth, most of the people who died did not benefit from the victory.
It is analogous with virtually every war we have fought since. Since Lincoln worked for these forces, he is no less a tyrant than Hitler. I am sure they both thought they were doing the right thing for their countries.
by Ron C on October 26th, 2009
The irony is that in 'preserving the Union', the North destroyed the spirit of the original USA. The Founding Fathers WANTED a weak Federal govt. They realized that a strong govt can steal the sovereignty of the People far more easily than a weak one can. Which is exactly what has happened.
by LarryH54 on March 25th, 2011