Often one will hear the explanation that it was States' Rights, or the rights of the states to decide the slavery question, with particular reference to the Missouri Compromise of 1854, I think it was called, involving whether newly admitted states west of the Mississippi River would be admitted with slavery practices allowed. In that sense, it was about "slavery"; but actually, it was about the right of states to DECIDE the issue of slavery individually by states; rather than by edict from above. The answer is not one or two simple words--slavery OR states' rights; but the entire history must be studied. Certainly many small farmers (in TN particularly) did NOT own slaves; but just as certainly, many large farmers "planters" DID. However, a large number of the front line soldiers, many of whom died, were from the "small farmer"--non-slave-holding families. Were they fighting about "slavery"? You can decide that; just please don't make value judgements using 2002 cultural values about events of 1862! Cleo in Clarksville, cdmhogan@usit.net

I think I need to read something on how slavery got started in this country. Any suggestions, anyone? Elaine ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cleo G Hogan" <cdmhogan@usit.net> To: <TNMONTGO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2002 9:26 PM Subject: [TNMONTGO-L] War Between the States Cause(s) > Often one will hear the explanation that it was States' Rights, or the > rights of the states to decide the slavery question, with particular > reference to the Missouri Compromise of 1854, I think it was called, > involving whether newly admitted states west of the Mississippi River would > be admitted with slavery practices allowed. In that sense, it was about > "slavery"; but actually, it was about the right of states to DECIDE the > issue of slavery individually by states; rather than by edict from above. > The answer is not one or two simple words--slavery OR states' rights; but > the entire history must be studied. > Certainly many small farmers (in TN particularly) did NOT own slaves; > but just as certainly, many large farmers "planters" DID. However, a large > number of the front line soldiers, many of whom died, were from the "small > farmer"--non-slave-holding families. Were they fighting about "slavery"? > You can decide that; just please don't make value judgements using 2002 > cultural values about events of 1862! Cleo in Clarksville, > cdmhogan@usit.net >