A Question On "America: The Story Of Us"

[David Meek]

We've been following the series on the History Channel titled America: The Story Of Us with interest. We just finished the episode leading up to the start of the Civil War and I have a question.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ISN'T IN ANY WAY TRYING TO BE INFLAMMATORY. I WOULD LIKE INFORMED AND TOLERANT DISCUSSION ONLY. ANYTHING ELSE AND I'LL DELETE THE ENTIRE THREAD.

Growing up, I remember being taught in American history class that the overall cause of the South seceding from the Union was over the presumed loss of the individual "states' rights". That the states making up the South would be told by the North what was legal and what was not, and also how to administer their own individual governments under the umbrella of the Federal government. As I understand it, the largest part of the "states' rights" issue did involve the question of slavery, but that wasn't the only thing that spurred the two factions to war.

This episode put it that the hideous practice was the only motivating factor. Did you learn the same or something different?

[Alaric]

I learned the same historically accurate things you did. I also lived in the South for 30 years and can state that the History (Discovery , A&E , Bravo) channels get it wrong more often than not. It's fine programming , but not accurate enough to get to be called the "Learning Channel"-which is the worst of all.

[technodanvan]

I believe you're right David, and it wasn't all that long ago that I learned it that way. (I'm 26)

[Alaric]

For the sake of clarification , I am not in favor of slavery. That was the talking point that led to our Civil War , but it was a propagandized rallying cry that was intended to drum up support for military action against American citizens.
And , yes , the practice needed to be stopped even if it meant war.

[David Meek]

For the sake of clarification , I am not in favor of slavery...
And , yes , the practice needed to be stopped even if it meant war.

I agree absolutely.

[Chris D]

I've always learned/read that the "incompletely educated" reason behind the Civil War was slavery. The more accurate cause of the war was a disagreement over state rights. The North believed that certain issues could and should be governed by the federal government, such as whether slavery should be legal. Southern states strongly adhered to the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution, which states,

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Sound familiar? We are revisiting this very issue today. The Constitution, specifically the 10th Amendment, is being set aside more and more, as we unceasingly surrender more power and freedom to the federal government.

[Alaric]

Arizona (among others) seems to be taking the 10th Amendment seriously.