Quote:
Originally Posted by icenine
He went to war because after he was elected the South seceded because they were upset that a President opposed to the EXTENSION of slavery to the new states was in office. When the Federal government tried to resupply the base on Ft Sumter they were attacked by the South.
You sort of make it sound like Lincoln made the decision on his own. His adminstration called it The War Of The Rebellion.
I do agree with you however in your main points. All the revisionist arguments are bullshit.
Pretty soon the "slavery did not cause the war" bullshit will rear its neanderthal head.
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Lincoln made the decision to resupply Sumter, rather than surrender it, knowing and expecting that the southerners would open fire if resupply was attempted. He saw war as necessary and practically unavoidable, and he wanted the South to fire the first shot.
Pete is correct, above: it was war or accept disunion. Lincoln, for both principled and practical reasons, could not accept disunion.