Essay On The Role Of Slavery In The Civil War

Your high school teacher was right, the idea that the civil war was fought to free the slaves is a common misconception. At the dawn of the civil war, the debate of whether the institution of slavery was morally right or wrong was not the basis on which the decision to go to war was decided. Union and federal government never attacked the moral values of slavery, and did not wage war on the south to free slaves. Instead, the freedom of slaves was a tactic, used by both sides as a way to gain an advantage in the conflict. The emancipation of slaves was an influential moment in the war undoubtedly, however the influence slavery had on the initiation of the civil war was very small. Many people today still believe that the southern states seceded from the U.S because the slave industry was in danger, however this is not the truth. The southern slave industry was never at risk at the beginning of the civil war, the federal government made sure southerners knew that. In Abe Lincoln’s first inaugural address, he addressed this matter specifically, “I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.” (Lincoln, Abe). The risk of losing slaves was not what caused the south to secede, instead …show more content…
However, the Civil War was not a fight to free these slaves, and is too commonly mistaken as such. The use of emancipation of slaves was used during the war strictly as a weapon, by both the Union and Confederacy, to gain an upper hand in the war. This tactical use of freedom can be seen as wrong, and whether or not it is morally right, it did in fact greatly influence the outcome of the civil war. Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation secured Union victory, and was in all aspects a pivotal moment in Americas