Civil War- Southern Loss Of Will Essay, Research Paper

?Loss of Will? Essay

There is no doubt that there were many contributing factors to the Confederate

breakdown during the Civil War. Few would argue that the most effective factors were

those that were internal. Which factors contributed the most is the basis for debate. In

the essay ? Was the Confederacy defeated because of Its ?Loss of Will?? the two most

prominent issues are addressed. These are: the South did in fact loose sight of the wars

purpose, or their lack of unity as states. I agree with the former. As the war carried on,

Southern interests became less defined and led to a lack of unity and their eventual

surrender.

In order to support this view, a great understanding of the original reasons for

conflict must be established. After the election of President Lincoln, southern politicians

began to see their country change. Because they dominated all three branches of

government before the election, they felt that they?re best interests, namely slavery, were

no longer represented. Secession followed. Since a president was elected without any

southern support, they felt justified in this. After the initial secession of seven states, the

protection of slavery was the predominate factor in the conflict. It wasn?t until Lincoln

sent troops to defend Fort Sumter that the remaining slaves split and states rights were put

on trial.

Both sides of the conflict expected a short war. the North assumed that they could

just march in to the South, and the South believed that once it repelled the Northern

attack, it would give up. Neither was the case. Key victories for the Confederates during

the early going kept Southern morale high and troops appeased. But, in time, the lack of

proper transportation and the lack of full state cooperation led to doubts. Even though the

South stated it was fighting for it?s way of life, it eventually realized that regardless of the

outcome of the war, their lives would never be the same. Which is truly the only thing

they wanted. Southerners loved their country. They loved the way their lives were. This

is shown in the new constitution written for the Confederacy. The only major difference

between it and the United States Constitution was the affirmation of states rights where it

was lacking in the original. With that, slavery was protected and all was well. As the war

wore on, the issue of slavery fell to the background. And with it, the true heart and soul

of the Confederate soldiers. The saw, that after the inevitable fall of slavery, there was no

universal reason to fight.

It was this fact, coupled with lack of state unity, poor transportation, and the

realization that change was inescapable that Confederate troops lost their heart. The lack

of even one of these factors could have meant an eventual Southern victory, since, though

outnumbered, outgunned, and out produced, they truly had the geographical advantage. ?Loss of Will? Essay

There is no doubt that there were many contributing factors to the Confederate

breakdown during the Civil War. Few would argue that the most effective factors were

those that were internal. Which factors contributed the most is the basis for debate. In

the essay ? Was the Confederacy defeated because of Its ?Loss of Will?? the two most

prominent issues are addressed. These are: the South did in fact loose sight of the wars

purpose, or their lack of unity as states. I agree with the former. As the war carried on,

Southern interests became less defined and led to a lack of unity and their eventual

surrender.

In order to support this view, a great understanding of the original reasons for

conflict must be established. After the election of President Lincoln, southern politicians

began to see their country change. Because they dominated all three branches of

government before the election, they felt that they?re best interests, namely slavery, were

no longer represented. Secession followed. Since a president was elected without any

southern support, they felt justified in this. After the initial secession of seven states, the

protection of slavery was the predominate factor in the conflict. It wasn?t until Lincoln

sent troops to defend Fort Sumter that the remaining slaves split and states rights were put

on trial.

Both sides of the conflict expected a short war. the North assumed that they could

just march in to the South, and the South believed that once it repelled the Northern

attack, it would give up. Neither was the case. Key victories for the Confederates during

the early going kept Southern morale high and troops appeased. But, in time, the lack of

proper transportation and the lack of full state cooperation led to doubts. Even though the

South stated it was fighting for it?s way of life, it eventually realized that regardless of the

outcome of the war, their lives would never be the same. Which is truly the only thing

they wanted. Southerners loved their country. They loved the way their lives were. This

is shown in the new constitution written for the Confederacy. The only major difference

between it and the United States Constitution was the affirmation of states rights where it

was lacking in the original. With that, slavery was protected and all was well. As the war

wore on, the issue of slavery fell to the background. And with it, the true heart and soul

of the Confederate soldiers. The saw, that after the inevitable fall of slavery, there was no

universal reason to fight.

It was this fact, coupled with lack of state unity, poor transportation, and the

realization that change was inescapable that Confederate troops lost their heart. The lack

of even one of these factors could have meant an eventual Southern victory, since, though

outnumbered, outgunned, and out produced, they truly had the geographical advantage.