Was South justified in leaving the Union?

Answer 1

Yes they were - at least in my opinion. The Civil War was nothing more than a battle between Federal control of the US versus State Sovereignty. The main criteria that we are tought to be the compelling reason for the war is flat out false - again in my opinion. It would be very similar to the US having a war today for the rights of illegal immigrants. At the time as we all know, blacks were not respected or appreciated and even if other white citizens felt badly about this issue do you really believe that they would be willing to lose their fathers and sons and fight their brothers for the rights of these "second class" non-citizens believed to be one step above the livestock? This is simply a cover story as is the case with many things. Look at the end results and who benefitted from the altercation and you will typically find the motivating force. Also look at the fact that the black non-citizens of the day were not even able to join the war until a few years later.

Answer 2

no When the south left the union to form its own country with a different president and constitution it was doing what it felt was right. People in the south were democratic (the democratic party was much different back then) and they favored a government style where the states held more power than the federal government. The people in the north were, as a general rule, the opposite. This is one reason the south used to justify their leaving. Another was slavery. Whether it was right or not, it was a vital part to the farming in the south. The north was full of industries, the south was full of farms. People try to pin the entire war on slavery, which is not right. The war started when the south attacked a fort held by the United States Army in South Carolina. So, yes, the south was justified in their own eyes for leaving the union. When the south left the union to form its own country with a different president and constitution it was doing what it felt was right. People in the south were democratic (the democratic party was much different back then) and they favored a government style where the states held more power than the federal government. The people in the north were, as a general rule, the opposite. This is one reason the south used to justify their leaving. Another was slavery. Whether it was right or not, it was a vital part to the farming in the south. The north was full of industries, the south was full of farms. People try to pin the entire war on slavery, which is not right. The war started when the south attacked a fort held by the United States Army in South Carolina. So, yes, the south was justified in their own eyes for leaving the union.