Question

A note to a friend

Answer 1

@MellamoKatie
I realised after sending the messages to you that they were jumbled and hard to read. so I copied what I wrote and put it in one document for you to read.

Answer 2

Why the South wasn't Racist! A Letter From Your Local Living Historian.
You'll hear it all the time. "Union soldiers fought for black freedom!" Think again. Most people in the union fought because of the draft, or because they didn't want to lose the tax income from the South's cotton and tobacco exports. The north took the money from the over-taxation of the south (a similar problem that sparked the American Revolt of the 18th century,) and used it to develop factories and technology for guess who.... The north! All the while, the South was left 'back in time' with little money for those who weren't plantation owners to progress. Many small farmers in the South were forced out of business by these taxes and therefore went hungry.
For a second point to counter the north being all abolitionists, most white union soldiers refused to fight along side the other black soldiers, OR the Irish. Therefore, the union had both Irish-only brigades and black-only brigades. Also, if they were black-loving abolitionists, then why did african American soldiers only receive half the pay of a white soldier? Whites received 14 dollars, where as blacks received ten, then had three of it taken away for a uniform tax. Contrary to this, on the Southern side, black and white soldiers fought alongside each other as equals and slaves were promised perpetual freedom after wearing grey for three years.
"But the South all owned slaves! Of course they were racist!" Actually, no. Only 6 percent of people in the South owned slaves. The other 94 percent resented slavery because it put them out of work. They couldn't afford their own farms because of the outrageous taxes from the north, and they couldn't get jobs on the plantations to bring home dinner because the slaves (free labour) took their place. General Robert E. Lee famously noted that he suspected that the South would abolish slavery in their own time in order for most to stay afloat. As a final point, the Emancipation proclamation that freed blacks was actually issued as a threat to the plantation owners of the south. It was introduced in 1862 by president Lincoln with the foot note that if the rebellion wasn't gone by 1863, he'd put it into effect. And so it happened. Also, in a letter to Horace Greely, Abraham Lincoln was quoted as saying "My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union. " In simpler terms, he didn't care about the 'colored race' one way or the next. He just wanted to save the Union, and he used the Emancipation Proclamation as a publicity stunt. So next time you see a five dollar bill with Lincoln's mug on it and get a fluttering heart of admiration, think again. None of this is even to mention that succession was legal. In the Declaration of Independence from Britain, it states that "When a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security." Or basically, if your government is corrupt and you have proof, it is your duty to overthrow them and create a new government. (Ahem. Jefferson Davis, enter stage left.) I read a quote quite recently that asked- if you support succesion, then why do you celebrate Independence Day? To conclude a post that went on much longer than intended, (lol! Historians...) don't believe everything you read in school. Note that those history books are issued to you by the same government that won the war. Do research and read for yourself; you'll find a lot isn't how you thought it was. If you want to question any fact given here, I can give you links. But, in short- I support this flag because I support state's rights. Not slavery.

Answer 3

Thanks for sending it through here. I cant really read it now because I am trying to get my over due lessons for spanish done and turned in and I am trying to get an answer for a question.

Answer 4

That's cool. Its just here whenever you want to look it over.
Also, if you need any help with english or history, go ahead and tag me :)

Answer 5

Sounds great thank you :D Trying to get 2 instances for ser and estar but everywhere I look talks too much ugh.

Answer 6

Thanks for the medal

Answer 7

I totally agree thanks for setting it straight. @TheYankee

Answer 8

You generally provide evidence before making a claim. I am not saying you are wrong, but citing books, or articles helps you promote your argument.

To add, while blacks where paid only $10, $3 more were deducted for clothing. White soldiers were paid $13 per month, but did not have any clothing deduction in the Union. The Confederacy did treat everyone with equality, but they had their own issues, capturing blacks for enslavement was common on their part. Also on the note of the Confederate flag, it has become an icon of slavery whether or not the history supports it is a different story. People see the Confederate flag as a Southern thing, and Southern people are generally thought to be racist. That being said, the reason why people think the South is racist, is probably the high concentration of KKK members in the South. (Source: https://www.splcenter.org/hate-map )

Answer 9

I completely agree, about citing sources! However, it was just a casual letter :) I didn't want to make it any longer than I had to (which is why I said, if she wanted sources, I could get them for her ^^)
Also, only blacks suspected of being escapees were captured. (Since you like links, here you go lolol http://www.library.pitt.edu/freeatlast/papers_listing.html) There were free papers that prohibited the capture of any free black man or woman. Not that I think it's right in the first place.

At any rate, the entire hubbub was because the above user misunderstood the message of my icon, so I wanted to explain to her *why* I wasn't being hateful. It's just a casual thing :)