Caelyn

Greetings all,
I got into a bit of an argument with my boyfriend this evening over the different perceptions we both have pertaining to the American Civil War. He is from the North and I, from the South.
I'm got into reenacting several years ago with my now ex husband and enjoyed it immensely. It allowed me to see a different side to the war that had not been told in the history books i read growing up. The history being taught in schools today unfortunately teaches us to be ashaimed of our heritage and paints the South as villainous. To be fair the alternate history i was exposed to during the reenactments paints the North as villainous. As with any story however i suspect the truth of the matter will fall somewhere in the middle.
I have about a million questions but no-one can seem to give me actual facts as in date and time place,etc...proof that things either happened or did not. I would like to speak with actual historians and go about doing the research in an informed manner. Any suggestions would be most welcome. Well wishes-Caelyn

Mike McClure

You might start with a few of your more important questions.

tjadams

There's a handful of members here who know a lot about the US Civil War.

Jake10

History is a science that requires opinions because it is not just about noting dates and events; it also looks at the reasons behind those events and the implications they caused. The one thing I can tell you is that history is not intended to shame anyone. It is intended to analyze actions of the past with the purpose of learning from them to keep some from reoccurring, others from fading, and to understand humanity. Whatever version you hear or read, it is best to approach it objectively.

Caelyn

Hmmm, jake10, a very good point. Ok well here goes an importnant one then. When did slavery actually become illegal? My boyfriend was telling me that it had been illegal for several years before the start of the war and that the South kept asking for an extension of it but it was my understanding that it wasn't illegal up until the emancipation proclomation and that only made it illegal in the Sout as slaves were still owned in the Northern states and by very famous people.Such as Sherman who kept his because "good help is so hard to come by". Perhaps what my boyfriend meant to say was that it became illegal to sell slaves but not illegal to own them.

Sharks and love

I have little to add that will help you find the truth in this specific matter, but if someone suggests a version of the truth that is outside the middle, and that presents the North or South as more villainous, I hope you would be open to it.

Because the truth very often does not lie in the middle of an infinite amount of possible version of events.

Caelyn

I can understand that concept and accept it. We will see what happens.

Jake10

As far as I know, the importation of slaves to the United States was banned in 1808, but that did not make it illegal to own or sell a slave in the south. In 1865, after the war, the actual law was passed, but the debate went on in between these two dates, with slavery in the south continuing because it was a given that to prevent it would result in war. This was basically making it official.

Nevertheless, many slaves continued to live in the same places because they really didn't know where else to go. Some tried to leave but were attacked on their travels. The issue of slavery is very extensive. Something to note is that it went on in other places long after that. For instance, in Hong Kong, a British colony, the practice of mui tsai, which was a form of slavery didn't become illegal until 1919. And, even after that it was still practiced, in some cases even into 1940.

corrocamino

Wrong!

tjadams

The temple drapes are going to rip, we agree on something.

Agreed. History is the furthest thing from an exact science. Very few things in History are black and white & neatly divided into animal and vegetable.