Essentially. Lincoln was elected as an anti-slavery candidate, but the position of the Republican Party (THE anti-slavery party of the period) was that slavery was to be isolated and let to die out on its own, as industrial and rationalized production had begun to undermine the profitability of slavery. In theory.
Whether that would have worked or not, it was an opinion that many of the Southern slaver aristocracy agreed with - they believed slavery needed to expand, or it would die. Rather than stop for a moment and consider the wisdom of an economic system that, by their own estimates, was not sustainable, they decided that the North stopping them from expanding slavery was, itself, a form of the worst oppression imaginable (obviously, MUCH worse than literal fucking chattel slavery).
So they seceded. And in doing so, they erased all incentive for Northern abolitionists to stick to the “Let it die out quietly and slowly, or we might have a very bloody war on our hands” line, and radicalized much of the north into advocacy for the total and immediate abolition of slavery.
They didn’t just secede, they started shooting. If the south had not attacked the US Army, I don’t know if the USA would have had the political will for the necessary sacrifices.
I wonder if that was a kind of déformation professionnelle. They were slavers and used to force their will through immediate, massive, brutal violence.
Essentially. Lincoln was elected as an anti-slavery candidate, but the position of the Republican Party (THE anti-slavery party of the period) was that slavery was to be isolated and let to die out on its own, as industrial and rationalized production had begun to undermine the profitability of slavery. In theory.
Whether that would have worked or not, it was an opinion that many of the Southern slaver aristocracy agreed with - they believed slavery needed to expand, or it would die. Rather than stop for a moment and consider the wisdom of an economic system that, by their own estimates, was not sustainable, they decided that the North stopping them from expanding slavery was, itself, a form of the worst oppression imaginable (obviously, MUCH worse than literal fucking chattel slavery).
So they seceded. And in doing so, they erased all incentive for Northern abolitionists to stick to the “Let it die out quietly and slowly, or we might have a very bloody war on our hands” line, and radicalized much of the north into advocacy for the total and immediate abolition of slavery.
Thank you Pug, btw. It’s fun to come for the memes. It’s a step above the rest to learn something in the process. Literally a gentleman and a scholar.
Just doing my best to spread a little trivia on the fediverse! 🙏
and feel like my college years weren’t wastedIt makes learning fun again. MLFA!
They didn’t just secede, they started shooting. If the south had not attacked the US Army, I don’t know if the USA would have had the political will for the necessary sacrifices.
I wonder if that was a kind of déformation professionnelle. They were slavers and used to force their will through immediate, massive, brutal violence.
Fascinating. First time I’ve heard this term. I’ll have to use it in the future.