was the south justified in suceeding from the union?

[Jman]

This was a debate question that was presented yesterday in class, and i just want to hear everyones thoughts on it.

Here's my take:

I do beleive the south was justified in suceeding from the union, because not only 60 Years before the southers succession, we as a whole succeded from the British Rule, and, the Consitution states that it's the duty of the citizins to form a new government if the current one becomes corrupt -- and in the eyes of the south the north was turning into the dictator, the south itself didn't have equal representation in the senate and house of reps, and there way of life was being threatended (if lincoln had decided to abolish it before the war, or if they stayed and he did.)


anyways, opinons.

[Needle Noggin]

no

If you want to secede, you must fight. Which the Confederacy did. But they lost, so they they also lost their justification.

[Nate]

No, they were not justified, because of what was said by the Vice President, Alexander Stephens:

"Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner- stone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery—subordination to the superior race—is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth. "

Their government was based on their presumption that blacks are inferior to whites. Since this is horribly disgusting and extremely untrue, their secession was completely unjustified.

[rocklobster]

I agree with Nate, especially since slavery was on the verge of being outlawed before the Civil War anyway.

[Kaligraphic]

Would they have been justified if blacks really were inferior to whites?

Nobody in the North really thought blacks and whites were equal either.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

the south itself didn't have equal representation in the senate and house of reps

Yeah, same thing happened like since 10 years ago buddy.

[Nate]

Would they have been justified if blacks really were inferior to whites?

I suppose they might have been, but it's a pointless question since they aren't.

Nobody in the North really thought blacks and whites were equal either.

True. But they didn't proclaim black inferiority as a cornerstone of their government.

[Stephen]

I would love nothing more then to give my opinion on this issue, but I will refrain. I will rather instead, lock this thread. Sorry Jman. This is a bit too political.