McPherson convincingly maintains that the chief reason so many Civil War soldiers fought so long and so resolutely was that they had an iron belief in their goals. Each side regarded itself as engaged in a holy crusade, supremely important not only to the current generation but also to those ahead. Loyalty, duty and courage were revered qualities.
What is McPherson's for cause and comrades about?
McPherson finds many letters and diaries in which Civil War soldiers wrote of their brotherly feelings toward fellow privates. The first six chapters of For Cause and Comrades echo old arguments. The Wiley school emphasized such universals as characteristic of all combat soldiers. But Civil War soldiers possessed unique characteristics.
How did McPherson feel about Civil War soldiers?
McPherson came to feel he genuinely knew many Civil War soldiers better than most of his living acquaintances. But while soldiers honestly worked hard to get their feelings accurately down on paper, sometimes even they had trouble figuring it all out. Soldiers quarreled with messmates; captors challenged their prisoners' ideas.
What does McPherson find in the letters and diaries?
McPherson finds many letters and diaries in which Civil War soldiers wrote of their brotherly feelings toward fellow privates. The first six chapters of For Cause and Comrades echo old arguments.
Did Civil War soldiers write for cause and comrades?
To find the wellsprings of Civil War valor, James McPherson has read 249 diaries and at least 25,000 letters of 1,076 Civil War soldiers. "It would be close to the truth," he writes, "to say that Civil War soldiers wrote" For Cause and Comrades ."They articulated their motives for fighting far above my poor power to add or detract" (vii). [3]
What they fought for McPherson summary?
James McPherson, in What They Fought For, explains the reason Confederate and Union soldiers prevailed throughout the bloodiest war ever fought in the United States. He read over 25,000 letters and hundreds of diaries to conclude that Civil War soldiers did indeed know what they were fighting for.
What was the main motivation for men fighting for the southern side of the war?
Common sentiments for supporting the Confederate cause during the Civil War were slavery and states' rights. These motivations played a part in the lives of Confederate soldiers and the South's decision to withdraw from the Union. Many were motivated to fight in order to preserve the institution of slavery.
What was the main reason Northern soldiers fought in the Civil War?
The North was not only fighting to preserve the Union, it was fighting to end slavery. Throughout this time, northern black men had continued to pressure the army to enlist them.
What did the Confederate soldiers believe they were fighting for?
many believed that two fundamental aspects of Southern society, white liberty and black slavery, were under threat by a Federal government dominated by the North.
What were the motivations of the ordinary Civil War soldier?
The soldiers who fought in the Civil War had many different reasons for fighting: some believed it was their duty to their country; others saw it as an opportunity for adventure or to build a new life for themselves; still others were forced to go due to the institution of a military draft, or conscription, in the ...
Why do soldiers fight war?
combat. The group provides soldiers with security, the belief that the threat can be overcome, a coping mechanism to deal with the trauma of death and kill- ing and a sense that their contribution has meaning.
What was the main reason the North thought it would win the Civil War?
Suggested answer: The North thought it would win the Civil War because it had more industry. The South thought it would win because it had an excellent cavalry and well trained soldiers.
Why did people fight for the Union?
The North was fighting for reunification, and the South for independence. But as the war progressed, the Civil War gradually turned into a social, economic and political revolution with unforeseen consequences. The Union war effort expanded to include not only reunification, but also the abolition of slavery.
What would a Confederate soldier say?
The Confederate Soldier Motto Under the commands of Robert E. Lee and Samuel Cooper, soldiers of the Confederacy lived by the Motto “Deo Vindice” (God will vindicate us).
What was the South main goal in the Civil War?
The Civil War began as a purely military effort with limited political objectives. The North was fighting for reunification, and the South for independence.
Who was most of the fighting in the South between?
The American Civil War was fought between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America, a collection of eleven southern states that left the Union in 1860 and 1861. The conflict began primarily as a result of the long-standing disagreement over the institution of slavery.
What were the advantages the North had over the South going into the war?
The North had geographic advantages, too. It had more farms than the South to provide food for troops. Its land contained most of the country's iron, coal, copper, and gold. The North controlled the seas, and its 21,000 miles of railroad track allowed troops and supplies to be transported wherever they were needed.