For as long as people have studied history, the question of whether the American Civil War was inevitable has been passionately discussed. The event in focus is the grim day of April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces launched an aggressive assault on Union-held Fort Sumter.
Wars carry an inherent tragedy; civil conflicts, however, are even more poignant due to their domestically divisive nature. Imagine the emotional turmoil of standing up against one’s own countrymen? How could a single identity, once united, become so fragmented, leading to a full-blown conflict?
Our quest to unravel whether the Civil War could have been avoided leads us to a complex truth. If the war did not occur, the United States, as we know it today, would likely not exist. The war was essentially an existential crisis for the thirty-four states that made up the union in 1861 (19 free and 15 slave-holding).
Furthermore, averting the war could have resulted in two politically diverse, powerful entities co-existing within the erstwhile territory of the US. The controversial issues surrounding slavery would have persisted, inevitably leading to additional conflicts (like the status of escaped slaves).
In the following sections, we will comprehensively discuss the crucial points usually debated during discussions over the inevitability of the Civil War.
Unraveling the Roots of the Secession Crisis
The simmering conflict between the labor-free North and the slave-dependent South culminated into a full-blown crisis following Abraham Lincoln’s presidential victory in 1860.
As explored in our prior article, ‘Unearthing the Primary Causes of the US Civil War’, the genesis of the secession predicament stemmed from four primary disputes:
- Slavery;
- Economic disparities between North and South;
- Sectionalism;
- States’ rights.
Notably, slavery remained an underpinning factor in each of these disputes. Lincoln’s rise to presidency acted as a catalyst, igniting the latent tensions.
The South held the conviction that Lincoln’s administration would instantly restrict the expansion of slavery into emerging US territories—a move they feared would expedite the death of their ‘peculiar institution.’
However, contrary to popular belief, Lincoln was not an ardent abolitionist. While he did harbor hopes for a slavery-free America, his prime commitment was to the American Republic’s continuity.
In his vision, the United States had executed a commendable task, forming and governing a republic—an undertaking he thought no other nation could accomplish. His vision for the country, however, was to further this achievement by preserving the republic.
In the face of Southern perspective, we can conclusively speculate an inherent inevitability surrounding the South’s secession. This brings us to the subsequent question…
Was the Confederacy’s Creation the Final Straw?
In the years leading up to the American Civil War, the northern territories made numerous attempts to placate the rising tensions between the regions. Still, the southern elites clung tenaciously to the system of slavery, a highly profitable venture that served the interests of the top 20% of the population who owned the enslaved people.
At this juncture, the North and South were headed in starkly opposing directions, at a time when the world was adapting to the seismic changes brought about by industrialisation. This set the stage for an inevitable clash. If the United States was to endure as a singular entity, either side needed to gain the upper hand.
This is where the significance of Abraham Lincoln’s leadership emerges. Had there been a less committed individual at the helm during 1860, the South might have been allowed to chart its own course, while the federal state concentrated on fostering northern development.
However, for Lincoln, the idea of forsaking the Union was unthinkable. His famous quote, “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” epitomizes his unwavering commitment to the preservation of the Union. Thus, when the first shots were fired at Fort Sumter, it marked the irreversible journey towards war.
Avoiding this conflict seemed possible only under two highly improbable scenarios: a Lincoln administration ready to sanction a split in the Republic, or a South prepared to relinquish an economy heavily reliant on slavery. Both options seemed unimaginable given the circumstances.
Conclusion
The American Civil War, a pivotal moment in the country’s history, holds important lessons about unity, ideological clashes, and the indispensable value of compromise. The desire to preserve the Union, coupled with an uncompromising stance on the divisive issue of slavery, steered the nation towards an inevitable war. As we delve deeper into this complex chapter, we appreciate the forces that have shaped modern America. History continues to remind us of our past struggles and successes, prompting introspection and guiding us towards a more enlightened future.