Source Revision: Why Soldiers went to War

Question 1

Historian debate on why soldiers went to war

Answer 1

McPherson argued soldiers were intensely aware of what soldiers were fighting for and were motivated by the stakes.

However, Willy and Mitchell argued that soldiers had little idea of the stakes.

Question 2

Slavery

Answer 2

South fought to protect the institution of slavery alive as it was an investment and part of the economy in south.

Question 3

Political Ideology

Answer 3

Keep the Union in tact while South wanted to protect their slave rights and didn’t want o be ruled by Northern politics.

Question 4

Romanticising War

Answer 4

Saw the glory of fighting. War was a relatively new thing in America so it was romanticised and so was the glory.

Question 5

Conscription

Answer 5

Conscription was introduced in the North in 1863, and introduced in the South in 1862

Question 6

Masculine Identity

Answer 6

Wanted to protect their wives and families in a male and misogynistic way

Question 7

Short Service

Answer 7

Many saw it as a short service time as both sides were not aiming for a long service.

Question 8

Protection of Property

Answer 8

Slaves deemed as southern property and they wanted to fight to keep what they ‘own’

Question 9

Protect Land

Answer 9

Stop North from ‘hopping the fence’ and stealing southern land from them.

Question 10

Camaraderie

Answer 10

Soldiers could fight in communities or with friends encouraging them to fight.

Question 11

Media

Answer 11

Fanatics in the media blowing sectionalism out of proportion. Made people start genuinely fearing the other side and their beliefs.

Question 12

All of them?

Answer 12

• Slavery
• Political Ideology
• Romanticising the War
• Conscription
• Masculine identity
• Short Service
• Protection of Property
• Protect Land
• Camaraderie
• Media