Friday, March 13, 2015

BLOG 22: A WAR OF NORTHERN AGGRESSION OR SOUTHERN SECESSION?

Based on your 13 documents and group discussion from class, "LINCOLN AND THE OUTBREAK OF WAR" respond to the question below.  Use text evidence and cite your sources.  Do not forget to make a connection in your own words as to what you believe and the evidence you choose.


Some people refer to the American Civil War as "The War of Northern Aggression", while others refer to it as the "War of Southern Secession." From the documents, which name for the American Civil War is correct?  

Make a case for one or the other and prove it!

Due on Wednesday, March 18th. 

75 comments:

Anonymous said...

Alyssa Noce
Period 2

I believe that the war was a War of Southern Session. In October 1861, South Carolina wanted secession from the country. They wanted to become a Southern union, The Confederate States of America. The capital was going to be in Montgomery, Alabama. In Document 1 it says, " I therefore consider that in view of the Constitution and the laws, the Union is unbroken." This is saying that the states didn't break away and they cannot under the Constitution.

Anonymous said...

The name for the American Civil War is "War of Southern Secession." The Northerners were trying to be peaceful, and Lincoln said in his speech to the Southerners that they were't going to attack, but that if the Southerners did, there will be war. The South tried to break away and attack Fort Sumter, so the American Civil War began. The Northerners made no moves or plans to defeat the South through violence, which means that the war is called the "War of Southern Succession."

Sabrina P1

Anonymous said...

I believe it was the "The War of Southern Secession" because the Sothern's were mad about Lincoln getting elected so they went to Fort Sumter. Evidence to show this is, " Six weeks after Lincoln's inaugural, when the confederate Army bombarded Fort Sumter and President Lincoln immediately deployed 75,000 troops, war became a certainty." The confederates (South) went to Fort Sumter causing Lincoln to send troops. The South were the first to cause a problem not the North. Also the South was very bias towards the North. When Lincoln sent supplies over and not troops, he informed the South what he was doing. They didn't believe him and attacked the ships anyways thinking he was trying to start the war. In reality, he was just trying to give his soldiers daily needs to survive. "To notify them that no troops would be thrown into Sumter if provisions were allowed peacefully to be sent to the garrison." He clearly says he is not sending troops or soldiers. But a little bit more into document 6 it says they fire at the ships after they set sail to Fort Sumter. " As we neared the land heavy guns were heard and the smoke and shells from the batteries which had just opened fire upon Sumter were distinctly visible..." They did not believe Lincoln; they thought it was the start of war. Then Finally in document 11, the South had said they planned in an hour to start fighting. " We have the honor to notify you that he will open fire of his batteries on Fort Sumter in one hour from this time." Lincoln wasn't the one who wanted war but was forced to by the South's actions as seen in these documents.

Caitlin D. P:3

Anonymous said...

I believe that the civil war was not a war of southern secession or a war of northern aggression, I believe it is a war of southern aggression. I believe this because the Southerners attacked first at fort Sumter. I believe this because in document ten Anderson says to Beauregard "evacuate Fort Sumter by noon on the 15th instant..." this clearly gives Beauregard until the 15th which is three days. However James Chestnut, Jr, and Stephan D Lee sent out an order to attack fort Sumter on the 12th, the same day Anderson's statement to Beauregard. In document 9 the Confederates say they will not open fire upon you unless you fire upon us, which they promptly ignored on the 12th. This shows that it was a war of southern aggression because the South lied and said that they wont attack you unless you attack us, then they promptly disregarded there own promise.

Mark Hammer
P3

Anonymous said...

I believe the war was a war on Southern Secession. This is because Lincoln didn’t want the south to become a different country, and he wasn’t going to touch the issue of slavery directly. He only started to use force after the Confederates attacked Fort Sumter. In the documents, it talks about how Lincoln didn’t want any “bloodshed or violence,” meaning war. Also, in a letter from Lincoln to Major Anderson, it states that Anderson and his men were to leave on April 15th. On April 12th, the Confederates attacked Fort Sumter, when they had the choice not to, because the Unionists were going to leave in 3 day’s time.

Maddie Winters
Period 1

Anonymous said...

In my opinion i think the the Civil War was caused by southern secession. The north wanted to keep the nation together and in doing so didn't want war. The south sent letters to the north asking to evacuate Fort Sumter or they would open fire. Before the north could evacuate, which would be the 15th, the south opened fired on the Fort which started the American Civil War. The north even said they would leave on the 15th and wouldn't bring in reinforcements but the south over reacted and thought the ship was bring reinforcements when really it was just food and supplies. Overall the actions taken by the south support my opinion on the the war being the War of Southern Secession.

Max Shamas

Anonymous said...

Sam Gertner Period 1
Based on the 13 documents, I believe that the American Civil War was a war of Northern aggression. Without even looking at the documents, the Civil War was clearly Northern aggression because the North attacked the South's way of life while the South didn't try to stop the South's way of life. People like John Brown who attacked Harpers Ferry and Harriet Tubman who was involved with the underground railroad contributed to this. Looking at the documents also proves how this was a war of Northern aggression. Lincoln not surrendering Fort Sumter was an example of this. "...the expedition will go forward...will attempt to provision you...also to reinforce you." (Document 5) Lincoln is egging on the South by keeping his troops in Fort Sumter instead of evacuating it like the South asked. The South doesn't want to use violence but if the North stays there, the South has no choice. Lincoln is trying to make the South look bad using aggression.

Anonymous said...

I think that it is the war of southern secession because if the south didn't want to secede then there most likely wouldn't have even been a war. So the north wasn't being too aggressive it was the south that choose to want to become there own country because of the slavery issue.
Sarah Townson period 2

Anonymous said...

Personally I think that the plain American Civil War is correct. In the Background article it says "South Carolina had adopted an Ordinance of Secession, and Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas followed her lead in January and February." Obviously these states seceded from the Union, hence, Southern Secession. They had taken forts and arsenals which belonged to the Federal Government. This had angered the north. The Background also states, "the Confederate army bombarded Fort Sumter and Lincoln immediately sent 75,000 troops." the offensive of the North's army is referred to "Northern Aggression." So, the Southern states seceded and the North sent troops. Clearly both sides are to blame for the Civil War, So I think the proper term should be The American Civil War.
Kenny Schneider Period 1

Anonymous said...


Lincoln’s actions and aims were contradictory. In his Inaugural Address (Document 1) he says, “There will be no invasion--no using force against or among the people anywhere.” At first Lincoln didn’t want war he just wanted the Union to stay together. Later on in document 4 Montgomery Blair writes, “... The president saw that he was mislead, and ordered the reinforcement of Fort Sumter….” This angered the South because they wanted the North to leave Fort Sumter. Later Blair states that Lincoln was inexperienced. Lincoln also left Major Anderson in charge of delivering the supplies to Fort Sumter because he valued Major Anderson’s opinion. Anderson decided to evacuate but then the South attacked. Lincoln then made a good decision in deploying troops to help out.

Madison Samperi
Period 3

Anonymous said...

I would refer to the American Civil War as the,"War of Southern Secession." I believe that this is the correct name for the Civil War because the south caused it. In document 1 Lincoln says," In doing this, there needs to be no bloodshed or violence; and there shall be none." Abraham did not want a war. He did not want there to be fighting or violence. This just proves that the north didn't cause the Civil War. Abraham meant it when he said that he didn't want bloodshed. In document 6 it says,"As we neared the land heavy guns were heard and the smoke and shells from the batteries which had just opened fire upon Sumter were distinctly visible..." The Confederates were the first to shoot. When Lincoln sent supplies to the military at Fort Sumter he sent a letter informing the Confederates that said what he was doing. They didn't trust that Honest Abe was telling the truth and they shot the fort. These shots were the immediate cause of the American Civil War.

Rachel Colegrove Period #1

Anonymous said...

Caitlyn Gruber
Period 8

When people refer to the American Civil War as "The War of Northern Aggression",while others refer to it as the "War of Southern Secession" after reading the documents I think the correct name for the American Civil War is "War of Southern Secession." It is the correct name for it because Lincoln said that they weren't going to use violence nor bloodshed unless it is forced upon him. In the first document,Lincoln's inaugural address, States "In doing this, there needs to be no bloodshed or violence;and there shall be none,unless it is forced upon the national authority." Lincoln is saying this to the C.S.A. because of there secession. He was saying that they need to start the war if they want it but they won't unless it has to be done.

Anonymous said...

I believe that the American Civil War was a "War of Southern Secession," not a "War of Northern Aggression". The South's way of life, owning slaves, was inhumane and immoral. When they seceded, that crossed the line and actions needed to be taken. In a letter from the Confederate side to the people in Fort Sumter, it states, "…to notify you that he will open fire of his batteries on Fort Sumter in one hour from this time." The South decided to attack Fort Sumter even though they were already notified that it would be evacuated soon.
DJ Foley
Period 1

Anonymous said...

Based on the documents, I believe that it was a war of Southern aggression. I believe this because in document number 10 it states that," I will not in the meantime open fires upon your forces unless compelled to do so by some hostile act against this fort or the flag of my government by the forces under your command,". Robert Anderson and his men eventually open fired upon Lincoln's men due to the assumption that. Lincoln was bringing over and army and weapons over to Fort Sumeter instead of food and supplies.


Sam K
Period 1

Anonymous said...

I believe that the war was on war of southern secession, I believe this because it states that Carolina was a free state then became a slave state then other states went with them and made the confederit states then they had fort to give up and they fired on boats that we're going to the fort to give food they forced them to go back, then they sent letters and the last letter they sent they said they have waited to long, they started too Fire at the forts and Lincon new that was a state of war they just started Lincon sent army's in to try and portect them, then they started the war because the south thought he would start war in and about slaves so it happened and the south started it all by firing apon the fort, so I belive that the war of southern sucession is the right war I would call it.

Joey Samonek
Per 3
3/16/15

Anonymous said...

I think the correct name is War of Southern Secession. I think this because in the document number 13 it says "It was thus seen that the assault upon and reduction of Fort Sumter was in no sense a matter of self-defense on the part of the assailants. They well knew that the garrison in the Fort could by no possibility commit aggression upon them. They knew -- that the giving of bread to the few brave and hungry men of the garrison was ... force it to immediate dissolution...." I also think this because South Carolina seceded from the U.S because they thought without any experience and not even knowing Abraham Lincoln at all and saying that he would ruin their way of life and take away their slaves.
Period 8
Dawson Pallotta

Anonymous said...

Finbar Quinn period 2
I believe it should be called the war of southern secession because the south left the union before the north decided to egg em on and start the american civil war because it says on the background source that 6 weeks after Lincoln's inaugural he sent 7000 troops to fort sumnter once the confederets attacked

Anonymous said...

Jake mccarthy pr.1

I believe it was a war of southern cession. This is because they fired apon a northern ship filled only with supplies and this was only made possible when the select states left the union and formed the confederacy and caused union forts in confederate territory to be cut off from the rest of the union.

Anonymous said...

I believe the civil war was a war of Southern Secession. I believe this because of what the south did, leading up to the battle of Fort Sumter. In the 9th document it says, “…and agree that in the meantime you will not use your guns against us unless ours shall be employed against Fort Sumter, we will abstain from opening fire.” The South came out and told the North that if they agreed to evacuate they wouldn’t open fire. Major Anderson accepted, and agreed to leave to which Beauregard responded in Document 11, “…we have the honor to notify you that we will open fire of his batteries on Fort Sumter in one hour of this time.” The South didn’t keep their word; they changed their minds at the last second and decided to start a war. This is why I think the civil war is a war out Southern Secession, not Northern Aggression. –Victoria Yencik, Period 3.

Anonymous said...

Amanda Flynn
Period 3
Some people refer to the American Civil war as the war of northern aggression, but I believe that the Civil war was a war of southern secession. I believe that this a war of Southern Secession because the North was not going to attack the South, the Confederates were the only people that would possibly have attacked America. Therefore, it could not be a war of northern aggression. In document 1, it states, “In doing this, there needs to be no bloodshed or violence; and there shall be none, unless it be forced upon the national authority." This is a quote from a article of Abraham Lincoln's which says, there should not be violence unless the National authority has too, which would mean the south would have to attack first. There is not a lot of proof to say that this is a war of Northern Aggression, there is a lot of proof to say that this is a war of Southern Secession, which makes it the clear choice to say that this is a war of Northern aggression.

Anonymous said...

I strongly believe that this was the war of Southern Secession. The act of secession sparked controversy and heightened tension between the states so much so that it lead to one of the unforgettable periods in history, The Civil War."...to avert the calamity of war, would voluntarily evacuate it (Doc.7) Here it is indicated that General Beauregard gave Anderson permission to evacuate Fort Sumter. However it should have been decided by Abraham Lincoln because he was of high political power and wanted to abolish aggression as well as slavery using the principle of law, debate and persuasion opposed to war or violence."...and this illegal organization in the character of confederate States, was already invoking recognition, aid, and intervention from foreign powers."( Doc.13) Clearly this displays that the seceded southern states had no remorse for what they had done because they had several authorities intervene only to show their superiority and dominance over the nation.

Cailinn Stockman
Per.2 3/16/15

Anonymous said...

The American Civil War was a war was a War of Northern Aggression. The Civil War was the North's fault because the north was trying to trick the south by saying that they would evacuate Fort Sumter when really they were just going to reinforce it. April 12th between 1 and 2 a. m. Anderson writes to Beauregard,"... I will, if provided with the proper and necessary means of transportation, evacuate Fort Sumter on the 15th instant..." Anderson, who is from the north, told the south that the north was going to evacuate Fort Sumter. However, even though the north said that they were evacuating the Fort, they were still sending ships filled with food and reinforcements. The only reason that the north decided to shoot at the north was because they realized that the north was trying to trick them. The north didn't have communication. This resulted in great confusion. Lincolns message to congress on July 4, 1861 writes,"...They were expressly notified-- that the giving of the bread to the few brave and hungry men of the garrison was all which would on that occasion be attempted..." Lincoln says that the agreement was that the north was going to give food to the men stuck in Fort Sumter. This was not the agreement. Anderson told the south that they were just going to evacuate the fort. In the end the American War was really a war of Northern Aggression.

Christina Moniz
Period 3

Anonymous said...

I think it was the war of “Southern Secession.” The main thing that provoked them to secede was Lincoln’s Election, they didn’t like this because he was a different party than them. “Six weeks after Lincoln’s Inaugural, when the Confederate Army bombarded Fort Sumter and President Lincoln immediately deployed 75,000 troops, war became a certainty.” (Background Paragraph) The south started war for no logical reason. In a way it is like when a child doesn’t get there way, they throw a fit. The Southern Secession was just a larger version of that.

Anonymous said...

By looking at the documents, you can conclude that the Civil War was undoubtedly, a War of Northern Aggression. First of all, when some Southern states seceded in a non-violent, civilized way, because they felt that their way of life, slavery, was in jeopardy and that the Constitution was not being followed, the North had completely ignored their actions. According to the Lincoln’s Inaugural Address in Document 1, Lincoln states, “... that resolves and ordinances to that effect are legally void…” He later says in a part edited out, “All the power at my disposal will be used to reclaim the public property and places which have fallen: to hold, occupy, and possess there and all property and places belonging to the Government.”(Document 2) First, he does not recognize the Confederate States of America as a separate nation, and then he is threatening the South and telling them he will do whatever he can put them back in the Union because they ‘belong’ to the government which clearly angered the South. If the North had just accepted them as an independent country, then this war could have been avoided. Secondly, the North had provoked the Southerners to fire at them at Fort Sumter. Lincoln had wanted war in order to overthrow the Confederacy. “...will attempt to provision you, and in case the effort is resisted, will endeavor also to reinforce you.”(Document 5) Lincoln was ready for the South to start the war, he knew it was inevitable, but he wanted the South to look like the aggressors, when in reality he was prepared to reinforce Major Anderson at Fort Sumter if the South did anything. Document 12 states, “The plan succeeded. They attacked Sumter -- it fell, and thus, did more service than it otherwise could.” He wanted the North to look faultless, like how they did when the South decided to fire which in the end contributed to Lincoln’s plan. As to the reason why the South had decided to fire, it could have been all the things the North had done to anger them like the fact they were not recognized as separate nation or it could have been an issue with pride. They did not want to have to rely on the North to provide provisions for them, and if they kept allowing the North to do that for them it left them vulnerable for attack.
Michelle A.
Period 1

Anonymous said...

The name for the American Civil War should have been "War of Southern Succession", based on the 13 documents and group discussion from class of, "LINCOLN AND THE OUTBREAK OF WAR". The Southern States began to rebel against the United States of America as South Carolina started the Succession on December 20th, 1860, however, "...no State, upon its own mere motion, can lawfully get out of the Union..." and based on Lincoln's views, "...in view of the Constitution and the laws, the Union is unbroken..." (Doc. #1). Abraham Lincoln is using the Constitution to defend his case as the Constitution allows there to be no separation of a state on it's "own mere motion". For this instance, Lincoln is explaining how he therefore sees the Union as "unbroken" and that the succeeding states just need to time to level their decisions. Lincoln want's this done peacefully, "... needs to be no bloodshed or violence; and there shall be none, unless it be forced upon the national authority... there will be no invasion -- no using of force against or among the people anywhere... I have no purposes directly or indirectly to interfere with... slavery in the states where it exists," (Doc. #1). Abraham Lincoln has most certainly expressed up this point that he wants to take a peaceful approach to this epidemic.

"...It was thus seen that the assault upon the reduction of Fort Sumter was in no sense a matter of self-defense on the part of the assailants.... they were expressly notified -- that the giving of bread to the few brave and hungry men of the garrison was all which would on that occasion be attempted, unless themselves, by resisting so much, should provoke more..." (Doc. #13). The Confederates at Fort Sumter were told that the North was sending them supplies with no arms or people on board to harm them. They expressed that they meant no harm yet the soldiers still fired upon the ship of bread. "Then and thereby the assailants of the Government began the conflict of arms..." (Doc. #13). With this conflict the Government had to call an official war upon this skirmish at For Sumter. Document #13 truly implying that this was a pure civil war of Southern Succession.

Katherine Samonek
Period 1

Anonymous said...

Megan O'Meara Period 3
The right name for the war is, "The War of Southern Secession". I think this because the north wanted to keep peace and the south chose to fire on us even though we agreed to leave Fort Sumter. Document 1, Excerpt from Lincoln's Inaugural address, states, "... there needs to be no bloodshed or violence; and there shale be none...". This shows that Lincoln did not want war, he simply wanted to keep the union together. Document 10 states, "...provided with proper and necessary means of transportation, evacuate Fort Sumter by noon on the 15th instant...". This showed the north agreed to leave peacefully as the south wanted. But, in document 11 the south states, "... we have the honor to notify you that he will open fire of his batteries on Fort Sumter in one hour from this time.". This shows that the south changed their minds after the north already agreed to leave. Thus causing the war to be the souths fault.

Anonymous said...

I think the war is mostly over southern secession because the north didn't really do anything to make it a war over northern aggression. John Brown was one person with a few followers out of the millions that hoped for slavery to end in a peaceful way. It is more of southern secession because more than half of the southern sates seceded when the north did so little but to ask when can we end slavery?
Michaela C. period 1

Anonymous said...

Some people refer to the American Civil War as either a War of Northern Aggression or maybe a War of Southern Secession. I believe that the American Civil War is a war of Southern Secession. I think this because the South Carolina seceded from the Union, causing other Southern states to also secede. In Document 6 it says, "...communicated with the Harriet Lane, the only vessel which had arrived...As we neared the land heavy guns were heard and the smoke and shells from the batteries...". This Document was a source from Captain Gustavus Fox, commander of Fort Sumpter, telling how the South opened fire on the Northern Fort and sparked the American Civil War. Since the South seceded, tensions grew and the South started the war, not the North.
Andrew, period 3

Anonymous said...

Samantha Sisson
Period 3
I forgot the documents at school so I found an article online.

Using the article I found on historynet.com I learned that both names, The War of Southern Secession and The War of Northern Aggression, are incorrect. The article described the war as 'The War Between States', and I agree. Both sides were at fault within the war. The North didn't give the South the state rights that they deserved and the South was going against what was morally right. The website states it as "...resulted from long-standing differences and questions not fully resolved when the United States Constitution was ratified...". The war was bound to happen at some point, and it was both side's fault that it started.

Anonymous said...

I think that the civil war was a war of southern secession because the war started because they seceded and were tearing the union apart. like it says in document 1 "The union us unbroken; and to the extent of my ability I shall take care, as the constitution itself expressly enjoins upon me..." Lincoln needs to take care of the union because in the constitution it says to make a more perfect union and with the south seceding it just makes a less perfect union.
period 1
Amanda Hanna

Anonymous said...


Tyler Gaughan per 8

The reference of "The War of Northern Aggression" and "War of Southern Secession" both refer to the American Civil War, but only one is correct or more correct. "There needs to be no bloodshed or violence; and there shall be none, unless it forced upon the national authority," stated in document one (Lincoln's Inaugural Address) is great evidence that the north didn't want to fight unless provoked and they were forced. The south were leaving the U.S.A and the U.S had to try to keep the south from succeeding, the North wasn't being aggressive they were keeping the nation together as well as stopping slavery.

Anonymous said...

based on the 13 documents and what i think is true, i think "the war of southern secession." is correct because the south i think started the civial war not the north because the north was just trying to protect their forts.

briana stockbridge per.2

Anonymous said...

Melissa Psaras
Period 1
I would make the argument that it was a war of Northern Aggression. I would argue this because in the documents we received in class in one of the letters, Abraham Lincoln explicitly tells Robert Anderson, the general at Fort Sumter, that he has to stand his ground. What I mean by this is that Abraham Lincoln did NOT want Robert Anderson to surrender Fort Sumter to the Confederate Army. Eventually, Robert Anderson DID surrender the Fort but by then it was too late. The reason I think it was a war of Northern Aggression is because if Abraham Lincoln just gave up Fort Sumter earlier he actually could have prevented the whole Civil War. I think that that would have been the smarter choice and would make it a war of Southern Seccesion.

Anonymous said...

Anna Civitelli Period 1

After reading all 13 documents from "Lincoln and the Outbreak of War," i think the most logical name for the American Civil War is "War of Southern Secession." I believe this because in Document 3 it states "We have never been a nation; we are only an aggregate of communities, ready to fall apart at the first serious shock...." That is why i feel the proper name for the American Civil War is "War of Southern Secession."

Anonymous said...

I think the correct name for the American Civil War is the War of Southern Secession. I think this because in Document # 7 it talks about how the Confederates wanted Fort Sumter to surrender and by doing that, they are offering to supply them with things they need. The document states, "All proper facilities will be afforded for the removal of yourself and command, together with company arms and property, and all private property, to any post in the United States which you may select." Also in Document # 13 it states, "...no choice was left but to call out the war power of the Government; and so to resist force employed for its destruction, by force for its preservation." This quote talks about how war was forced on the confederates as an act of self-defense.
Meghan L.
Period 8

Anonymous said...

I believe that the civil war should be reffered to as the war are northern aggresion. I think this because although what the south was doing was wrong, the north barged in and interrupted their way of life, and attempted to force them to stop something that was normal for them and also a massive money maker. When the southern states seceded from the union, it wasn't because they wanted to, it was because they were forced to if they didnt want to back down. The north was explicitly defying them, with Harriet Tubman and the underground railroad, and John Brown murdering people then attempting to start a slave rebellion. The south was simply left with no options, but to surrender slavery, or to wage a war. Lincoln sent troops to attack the south. "...no choice was left but to call upon the war power of the Government..."(13).

Murray McCarthy

Anonymous said...

Michael Wisentaner

I would consider the
Civil War an act of southern secession. I would say this becasue the CSA had seiged US Military Bases,such a as Fort Sumter and Fort Dickens, hopefully leading to them surrendering and running out of food and supplies. This was an act of aggression from the south. Some people think it was an act of northern aggression becasue when the sieges were occurring, Lincoln sent 10,000 troops to each base, trying to kill and move back the CSA soldiers, so supplies can get run into the bases. That might look like an act of aggression, but i think its just that Lincoln doesn't want to give up his military bases or loose his troops.

Anonymous said...

Lauren Rancourt
Period 3
I believe that this was the "War of Southern Secession." In the 13th document it says, "...So viewing the issue, no choice was left but to call out the war power of the government; and so to resist force employed for its destruction, by force for its preservation." This is saying, Abraham Lincoln had no choice but to say war has started because of the Southerners attack on Fort Sumpter. Also in the 7th document it says, " I am ordered by the Government of the Confederate States to demand the evacuation of Fort Sumpter. My aides, Colonel Chesnut and Captain Lee, are authorized to make such demand of you. All proper facilities will be afforded for the removal of yourself and command, together with common arms and property, and all private property, to any post in the United States which you may select. The flag which you have upheld so long and with so much fortitude, under the most trying circumstances, may be saluted by you on taking it down." This is all saying that the Confederate States won't start a war if the United States does agree to become part of the Confederate States. The document also says, "Colonel Chesnut and Captain Lee will, for a reasonable time, await your answer. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant," meaning he is waiting for an answer if Lincoln is going to evacuate the Fort(s) or not. This is all saying that the Southerners were the ones who started this war because they were the first ones to fire at the Northerners in Fort Sumpter. The Southerners may have thought it was "The War of Northern Aggression" and they were overreacting and were blowing it out of proportion but they weren't at all.

Anonymous said...

I believe that this should be considered as Southern Secession because, after giving to choice of evacuating Fort Sumter or to stay and fight to Major Anderson, he first denied it. Then on April 12 Major Anderson wrote to General Beauregard that his troops will be evacuated by noon on the 15th of April, seen in document #10. Before Anderson's troops were able to evacuate the South started to open shots upon the North troops.


Devin Owiredu

Anonymous said...

Mike Kusick Period 8

I think this is a war of southern secession. Not Northern aggression. The war was not about Northern aggression because the north instead of fighting to secure their forts they did died to give them up to the Confederate Army. In document #4 it states "General Scott, in the belief that the surrender of fort Sumter had been determined upon, wrote to President that it was necessary to surrender Fort Pickens also. Meaning the General is trying to convince the President to surrender the forts. The war although is Southern Seccesion because several states have seceded from the U.S. On page one it states "Deleware, Maryland, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Misouri, and Arkansas prevailing opinion opposed secession. Meaning they are going to secede.

Anonymous said...

Many argue that the Civil War was "The War of Northern Aggression." Well those people are wrong. The American Civil War was undoubtfully "The War of Southern Secession." "It is said they cannot maintain themselves there without supplies more that twenty or thirty days longer, and that the batteries in Charleston Harbor are now (thanks to old Buchanan's imbecility or treason) so strong that supplies and reinforcements cannot be thrown in without some 10,000 men and a strong naval force. We have not got the men or the ships, and they cannot be got for. Months. What is to be done. Withdrawal, surrender, calm, dishonorable, vile submission, surrender of Fort Sumter is inevitable." (Doc. 3- Diary of George Templeton Strong, northern journalist) What this piece of text is trying to say is the men in Fort Sumter cannot last for 30 days or less. They would need to send over supplies, but without an naval escort, they would not be able to get past the Confederate batteries. The North was not willing to send troops there to take control of the Rebels, but only to escort the supply ships to Fort Sumter, safely and without incident. This proves that the North was not agressive. If you read the 3rd paragraph of Document 13, it also tells of how Fort Sumter was not occupied by Union solders to assail the south, but to maintain visible possession.
Tommy Brisch

Anonymous said...

i think the war was a war of southern sossession Lincoln was bating the south to attack with the boat and having them stay there he was just waiting for them to attack the fort and the supply boas he said he dint want blood and was but if they shoot you shoot back so he knew there would be blond he just wanted it to sound good like he was the hero he could have pulled the soldiers out of the fort but the dint he left them in there to see if they would shoot back.

joey maillet

Anonymous said...

i think the war was a war of southern sossession Lincoln was bating the south to attack with the boat and having them stay there he was just waiting for them to attack the fort and the supply boas he said he dint want blood and was but if they shoot you shoot back so he knew there would be blond he just wanted it to sound good like he was the hero he could have pulled the soldiers out of the fort but the dint he left them in there to see if they would shoot back.

joey maillet

Anonymous said...

I believe that the American Civil War was caused by Southern secession because the Confederate soldiers were the ones who first attacked Fort Sumter all while Abraham Lincoln kept saying he did not want any violence or bloodshed to occur. I can support this with document #1, which states, "In doing this there needs to be no bloodshed or violence; and there shall be none, unless it be forced upon the national authority. The power confided in me will be used to hold, occupy, and possess the property and places belonging to the government, and to collect the duties and imposts; but beyond what may be necessary for these objects, there will be no invasion -- no using of force against or among people anywhere." Lincoln says here, once again, that he does not want to fight, he does not even want to stop slavery at all, he just wants to stop the spread. Also, in document #6 it states, "...to notify them that no troops would be thrown into Sumter if provisions were allowed peacefully to be sent to the garrison." The same document later on states, "As we neared the land heavy guns were heard and the smoke and shells from the batteries which had just opened fire upon Sumter were distinctly visible..." These parts of document #6 are telling you that when the North sent a messenger to make peace at Fort Sumter, battle had already struck before anything else could have happened.

Melissa Santos
Period: 3

Anonymous said...

After reading the 13 documents on the Civil War, I have to believe that the correct name for this war would be "The War of Southern Succession." I think this is true because the South started the war. They wanted the North to evacuate Fort Sumter. They actually threatened the violent acts first. Lincoln and the Northerners did not want the war. They did not want violence. The South initiated the first attack and therefore I do not think it's fair to call it "The War of Northern Aggression.

Mikaela D
period 1

Anonymous said...

As many refer the American Civil War as "The War of Northern Agrssion" or "The War of Southern Secession", evidently it is "The War of Southern Secession" there are many reasons becuase of this, what the south did to so many of the african americans was dreadful to hear about and with everything they did to try to keep slavery was inexcusable. What the south did was wrong and could not be taken by the north. As Abraham Lincoln says in document 1 "In doing this there needs to be no bloodshed or violence;and there shall be none, unless it be forced upon the national authority. He is saying that slavery can, and ha to stop with no reason to have any casualties in the process of disposing of slavery; and the only reason there would be any bloodshed is because of the retaliation of the south.

Zach Hernandez Period 1

Anonymous said...

As many refer the American Civil War as "The War of Northern Agrssion" or "The War of Southern Secession", evidently it is "The War of Southern Secession" there are many reasons becuase of this, what the south did to so many of the african americans was dreadful to hear about and with everything they did to try to keep slavery was inexcusable. What the south did was wrong and could not be taken by the north. As Abraham Lincoln says in document 1 "In doing this there needs to be no bloodshed or violence;and there shall be none, unless it be forced upon the national authority. He is saying that slavery can, and ha to stop with no reason to have any casualties in the process of disposing of slavery; and the only reason there would be any bloodshed is because of the retaliation of the south.

Zach Hernandez Period 1

Anonymous said...

I believe that the civil war was a war of Southern secession because when South Carolina first seceded from the U.S. that was when the civil war really marked its place. That was the first state that became the Confederate states of America. In "1861 when Lincoln took office"pg.1, the South felt like their heritage was being threatened, so that is why they seceded. They didn't want their way of life to be taken away from them and that is really why the civil war happened in my opinion. I think war of southern secession is the correct term.
Maria Castro-Rodriguez
1/18/15
period 1
Mr.Delvechio

Anonymous said...

"war of southern secession"
"south Carolina had adopted an ordinance of secession, Georgia,Floridia,Alabama,Mississippi,Louisiana,and Texas followed her lead in January and February.

Briana Stockbridge per.2

Anonymous said...

I believe that the Civil War was a war of Southern secession not the war of northern aggression because of the threat of South Carolina's secession tearing the country into two different feuding countries at the brink of war. Abraham Lincoln had no intentions of using force on the south and this is evident in document 1, "In doing this there needs to be no bloodshed or violence; and there shall be none, unless it be forced upon the national authority." Meaning that he did not want to enforce violence on the South unless the country he was running was attacked by the CSA. The Civil War should be called the war of Southern secession because of the South's contributions tot he outbreak of the war by threatening the United States of American with their threat of secession.

Aidan McShane
Period 8

Anonymous said...

I would address the American Civil War as a war of Southern Secession. This is because, South Carolina was the first to secede and cause disruption within the Union. As seen in the documents, the South told the North that if they did not evacuate Fort Sumter, they would open fire. The North wanted to keep hold on the fort and did not evacuate. Because of this action the South attacked Fort Sumter and marked the beginning of the American Civil War.
Emma McCarthy
Period 8

Anonymous said...

I think that this was southern secession because if the South wouldn't have felt that the only way to have slaves would be to succeed then there most likely wouldn't be a civil war. Also because if the south didn't secede there may not have been a problem. "Apprehension seems to exit among the people of the Southern states that by the accession of a Republican administration their property and their peace and personal security are to be endangered." This quote shows how Abraham Lincoln is saying that the South may feel like they are being invaded by the North. This quote is from, Lincolns Firs Inaugural Address.

Sarah Townson period 2

Anonymous said...

Kayla Plunkett period 8
I would say that the Civil War can be described as a war or southern secession. Sure, the North's aggression added to the war, but the South's secession was the main cause of the war. They were the ones who took the first shots and Fort Sumter, which was the beginning of the war. They forced it upon themselves as the sixth document talks about how the South were shooting and you can hear the shots and see the smoke. This was the South's fault for causing the war to be this out of hand. If they hadn't seceded, there may have not even been a war. Therefore, I am concluding that the war was caused by 'Southern Secession."

Anonymous said...

based on the 13 documents and what i think is true, i think "the war of southern secession." is correct because the south i think started the civil war not the north because the north was just trying to protect their forts."South Carolina had adopted an Ordinance of Secession, and Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas followed her lead in January an February."

Briana Stockbridge per.2

Anonymous said...

I believe the war was that of a war of Southern Secession. After the Southern states seceded from the union, they became the Confederate States, shortly after, they attempted to take over Fort Sumter and got it under siege. In document 11 it stated "...we will open fire of his batteries on Fort Sumter in one hour from this time." The North was planning on evacuating the fort by 3 days but the South was skeptical after the North was to receive extra supplies for those 3 days. Acting out of spite, the South decrees the only viable solution to this was either to give them an advantage and lose the fort, or fire upon and receive everything needed to fight without problem. The South's secession started the war, if they hadn't left they never would've attempted to attack Fort Sumter. After the fort was fired upon, Lincoln sent out U.S. soldiers to aid those of Fort Sumter in battle. Although Lincoln sent troops to fight, he was not the one to first attack and only sent those troops as a defense from the South of which he wished to avoid having to resort tom, making this not a war of Northern Aggression.
-Tyler V

Anonymous said...

I think that this is a war on southern secession because south Carolina wanted to secede from the union, and that the south fired the first shots at fort sumpter because they thought the the ships of the union were bringing soldiers to the fort instead of food and supplies.

Brendan Andros per 3

Anonymous said...

I believe the Civil war was a war of southern secession. I believe this because if you look back at the events that happened during the late 1850's and early 1860's, you will see that the northern states were trying to compromise with the south but the South continued to run from the North and just say they want to end the southern way of life. When Lincoln took office in 1861 that is what pushed the South overboard and made they want to secede because they believed Lincoln wanted to end their way of life, but he really only wanted to stop it from spreading. Lincoln was going to let the southern heritage stay in the South. This is why I believe it was a war of Southern secession.

Campbell Halloran

Anonymous said...

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doug p1

Anonymous said...

I think the war was a war of northern aggression Lincoln was ready for war he new I would happen so he pushed for it as said in his inaugural address "all the power at my disposal will be used" showing he will stop at nothing to keep the states part of the United states even if that means war he say in his anaugural " there needs to be no blood shed or violence; and there shall be none unless it be forced upon the national authority" he said no blood shed to look good it he dint hesitated to say they will shoot beach. He also would sen the supply boats to the dock to bait them in to shooting and stop them sending in supply's.

Anonymous said...

Benny Gonzalez period 8

I think that the American Civil War should be refer as the "War of Southern Secession." Stated in document 1 "...there needs to be no bloodshed or violence; and there shall be none, unless it be forced upon..." This is showing how the north was trying to be peaceful unless the south did anything threatening.

Anonymous said...

The American civil war should be known as The war of Southern Seccssion because the South thought that the North was out to destroy their way of life, which is slavery. As said in document 1, "there needs to be no bloodshed or violence, and there shall be none, unless it is forced upon..." This is showing how the North did nothing to scare/threaten the south.
Brett Cahill p:3

Anonymous said...

I think the American Civil War was the "War of Northern Aggression." I believe this because the North just intruded the South and disliked them because of their way of life, even when they didn't fully listen to what they said and believed in."Six weeks after Lincoln's Inaugural, when the Confederate Army bombarded Fort Sumter and President Lincoln immediately deployed 75,000 troops, was became certainty."(Document 1) This evidence shows that the North went into Southern territory and caused the war to be a certainty for America.
Hannah Epifano Period:2

Anonymous said...

Hi mr D

Anonymous said...

I believe that the Civil War was a war of southern secession. I think this because if you look back at the events that occurred during the late 1850's and early 1860's, it seems that no matter how much the North attempted to come with peace with the South, all the South did was run. " All the power at my disposal will be used to reclaim the public property and places which have fallen." (2) This shows how Abe wanted to help bring the country back together while the South wanted to leave. Abe Lincoln just wanted peace.

Period 1
Campbell

Anonymous said...

I believe the American Civil War should be referred to as "War of Southern Secession" because the North wanted to keep our nation together and id the South didn't secede from the country, then there wouldn't have been a war to begin with.

Kelly Sipos
Period 8

Anonymous said...

I believe it was southern secession because if you look back you can see the north was trying to comprimise with the south. The south didnt agree or comprimise with them and when Lincoln became president the south got mad and tried to have their own southern lifestyle.
anna delaney period 3

Anonymous said...

The correct name for the civil war, in my opinion, is that it was the "War of Southern Secession". I believe this because, first of all, even in the "background" document in the beginning, it states "Six weeks after Lincoln's Inaugural, when the confederate army bombarded Fort Sumter..." meaning the confederate army attacked the North first so clearly it wasn't Northern aggression. Also, it later states that "...there needs to be no bloodshed or violence; and there shall be none, unless forced upon the national authority."(Lincoln, 1) Here Lincoln is saying that he doesn't want there to be any fighting unless the situation is absolutely dire. Not to mention that there wouldn't even have been need for a war if the South agreed with president and stayed with the union, letting go of slavery or at least stopping the spread so it can eventually die out for good as mentioned in the second document "In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow country men, and not mine, is the momentous issue of civil war." "I have no purposes to directly or indirectly interfere with... slavery in the states where it exists..." Lincoln does not want(or have the means to) do anything with any of the slaves and won't do anything about slavery in the South; he is trying not to show any aggression, only peace, and trying to make the South see his point of view/plans for the future.

Jessica Bajorinas; Period 3

By the way I greatly apologize my computer broke - and I know it sounds like I keep making these lame excuses but i'm not I promise you can ask my parents - and I will try extra hard to make up the blogs I really like this class and want to do well and I think I finally have a good computer that can use (hopefully) so I will do my other blogs now and take whatever grade I get I know they are quite late now sorry once again and thank you.

Anonymous said...

John Millo
Period 2

The American Civil War should be refered to as the "War of Southern Secession." In the story it states, ".to notify you that he will open fire of his batteries on Fort Sumter in one hour from this time. That is a Confederate captain speaking to the union captain. The North wanted to bring in supplies for their men and once the ship arrived the south had started shooting cannons attacking the fort. The north was trying to be peaceful but the south thought that the north was bringing in more men which would mean the union might start an attack towards the south.

Anonymous said...

William Ferraro
Per. 2

I believe the civil war was a war of southern secession. This is because the south just left the United States and they called them selves the confederate states of America. This causes many skirmishes between the North and the South. The reason why the South was angry was because the North wanted abolish slavery, and the Southern states didn't want to.

Anonymous said...

George period 8

I think that the war was a war of southern session. I think that because president Abe Lincoln said that he would not end slavery if he could save the country but the south did not care they seceded. So they started the war and seceded.

Anonymous said...

I believe that the Civil War was a war of Southern secession. I think this because South Carolina was the first to secede from the U.S., and this is when it started to tear the union apart. This is where everything started to heat up and when everything started to happen. In Document 1 it states that, "In doing this there needs to be no bloodshed or violence; and there shall be none, unless it be forced upon the national authority." This means that there doesn't need to be violence or bloodshed, unless it is forced on them. Meaning they will fight back.

Anonymous said...

Dakota Northrop p. 3

(Forgot Name)

Anonymous said...

I think that this was a war of southern secession rather than a war of northern aggression because the south were the ones to secede after Abraham lincoln stated that he was not going to attack the south and yet they still left the union

Anonymous said...

I believe that the American Civil War was the "War of Southern Secession" because Southern's were upset when Lincoln was elected as president, which lead to Fort Sumter. Another reason I believe the war was the "War of Southern Secession" is because Lincoln also didn't want the South to secede because he wanted to keep the U.S. whole as a country.

Kelly Sipos
Period 8

Anonymous said...

Hunter Pompa Period 2
I think it was a war of southern secession because the south was warned by Lincoln that they would start a war if they tried to break apart and they did so the war broke out to try to keep the country together. Then they starteded fighting and both sides had many losses of people but the north had more people and could keep bringing in reinforcements