Many people say that the War Between the States was fought over one cause but this is over simplifying a very complex subject.  The cause of the conflict which tried this nation and led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans was caused by a series of subjects and events which started long before the first shot was fired.   There was a sense of competing nationalisms with states often seen as nations, political turmoil of the 1850’s, the very definition of freedom, the preservation of the Union, states rights, and the fate of slavery.  All of these as well as many other things that could be listed merge into differences in social and economic differences

People had argued about the meaning of the Constitution since its infancy. Our founding fathers never talked of America as being a nation because they could not agree that America was a nation. From a legal standpoint our Constitution defines the relationship between the people of the United States and the federal government, detailing the powers and responsibilities of each. In 1828 Vice-president John C. Calhoun said if a state felt a federal law extended beyond the Constitutional rights of the government that state had the right to ignore(or "nullify") the law.  Between 1830 and 1833 South Carolina tried to nullify federal tariffs because of regional self interest and self rights based on what was believed at the time.  Then President Andrew Jackson and Senator Henry Clay were able to avert the situation.  This concept of states rights dated back the Articles of Confederation. President Andrew Jackson felt the federal government was the highest authority and the states had to abide by its law.  This caused turmoil within political parties in the 1850’s.  

Before our independence people of the colonies were British subjects but they were also subjects of their own home colonies.  After the revolution the colonist were no longer British subjects but they were no a cohesive nation of Americans. They were fateful members of their state as they had been for over 150 years.  When the nation was first formed it was 13 radically different states or 13 separate countries.  There was no American Nationalism.  What nationalism there was was secondary to the states.  The United States was a country but it was not a nation.

The geography of the land played a part in the division of the nation.  The wilderness, rivers, and mountain ranges created differences in lifestyles, culture, and political out look.  As people settled new areas they carried these beliefs with them. 

This country had been founded by secessionist.  They were people trying to fend off an oppressive government to establish a government better suited to their culture and lifestyle.  This was not so dissimilar than southerners during the War Between the States.  They were seeking self determination and independence.  American had always sought independence if political or other differences forced their hand.  The first voice of session was heard during the Whiskey Rebellion.  This rift threatened to spilt our new nation along east west lines.  Calls for revolution committees and for independence were supported by 7000 people.  When the United States was only 10 years old the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions assured that the states had the right to nullify acts of the federal government.  This was a direct threat to the Constitution and it laid the basis for war in 1861.  These resolutions were written by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.  Then there was the War of 1812.  The New England states openly threatened secession because they sided with the British.  Then, as I mentioned earlier in 1830 South Carolina tried to nullify tariffs.  Then the debate over slavery in the south and the plight of the Irish in the north began to split the nation.

From 1776 to 1860 the population of the United States had doubled every two decades.  People spoke as the United States as a “Confederacy of States” and a “League of Sovereign States.”   They spoke and said, “The United States are...” and named each state and territory.   State legislators saw the national congress as a foreign body and went so for as to instruct U.S. Senators on how they were to vote.

In the late 1850s California, Oregon, and New Jersey spoke of secession and on the eve of secession New York City wondered whether to strike out on their own, join some kind of confederacy, or join with the south and the emerging Confederate States of America.

Summary: What was the primary cause of the Civil War? Many things led to and caused the war but mainly social and economic differences. There were extreme differences not only from state to state but from city to city.   Who or what was to "blame" for the Civil War?  We the people.  We were a country but not a nation.  George Washington said he did not expect the Republic to last 20 years and when ask what had been created in the meetings Benjamin Franklin responded, “We have created a Republic, if we can keep it.”   Do you think the Civil War could have been avoided?  I do think the war could have been avoided if, and this is a big if, we had established a different form of government than a Republic.  We have a nation that was created from an idea not from a long established strife and struggles within a country.  We are a people that pride its self on being independent and it is that struggle for independence that led to bloodshed.         

Indian Confederate

This is a drawing of an original member of the 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles. Note: the half leggins, Union short shell Jacket and civilian trousers. The most common jacket for the Western Theater was the Columbus Depot pattern made of jean cloth/ jean wool. Many Indian soldiers wore a civilian sack coat or an enlisted frock coat. Jean wool trousers were common. A number of soldiers wore civilian plaids or a pair of trousers that matched their coat or jacket. Some tribal members prefered to wear traditional tribal dress. It would not have been uncommon to see mounted soldiers in the Western Theater wearing Infantry blue trim or even black trim. The War in Indian Territory was a come as you are war. The early years of the war saw Indian troopers sometime in breechclouts and leggins, in fact some chose to wear them throughout the war. More common were cloth trousers with leather half leggins as seen in the drawing. The Shirt was a pullover unbleached long sleeve muslim or cotton often in checkered pattern. The suspenders were plain cotton in the H or X style.  Footgear was either brogan shoes, a pattern 1861 mounted high-topped black mounted boot or moccasins (Cherokee wore center seam moccasins).  The headgear was one of the most important parts of a soldier's uniform. It protected from the sun and rain when needed it kept out the cold and the heat. Slouch hat were worn in black, brown, or grey. Forage cap (bummer), or kepi were worn. Many Cherokee troops chose the triditional Cherokee turban. Though the slouch hat was preferred it was difficult to get.  This solder has one decorated with feathers. Feathers were either eagle, egret or barred wild turkey. The kepi was not widely used in the Western Theater.   Mounted Great Coat of a proper Confederate pattern were worn by officers, if they could get them. But Territorial Indian troops wore whatever they could get. 

It was common practice for Indians of all tribes to modify their personal weapons of choice. Usually by shortening the barrel and covering it with brass tacks if they were available. The practice of heavly covering the rifle with brass tacks was not as common among Cherokee's. They used small tacks and in sparce numbers. It was not uncommon to see modified three band muskets on the field.  The 58 cal. 1841 Mississippi Rifle was a common choice among Company soldiers. Although the carbine such as the M1859 Sharps was prefered if one could be found on the field [these were Union issue to a limited number of units], a "two-bander" (as they were called) were most common Confederate Indian weapon. Some Federal Indians carried breech loaders such as: Sharps, Spencer, Gallagher, Maynard, and Smith. There were a number of soldiers that use the 1861 Springfield Musket or "three-bander" (as they were called).  These were usually used by the infantry and could be picked up after a battle. Some Confederate Indian Soldiers prefered the Cook and Brothers carbine.  Shotguns, bows and arrows, clubs, tomahawks, knives, and anything they could fight with was also used as a weapon of war.