American Civil War

 American Civil War (war)  

If former slaves were included, the American Civil War death toll would be over 1 million.
Date	1861 - 1865
Location	United States,  North America
Description	The Start of US World dominations, the Civil war saw capitalists fight capitalists in a war over tax, slavery and the question how big and kind of an imperial force the US should become on the North American continent.

The American Civil War was a sectional rebellion against the United States of America by the Confederate States, formed of eleven southern states' governments which moved to secede from the Union after the 1860 election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States. The Union's victory was eventually achieved by leveraging advantages in population, manufacturing and logistics and through a strategic naval blockade denying the Confederacy access to the world's markets.

Official narrative

A war for freedom.

The American Civil War - OverSimplified (Part 1)

The American Civil War - OverSimplified (Part 2)

Political repression

The policies started during the war facilitated the transfer of billions of dollars from the government to the wealthy elite. The presidential "war powers" also laid the foundation the US deep state and the project for total control over the population.

Lincoln instituted a system of arbitrary arrests and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus. Nearly any form of political dissent was treated as treasonous. A system of military tribunals without normal constitutional protections was instituted. Warrantless arrests and indefinite prison terms were now the norm. This was done despite the fact that the Constitution is quite specific that only Congress can suspend the writ of habeas corpus.

Lincoln argued that the Confederate States, when they seceded, had been counting on being able to keep "on foot amongst us a most efficient corps of spies, informers, supplyers, and aiders and abettors of their cause" under "cover of 'Liberty of speech' 'Liberty of the press' and 'Habeas corpus.'" Nationally, press freedom was abridged by closing nearly 300 newspapers and imprisoning dissident editors. It is estimated that at least 20,000 people were imprisoned without habeas corpus protection.

Lincoln also punished his political opposition. His chief opponent in the North, Clement Vallandigham was arbitrarily arrested and deported to the south.

International conspiracy of bankers

Author and antiwar activist Henry Clay Dean argued the entire war was conceived by an international conspiracy of bankers and stock-gamblers.

Self-determination

H.L. Mencken analyzed the claims in Lincoln's Gettysburg Address:

But let us not forget that it is oratory, not logic; beauty, not sense. Think of the argument in it! Put it into the cold words of everyday! The doctrine is simply this: that the Union soldiers who died at Gettysburg sacrificed their lives to the cause of self-determination — "that government of the people, by the people, for the people," should not perish from the earth. It is difficult to imagine anything more untrue. The Union soldiers in that battle actually fought against self-determination; it was the Confederates who fought for the right of their people to govern themselves. What was the practical effect of the battle of Gettysburg? What else than the destruction of the old sovereignty of the States, i. e., of the people of the States? The Confederates went into battle an absolutely free people; they came out with their freedom subject to the supervision and vote of the rest of the country—and for nearly twenty years that vote was so effective that they enjoyed scarcely any freedom at all.

Legacy

Coca Cola

Coca-Cola was invented by a vet with actual cocaine in it, giving it the name, as a form of modern pain killer drug. It - although watered down without the drug - continues to be a child favourite.

Polarisation

In many ways, the conflict's central issues – the enslavement of African Americans, the role of constitutional federal government, and the rights of states – are still not completely resolved. Not surprisingly, the Confederate army's surrender at Appomattox on 9 April 1865 did little to change many Americans' attitudes toward the potential powers of central government. The passage of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments to the Constitution in the years immediately following the war did not change the racial prejudice prevalent among Americans of the day; and the process of Reconstruction did not heal the deeply personal wounds inflicted by four brutal years of war and more than 970,000 casualties – 3 percent of the population, including approximately 560,000 deaths.

As a result, controversies affected by the war's unresolved social, political, economic and racial tensions continue to shape contemporary American thought. The causes of the war, the reasons for the outcome, and even the name of the war itself are subjects of much discussion even today.

 

Related Quotations

Page	Quote	Author	Date
George Carlin	“Living in this country, you're bound to know, every time you're exposed to advertising, you realize once again that America's leading industry, America's most profitable business is still: the manufacture, packaging, distribution and marketing of bullshit. High-quality, grade-A, prime-cut, pure, American bullshit. And the sad part is, is that most people seem to have been indoctrinated to believe that bullshit only comes from certain places, certain sources: advertising, politics, salesmen – not true. Bullshit is everywhere. Bullshit is rampant. Parents are full of shit, teachers are full of shit, clergymen are full of shit, and law enforcement people are full...of...shit – this entire country. This entire country is completely full of shit, and always has been. From the Declaration of Independence to the Constitution to the Star-Spangled Banner, it's still nothing more than one big steaming pile of red, white and blue, all-American bullshit. Because, think of how we started. Think of that. This country was founded by a group of slave-owners who told us all men are created equal. Oh yeah, all men, except for Indians and niggers and women, right? I always like to use that authentic American language. This was a small group of unelected, white, male, land-holding, slave-owners who also suggested their class be the only one allowed to vote. Now, that is what's known as being stunningly and embarrassingly full of shit. And I think Americans really show their ignorance when they say they want their politicians to be honest. What are these fuckin' cretins talking about? If honesty were suddenly introduced into American life, the whole system would collapse! No one would know what to do! Honesty would fuck this country up!”	George Carlin
Donald Jeffries	“Historically, the "liberals" of their time were adamantly in favor of the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War 1, and World War 2. Most "liberals" during the Cold War managed the exceptional balancing act of supporting the massive military buildup against the new communist "enemy", while simultaneously attacking any aggressive anti-communist.”	Donald Jeffries	2019

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