What did the Confederates really fight for?

The American Civil War was fought between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America, a collection of eleven southern states that left the Union in 1860 and 1861. The conflict began primarily as a result of the long-standing disagreement over the institution of slavery.

What were the reasons for Confederates to fight in the Civil War?

Many maintain that the primary cause of the war was the Southern states’ desire to preserve the institution of slavery. Others minimize slavery and point to other factors, such as taxation or the principle of States’ Rights.

Who was the average Confederate soldier?

The average soldier on both sides was a white, native-born, protestant farmer. Q. How much were soldiers paid? A white Union private made thirteen dollars a month; his black counterpart made seven dollars until Congress rectified the discrepancy in 1864.

Did the average Confederate soldier fight for slavery?

In fact, most Confederate soldiers did not own slaves; therefore he didn’t fight for slavery and the war couldn’t have been about slavery.” The logic is simple and compelling—the rates of slave ownership among Confederate soldiers reveals something about the cause of the Confederate nation.

What was the average Confederate soldier like?

Wiley, who pioneered the study of the Civil War common soldier, the average Yank or Reb was a ‘white, native-born, farmer, protestant, single, between 18 and 29. ‘ He stood about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed about 143 pounds. Most soldiers were between the ages of 18 and 39 with an average age just under 26.

What happened to Confederate soldiers after the war?

There are dozens of Confederate generals, some we know and most we never think of. After the war many were aided by friends and found jobs in the burgeoning railroad or insurance industries.

What was life like for the average Confederate soldier?

The life of a soldier during the civil war wasn’t easy. Not only did soldiers face the possibility of getting killed in battle, their daily lives were full of hardships. They had to deal with hunger, bad weather, poor clothing, and even boredom between battles. Soldiers were woken at dawn to begin their day.

What was life like for a Confederate soldier?

A Confederate’s Soldier’s Life. The Confederate soldier knew the elements of his success — courage, endurance and devotion. He knew also by whom he was defeated — sickness, starvation, death. He fought not men only, but food, raiment, pay, glory, fame and fanaticism.

How many Confederate soldiers died in the US Civil War?

Approximately 620,000 soldiers died from combat, accident, starvation, and disease during the Civil War. This number comes from an 1889 study of the war performed by William F. Fox and Thomas Leonard Livermore. Both men fought for the Union.

Who was the oldest Civil War soldier?

Memorial to Oldest Civil War Soldier. Curtis King, age 80, was a member of the Iowa 37th Infantry Regiment, the famed Graybeard Regiment. It is believed that he was the oldest Civil War soldier.

What was the age limit for soldiers in the Civil War?

The average age of a Civil War soldier was 25. In the Union Army it is estimated that 100,000 soldiers were less than 15 years old. These soldiers had to lie about their age to get into the army as the minimum age was 18.