“Unveiling the Truth: Nikki Haley’s Shifting Stance on the Civil War—It’s All About Slavery

As one of the most devastating chapters in United States history, the Civil War continues to be the subject of debate and interpretation. Nikki Haley, the former Governor of South Carolina, sparked some controversy recently when she suggested that the main cause of the war was “states’ rights” to maintain “the way of life of the South.” While this general theme is part of the story, the fundamental cause of the Civil War was slavery. Like many of the other principles upon which the United States was founded, the practice of enslaving African-Americans was a major underlying issue. Even before the war began, it was used to further deepen divisions between the North and the South. Many prominent southern leaders threatened seceding from the union unless Congress adopted pro-slavery policies that protected their rights as slaveholders. The Confederate states went ahead with their plans for secession after the 1860 election of Republican Abraham Lincoln, who made it clear he would protect the Union by any means necessary. This included banning slavery in territories that had yet to make it into the Union – something the southern states viewed as an infringement on their sovereignty. The Union soon responded to this secession with a call to arms, sparking the start of the Civil War. Throughout its duration, the conflict was marked by many efforts to end slavery, including Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. This document abolished slavery in Confederate territories, cementing the Union’s commitment to ending the institution. Ultimately, the Civil War was not a “states’ rights” battle but rather a fight to end slavery and keep the Union together. The tremendous and undeniable impact of slavery on Southern institutions fueled the secession of its states and provided the underlying spark that ignited the conflict. Ultimately, numerous efforts by the Union to end this inhumane practice further showcased its commitment to the preservation of human freedom.