My teacher told me that historians, and even some of those who lived through the American civil war, believe that Southerners, in starting the war, became themselves the greatest practical abolitionists of all. Why exactly is this? It seems paradoxical to me.

by JoeyGnome

Domini_canes

Is it possible that he was saying that by starting a war that they lost the Confederacy brought about the end of slavery more quickly than it would have otherwise happened?

bleedcubsblue23

Keep in mind that in order to rejoin the Union, the Southern states were required to pass the 13th amendment. So, they weren't left out, but you could argue that they were indeed coerced. The same process was used to ratify the 14th and 15th amendments.