The secession speeches that preceded the southern secession clearly state that slavery was the reason state legislatures voted to secede, but typical southerner whites were not slave owners. That makes me wonder whether they could be convinced to secede and go to war to support slavery. Was the rhetoric used to draw most southern whites into the Civil War similar to that expressed in the secession speeches or were they more likely to hear arguments about states' rights, oppression by northern elites, etc. I am not asking if typical southern whites were less racist, because racism was clear, but racism continues without slavery. My question is, were typical white men convinced to join the Confederate Army to protect the rights of the elites (e.g. similar to working class members voting for low taxes on the wealthy now) or did they hear other arguments to motivate them to join the cause.