The Civil War News & Views Open Discussion Forum - Archive

Re: Edward L. Ayers, "What Caused the Civil War"

Thanks for the heads-up about the Ayers' book. I'll check it out.

When the Founding Fathers talked about the right of a people to rebel against an oppressive government, it needs to be understood that at the time they spoke, all the nations on the planet were governed by kings, emperors, chiefs, potentates, and other powerful individuals. People had no recourse for abuses of power except for emigration or rebellion. There had never been such a thing as a constitutional republic, where the people could have some say in the way they were governed.

Once the United States was established as the world's first constitutional republic, there was no longer an imperative for rebellion. In a democracy, people cast their votes and accept the results of the election. If they have grievances, they take them to their elected representatives. If they don't like the way their elected representatives are running things, they vote against them in the next election. Rebellion is only an option when the people have no voice in their government.

Americans have been governing themselves for more than 200 years now, and, unlike just about anywhere else in the world, have been able to change their leaders and their government peacefully. The people have a voice and rebellion is no longer on option on the table.

Leaving aside arcane arguments about the legality or constitutionality of secession, as a practical matter the notion of individual states having sovereignty is, today, nothing more than a charming 19-century relic. This country has existed as a unified nation for more than 200 years -- except for a brief and bloody 54-month period in the 1860s -- and the idea of secession is no longer a consideration for any but a very small lunatic fringe. Individuals who are unhappy with their government and who want to take their marbles and go home when an election doesn't swing their way, always have the options of either pouting or seceding themselves from this country and moving to a country more to their liking. But there is no way that anyone is going to take a piece of the nation with them when they go.

Again, it's interesting to discuss the finer legal and constitutional points of states' rights, secession and rebellion, but hopefully everyone understands that it's just talk. No one who loves his country seriously entertains any ideas about secession or rebellion being a practical option.

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Pressing Issues for the Alabama Legislature
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P.S.-- To no one person.
Re: To all you peoples!
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Re: What Caused the Civil War
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Forgot to mention---
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I knew it!!!
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Re: Edward L. Ayers, "What Caused the Civil War"
Re: Edward L. Ayers, "What Caused the Civil War"
Re: Edward L. Ayers, "What Caused the Civil War"
LOL *NM*
Re: To all you peoples!
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Re: Flag History
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Re: P.S.-- To no one person.
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Re: P.S.-- To no one person.
Re: P.S.-- To no one person.
Re: Pressing Issues for the Alabama Legislature
Re: Pressing Issues for the Alabama Legislature
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I do! and yes, you are. LOL *NM*
Re: I do! and yes, you are. LOL
Re: Pressing Issues for the Alabama Legislature
Welcome *NM*
Re: Pressing Issues for the Alabama Legislature
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Re: Pressing Issues for the Alabama Legislature