In the book What They Fought For 1861-1865 by James M. McPherson, McPherson provides us with the results of his discoveries after years of studying personal letters and written diaries by both Union and Confederate soldiers. In his preface he explains that the research for this book actually began in 1987, but the book wasn't first published until 1994, meaning it was nurtured over a seven-year period. This is a very short book that the author has divided into three sections. I would like to take a moment to examine the views of Confederate and Union soldiers, as well as their perceptions of slavery, to show how they justified the individual “causes” they believed they were fighting for and why they felt they had to fight. the right to secede from the Union. The Confederate Cause was seen as a fight for "freedom and independence" (p. 7) from a tyrannical government. These are people who truly believed they were fighting against evil and that if our ancestors could have sought freedom from an unjust government over some small fiscal matter, their reason for fighting in this war would have been even greater. One letter used by the author caught my attention because it showed the level of dedication to the cause and the depth with which they felt their very independence was at stake because after the surrender of Vicksburg the letter stated "...let us not despair.. .We must….Decide to conquer or die more completely…” (p. 10) Really – just think about it for a moment, “conquer or die.” These are the words of a man who fights for a cause so great that it would be better to die than to lose, and he wasn't the only one who believed in it. Another soldier... middle of paper... except to abolish slavery altogether It would be in the best interests of states remain united, however I think they should have been able to secede, and it would have been within their right to do so, after all, what they were fighting for was no different than the founding fathers, and have Northern States and Southern States it would not be viewed differently than other countries such as North Korea and Korea of the South... I believe that states have the right to secede if they feel it is justified, and if it is the decision of the majority then the decision will have been made by the people who live within the borders of the state, and if it is by the people then it is a decision that the government should respect, because it is a majority government. people and for the people, not a strong arm of the law that exists simply to oppress or rule the people.