The Confederate Flag is a Symbol of Racism

First: "To begin I would like to address my opponents lake of citation or credibility in their supposed source. " I do not lack a credible source. This site refuses to allow me to make reference to these particular citations. I'll try again: The Causes of the Civil War by Kenneth Stampp, A noted Civil War historian. Why They Fought by historian, James McPherson. "Valued audience take note that con refuses and even questions how I connect slavery with racism when it seems easy to explain on a level of basic moral humanity. . . " Seem is not an argument; seem is an impression. I do not take issue with your connecting slavery and racism. I take issue with your conflating them. Slavery and Racism are discrete concepts. They are not interchangeable. "My opponent tries to justify that slavery was not a problem of the civil war" Lincoln stated in his inaugural address that he had no intention of disturbing the practice of slavery: "I have no purpose, Directly or indirectly, To interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, And I have no inclination to do so. " "lack of the issue of slavery mentions in letters and diaries of civil war soldiers but I ask why would soldiers sending letters to loved one at homes or writing about the days battles and the loss of close comrades hold mention to what the time was a debate of politics? We can look to modern day letters soldiers write to home and seldom are politics mentioned as while in war their concern in the least is politics but rather those they love knowing they could be killed the next day. " This is a logically fallacious rebuttal. This is an argument from incredulity. Your not believing it does not make it false. I cited my reference. "Self government of the South involves the protection of slavery and nearly the entirety of the Southern economy was based on slave labor in the cotton fields so despite con's attempt at deflecting the issue of slavery both the Southern government and economy all link back to one key issue, Slavery which is again why I reemphasize it begins the Declaration of Secession of almost every confederate state and is mentioned 83 times. " No, The Southern economy was mostly--not entirely--based on agriculture and depended on exports for other goods. Slavery was a substantial portion of their economies, But it did not define it. "My opponent tries to claim the Morilll tariff as the cause of the civil war but let us take a closer look at the tariff which was "adopted on March 2, 1861, During the administration of President James Buchanan, A Democrat" Yes, Let me revise my earlier statement. The Morill Tariff was passed in the Spring of 1861, Not 1860. It was passed just two days before Lincoln's inauguration. "No single issue as I mentioned caused the civil war and it's beginning was a final explosion of build up through slow increased tensions between the North and South over the big issue, Slavery, The "northern control" my opponent speaks of was it's increased regulation on SLAVERY, The "northern aggression" my opponent speaks of is the Northern push to end the Southern lifestyle which included SLAVE work. " I didn't mention "aggression, " but it suffices nonetheless. And by no means was the Morill Tariff a "regulation on slavery. " It was meant to protect domestic Northern industries (e. G. Pennsylvania Steel Industry) by hampering the competition of European exporters. Lincoln himself who would see the Tariff through stated himself that he did not care to disturb the institution of slavery. The Union also faced a desertion crisis in 1863, After the emancipation, Because their soldiers didn't want to fight for "black freedom. " (McPherson. ) "The South economy ran on agriculture and manpower for this industry was supplied almost completely through the selling and auctions of slaves. " This much has been acknowledged at least in part. But how does this inform racism? Or the dependence on racist attitudes? The South was undoubtedly a racist place before and after the civil war as we can simply look to the Jim Crow laws put in place almost immediately after the civil that allowed legal segregation, The South was racist. " The South was racist? How? Because of Law? Would Free Blacks in the South who owned Slaves, And allegedly fought for Slavery in the Civil War, Not undermine this? What about Anthony Johnsnon, Who was a black landowner in Virginia, And became one of the first to establish legal chattel slavery? Or are we once again conflating slavery with racism simply because American slaves were mostly black and slave owners were mostly white? Are we going to forget that Slavery is a historical institution that has been practiced inter-ethnically and intra-ethnically? "I point out that my opponent has failed to address how a battle flag which was flown in the skirmishes of the civil war for a nation of traitors who were defending the immoral cause of slavery can not be in itself racist, " I propose the Civil War Battle flag isn't symbolic of racism--even if we are to in this context combine it with slavery--because the timing doesn't follow. The Confederacy was formed in February, The Morill Tariff, Which was not a regulation of slavery but a hamper to foreign exports, Was passed in March, And the Civil War began in April of 1861. Why did Lincoln wait a year to present a draft for emancipation? Why was it passed as a military measure? Why did he exempt confederate states under union control from said measure? Because the war wasn't about slavery (alone or primarily. ) The Confederacy didn't form because of slavery (alone or primarily. ) It was primarily about the tariff and the control of the Northern protectionists. Thanks to my opponent. And sorry for the mix up.