“The Civil War was fought by soldiers who believed they were defending a noble and just cause” - James McPherson. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"?Get the original essayJames McPherson investigates why soldiers in the North and South made the decision to enlist in the military during the Civil War in his book "What They Fought for 1861-1865." "He argues that although both sides believed they were fighting for a noble cause, the motivations for enlisting were different for Northern and Southern soldiers. For Northern soldiers, the primary motivation for enlisting was to preserve the Union and end the Southern Rebellion Many of these soldiers believed that the Confederacy's attempt to secede from the Union posed a direct threat to the principles of democracy and the rule of law. McPherson writes: "Many soldiers in the North believed that they were fighting to defend the principles of democracy and the rule of law, which the Confederacy had threatened by attempting to secede from the Union" (McPherson, 35 years). They viewed the Union as a sacred entity, created by the Founding Fathers and protected by the Constitution. The idea of ​​a group of states seceding from the Union and creating a separate nation was a direct attack. against the principles of unity, democracy and equality on which the nation was built. Thus, many Northern soldiers viewed war as a way to defend the country against those who sought to destroy it. Additionally, the abolition of slavery was a powerful motivator for Northern soldiers. Slavery was considered a moral abomination and an affront to the principles of liberty and equality on which the nation was founded. As McPherson states: “Many Northern soldiers saw the war as an opportunity to end the institution of slavery, which they viewed as a moral abomination” (McPherson, 39). They also saw it as a way to preserve the Union, with the Confederacy built on the principle of preserving the institution of slavery. Additionally, economic and social factors also played a role in motivating Northern soldiers to enlist. Many Northern soldiers were poor farmers, factory workers, and immigrants, who saw the war as an opportunity to improve their economic conditions. McPherson writes: “For many Northern soldiers, the war offered a chance to escape poverty, unemployment, and gain social mobility” (McPherson, 43). By joining the military, they could earn a salary, receive training, and gain a sense of identity and purpose. For Southern soldiers, their primary motivation for enlisting was to protect their homeland and way of life from Northern aggression. Many Southern soldiers viewed the Confederacy as a symbol of the South's distinct culture and identity, and they felt they were fighting to protect it from Northern attempts to impose their own culture and values ​​on the South. . As McPherson writes: “Many Southern soldiers saw themselves as fighting to protect their homeland and way of life against Northern aggression” (McPherson, 42). Additionally, many Southern soldiers were motivated by a sense of honor and duty to defend their homes and families against the invading Northern army. Another key motivation for Southern soldiers was the desire to preserve the institution of slavery. Slavery was an integral part of the Southern economy and way of life, and many soldiers thought they were fighting to protect it, 45)..