Historical context has been hijacked by revisionists. Whether their agenda and propaganda are nefarious or not, it must be addressed!
The secessionist states refused to end slavery and rallied its poor, uninformed troops around state's rights. Ending slavery is and can be shown to be what the G.A.R. fought for. Lincoln made it absolutely clear "Without slavery the rebellion could never have existed; without slavery it could not continue."
http://rogerjnorton.com/...
The "myth" meme must not stand: https://www.youtube.com/... and fomenting lies about Lincoln's intent must not stand: https://www.youtube.com/...
Lincoln suffered the intense self and external deliberations regarding emancipation.
There are many sources, consider some:
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/...
and: http://quod.lib.umich.edu/...
and: http://quod.lib.umich.edu/...
and: http://quod.lib.umich.edu/...
Historical context is always key. It must be preserved that the Civil War was fought because of slavery, and not because of the dissent of state's to foster the far flung ideology of their self determined, sovereign rights. Rather, the reality is the Confederacy utilized the art of words to instill a false pride in itself via label propaganda. Devising by its deceit a way to manage its hopeless rebellion for its Antebellum Oligarchy.
That oligarchy was bent on severe oppression of lower classes, and slaves. They created the government and sponsored the evil perpetrated. Their descendants are still stirring political agitation to this day, and used the KKK and political device for their new means of oppression. There success stirs divide today!
Never forget their evil, do not let that oppression continue without resilient foment to retort and disparage their aggression. There is a new face of oppression that thrives in the ranks of the GOP. It's conservative roots are fomented from the heritage of the KKK, the John Birch ideology, and the new ALEC institutions. These are major threats to our Democracy and foment a dictatorial nationalistic policy, akin to parallels throughout 20th Century history.
The zealots have now fomented a return of unprecedented prison growth, and punishment meted out by a militaristic police. Controlled by the local policies which throughout our great nation have been infiltrated and majority ruled by the GOP. Scalise is the most recent example of their overt dissociation from the roots of oppression. Look to historical events, there are many, this link but one timeline: http://www.alternet.org/...
The conservatives must not continue the perpetration of their unjust economic and political suppression. http://www.salon.com/... laying waste to voter rights, dismantling air, land and water protections, approving KXL pipeline - polluting, achieving debt through war and nationalistic zeal to continue throwing taxes into the institutional pit that is our U.S. Military Complex. The sadistic stir to increase a militarized police is profoundly alarming, more so when coupled with the zeal proponents in the population foment survival by any means.
Read into that, don't ignore the rebellion that has never ended https://www.youtube.com/... . It will never end, but it will be prevailed against, we who know the past, live for now and the future must continue the vigilant course to peace and progress, for the people. (Gettysburg Address is apropos)
Peace!