“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 Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay James McPherson investigates the causes why both Northern and Southern soldiers made the decision to join the army during the Civil War in his book "What They Fought for 1861-1865." He argues that while both parties 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 rebellion of South. Many of these soldiers believed that the Confederacy's attempt to secede from the Union was a direct threat to the principles of democracy and the rule of law. As McPherson writes, “Many soldiers in the North believed 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). 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 breaking away from the Union and creating a separate nation was a direct attack on the principles of unity, democracy, and equality upon which the nation was built. Therefore, many Northern soldiers saw the war as a way to defend the country from those who sought to destroy it. Furthermore, the abolition of slavery was a powerful motivator for Northern soldiers. Slavery was seen as a moral abomination and an affront to the principles of freedom 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 considered a moral abomination” (McPherson, 39). They also saw it as a means of preserving the Union, as the Confederacy had been built on the premise of preserving the institution of slavery. Furthermore, economic and social factors also played a role in motivating Northern soldiers to enlist. Many Northern soldiers were poor farmers, workers, and immigrants, who saw the war as an opportunity to improve their economic conditions. McPherson writes, “For many Northern soldiers, the war offered the 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, the primary motivation for enlisting was to protect their homeland and way of life from Northern aggression. Many Southern soldiers saw the Confederacy as a symbol of the South's distinct culture and identity and felt that they were fighting to protect it from Northern attempts to impose its culture and values ​​on the South. As McPherson writes, "Many Southern soldiers they saw themselves as fighters to protect their homeland and their way of life from Northern aggression” (McPherson, 42). Additionally, many Southern soldiers were motivated by a sense of honor and duty to defend their homes and families from 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 believed they were fighting to protect it from Northern abolitionists. This sense of duty to protect one's way of life and property, including slaves, was a powerful motivator for many Southern soldiers., 45)..