which sides slave on during the Civil war? and why did they switch side?
During the American Civil War, the sides were divided into the Union (also known as the North) and the Confederacy (also known as the South).
The Union consisted mainly of states that remained loyal to the United States government and were against the secession of the southern states. The Confederacy, on the other hand, was composed of states that had seceded from the Union and formed their own government.
The primary reason for the switch of sides during the Civil War was the issue of slavery. Initially, the war began as a conflict over the Southern states' desire to maintain slavery as an institution. The Confederacy fought to preserve their way of life, which heavily relied on slave labor.
However, as the war progressed, the Union's goals shifted. Initially, President Abraham Lincoln sought to preserve the Union and did not focus on abolishing slavery. But as the war continued, the Union increasingly came to view abolition as necessary for victory. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by Lincoln in 1862, declared that all slaves in Confederate territory would be set free.
The change in the Union's perspective and policy towards slavery led to a significant moral and political shift, attracting more support over time. People who were previously undecided or sympathetic to the Confederacy found it increasingly difficult to justify supporting a side that fought to maintain slavery.
It's worth noting that the motivations and allegiances of individuals during the Civil War were complex and diverse. Not everyone on either side directly aligned their views with those of their respective governments. Factors such as regional identity, economic considerations, and personal beliefs influenced why individuals might have switched sides or remained loyal.