Final answer:
Many Southerners volunteered for the Confederate Army at the start of the Civil War due to patriotism, the defense of home, and loyalty to their comrades. As the war continued, declining enthusiasm led to conscription. Soldiers fought for what they believed to be protection of their American values, despite internal divisions and the reality that many stood to benefit from the end of slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reasons for Volunteering in the Confederate Army
During the American Civil War, many people volunteered for the Confederate Army due to a variety of reasons. Initially, there was an enthusiastic swell of voluntarism fueled by patriotism and the belief that the war would be brief. Many Southern soldiers enlisted to defend their homes and American values, such as liberty and freedom, which were closely tied to the idea of a democratic nation. Men felt a strong loyalty to their comrades, which compelled them to fight side by side. However, as the war progressed, the enthusiasm waned, leading to issues with recruitment and the subsequent introduction of conscription laws.
Civil War soldiers fought for cause and comrades, as stated by historian James McPherson, striving to preserve American values in their eyes and feeling a sense of camaraderie with fellow soldiers. However, soldiers faced a conflicted landscape with deep divisions at home, such as disagreements on slavery in the North and financial strains among different social classes in the South, which further complicated the Confederate cause. There were also internal divisions within the Confederacy regarding the role of the central government and class-based resentments.
Despite the initial overflow of volunteers, with some yearning to join the fight as a matter of Southern pride, many did not own slaves and their interests could have been better served by the end of slavery. For these individuals, factors including defense of home and an ingrained culture of honor played significant roles in their decision to join the Confederate forces.