Utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism that bases the judgment of morality on the consequences likely to follow. Therefore, consequences are the only thing that matter in utilitarianism to justify the morality of decisions. Utilitarianism is the only moral framework that can justify military force or war, considering the positive consequences of the war. The civil war in America can be justified by utilitarianism since the moral reform of slavery was central to the conflict. The civil war had multiple negative and positive consequences justifiable from a utilitarian perspective.
Utilitarianism is a straightforward method of determining morality by evaluating the various course of action and the foreseeable benefits or harms associated with the action. The civil war was necessary for slavery to end in America since legislation and mediation methods had failed to influence the Southern states to agree to abolition. Avoiding the war would result in continued slavery in the south and intensify the northern and southern states’ economic, social, and political divide (Kantor, 2001). Although the civil war had negative consequences, including the assassination of President Lincoln and the death of many Americans, it influenced what is considered the beginning of the American Revolution, laying the foundation for America’s emergence as a world power in the 20th century. The positive consequences of the civil war outweigh the negative consequences, hence justifiable by the utilitarianism theory.
However, if the Southern states had won the war, the civil war would be unjustified by utilitarianism. Slavery would persist in America after relative economic decline influenced by the poor federal performance due to the divide between south and north nations (Kantor, 2001). Slavery would have lasted until the 20th century hence affecting the status of America as a world power.
Reference
Kantor, M. (2001). If the South Had Won the Civil War. Macmillan.