Why did the South decide to fight a defensive war?

Question

to protect their pantations
to make north look like the aggressor
to take advantage of their knowledge of the land
to make maximum use of their limited transportation system

Answer 1

All of the reasons you provided are possible factors that contributed to the South's decision to fight a defensive war. To protect their plantations, the South wanted to defend their agricultural economy that heavily relied on slave labor. By fighting defensively, they aimed to prevent the Union Army from invading and occupying their territories. Making the North look like the aggressor could have helped the South gain international sympathy and support. Additionally, the South's knowledge of the land, including terrain, rivers, and other geographical features, may have given them an advantage in defending their territory. Lastly, the South's limited transportation system made it difficult for them to launch large-scale offensives, so fighting defensively was a strategic choice that allowed them to make the most of their resources.