Slavery was one component of the war. It wasn't the primary or only reason the southerners picked up weapons against DC. 4/5ths of the southern army was non slave owning. They were poor farmers or worked in textile factories. Many didnt even care one way or another about slave ownership. They saw the war as northern aggression against their states right to leave the union or live how they sought. Jusy as the colonies believed in 1776. Slavery was the political wedge issue at the time and was a wedge issue even when we created the country. Tariffs were a major cause for rift between north and south for years. The south was 20% of the population but was paying 80% of tariff costs to export their stuff. The north wanted to protect their industry but also needed revenue to fund the government and build the railroads. This part cannot be ignored or passed off as a "non issue" like the lazy historians would have you believe. In the south's eyes, they felt they were doing the same thing the founders did in 1776. If England had won, how do you think they would have written the history books? "Racist colonials were beaten by british after they wanted their own slave holding nation."... Also, if lincoln wanted war stictly to "free the slaves" why was slavery still allowed in the northern states? Why did the 13th amendment fail initially on the first vote (After the north had won). If the war was about ending slavery, wouldnt slaves be free as soon as the south lost? The reality is the north was not some "freedom fighting" force against the "evil racist south" like we are told and brainwashed with in school. The north and lincoln were just as racist as the south back then. Lincoln even toyed with the idea of sending them back to Liberia. He also offered the south a deal to keep their slaves if they would come back into the union after they started leaving. The south basically told him to pound sand. Lincolns objective was preserve the union at all costs, not "go to war because the south wants to keep slaves forever". Fort Sumter was not some event that was a random attack by the south. South Carolina was already legally out of the Union, but their ports were still being blocked and harassed by union navy. North provoked the attack, the south took the bait and shelled Sumter.

Slavery was one component of the war. It wasn't the primary or only reason the southerners picked up weapons against DC. 80% of the southern army was non slave holding. Many didnt even care one way or another about slaves. They saw it as northern aggression against their states right to leave the union. Slavery was the political wedge issue at the time and was a wedge issue even when we created the country. Tariffs were a major cause for rift between north and south. The south was 20% of the population but was paying 80% of tariff costs to export their stuff. This part cannot be ignored. In the south's eyes, they felt they were doing the same thing the founders did in 1776. If England had won, how do you think they would have written the history books? "Racist colonials were beaten by british after they wanted their own slave holding nation."... Also, if lincoln wanted war stictly to "free the slaves" why was slavery still allowed in the northern states? Why did the 13th amendment fail initially on the first vote (After the north had won). If the war was about ending slavery, wouldnt slaves be free as soon as the south lost? Reality is the north was not some "freedom fighting" force against the "evil racist south" like we are told in school. The north and lincoln were just as racist back then. Lincoln even toyed with the idea of sending them back to Liberia. He also offered the south a deal to keep their slaves if they would come back into the union. Lincolns objective was preserve the union at all costs, not "go to war because they want to keep slaves". Fort Sumter was also not some event that was a random attack by the south. South Carolina was already legally out of the Union, but their ports were still being blocked. North provoked the attack, the south took the bait and shelled Sumter.