Abolishing Slavery Wasn't the Principle Cause of War Between the States

Throughout this chaotic and misinformed debate over historical statuary, remember this: the "civil war" is a grossly ignorant misnomer. A "civil war" is fought by two or more factions to achieve political control over a country. That wasn't at all the case with the Confederate States of America (CSA) which fought a purely defensive war to preserve its independence. It had no interest in taking over the entire union by seizing control in DC. And at the time of its withdrawal from the union, its departure from the union enjoyed wide public support in the North which viewed such a separation as a natural expression of our founding principles.

The War for Southern Independence was NOT fought over slavery which was, at best, a contributing economic-related cause of that conflict. Advancing slavery as THE cause for the war was a cynical and desperate Lincoln ploy to ennoble the North's invasion of the South and to address flagging army enlistments by rallying Northern support for what was a very unpopular war. Most importantly, proclaiming his desire to free the slaves as the fundamental cause for his invasion of the CSA was intended to discourage European intervention on behalf of the CSA which enjoyed strong support among European powers.

In Lincoln's own words, abolishing slavery was not at all his concern or interest. In truth, the dubious "Emancipation Proclamation", which effectively freed not one slave, was but a ruse to advance his war aims against the CSA.

Economically and politically oppressed by the North, the South embarked upon the only Founder-sanctioned remedy available to it--secession/recision/withdrawal.

(Among other books, and for starters, please read "The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Civil War" and "The Politically Incorrect Guide to the South". Also "Lincoln Unmasked", "The Real Lincoln" and my own "A Patriot's Call to Action".)