But most modern historians have lost the facts of the reasons for the Civil war. Slavery was a side issue that only later in the war took on major weight and no one really disputes that facts that slavery was dieing anyways. By 1880's slavery would have been a thing of the past. The south was cottoned out and slavery was a economic looser, not a money maker.....
It was about States rights and the attempt of a few states to stop the ever increasing centeralization of power by the Federal government that motivated most state to leave the union....Thank goodness those old slave owners are all dead.
KY Jon,
Well stated! However, the Union imposed a crushing blow when it blockaded southern ports and prevented cotton shipments to England. The English certainly took notice, they shifted to getting cotton from India. It is true that by 1888 slavery had ended in Brazil. However, with out the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment, we would be a very different country today.
Some years ago, I took a great interest in reading about the development of the abolitionist movement in this country. My reading inevitably lead me to the civil war. (I snored through this part of history class as a youth.) One of the things I learned was how amazing and complex humanity is. From the southern view point slavery was not the reason for succession. From the northern view point abolition became a cause to preserve the union.
Pete
