Reading only 4% of southerners owned slaves and only 1.5% of northerners did, but the entire Federal bureaucracy was paid for more or less from export taxes paid for by southern cotton plantations changed my beliefs about what I had been told.
While it is commonly argued that the American Civil War was to free the slaves, in reality it had more to do with the Nullification Crisis, tariffs levied by the Federal government, and the South's stubborn belief in States' Rights. South Carolina in particular was victimized by Washington's policies and the industrial northern states were favored and enriched by the Federal government.
Much is made of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, yet few realize that it did not affect slave holders in Union-controlled states: it was an empty declaration meant to inflame passions in the South and possibly to incite slave rebellions.
Despite his decision to wage war on the South and to cause the deaths of 750,000 soldiers, Lincoln was a canny politician. Shortly before the collapse of Lee's army at Gettysburg, Lincoln had offered to pay southern slave owners for the loss of their free labor.
Once it became apparent that the South had no chance of winning, that bargaining chip was taken off the table.
Very good history lesson! I never heard any of this!
Reading only 4% of southerners owned slaves and only 1.5% of northerners did, but the entire Federal bureaucracy was paid for more or less from export taxes paid for by southern cotton plantations changed my beliefs about what I had been told.
While it is commonly argued that the American Civil War was to free the slaves, in reality it had more to do with the Nullification Crisis, tariffs levied by the Federal government, and the South's stubborn belief in States' Rights. South Carolina in particular was victimized by Washington's policies and the industrial northern states were favored and enriched by the Federal government.
Much is made of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, yet few realize that it did not affect slave holders in Union-controlled states: it was an empty declaration meant to inflame passions in the South and possibly to incite slave rebellions.
Despite his decision to wage war on the South and to cause the deaths of 750,000 soldiers, Lincoln was a canny politician. Shortly before the collapse of Lee's army at Gettysburg, Lincoln had offered to pay southern slave owners for the loss of their free labor.
Once it became apparent that the South had no chance of winning, that bargaining chip was taken off the table.