Speaking of facts...from the Mississippi Declaration of Secession:
Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery-
Ouch. So much for states rights and tariffs. lol
The material prosperity of the North was greatly dependent on the Federal Government; that of the the South not at all. In the first years of the Republic the navigating, commercial, and manufacturing interests of the North began to seek profit and aggrandizement at the expense of the agricultural interests. Even the owners of fishing smacks sought and obtained bounties for pursuing their own business (which yet continue), and $500,000 is now paid them annually out of the Treasury. The navigating interests begged for protection against foreign shipbuilders and against competition in the coasting trade. Congress granted both requests, and by prohibitory acts gave an absolute monopoly of this business to each of their interests, which they enjoy without diminution to this day. Not content with these great and unjust advantages, they have sought to throw the legitimate burden of their business as much as possible upon the public; they have succeeded in throwing the cost of light-houses, buoys, and the maintenance of their seamen upon the Treasury, and the Government now pays above $2,000,000 annually for the support of these objects. Theses interests, in connection with the commercial and manufacturing classes, have also succeeded, by means of subventions to mail steamers and the reduction in postage, in relieving their business from the payment of about $7,000,000 annually, throwing it upon the public Treasury under the name of postal deficiency. The manufacturing interests entered into the same struggle early, and has clamored steadily for Government bounties and special favors.Ouch.
NOBODY but slaveOWNERS cared a damn about slavery, by 1861.
slavery was DYING a un-lamented natural death!
TWBTS was about just ONE MAJOR cause(depending on which side you were on):
1.FREEDOM for dixie OR
2.Preservation of the union.
at best, chattal slavery was a SIDE ISSUE.
free dixie,sw