Lincoln and the Republicans knew that there was nothing they could do about slavery where it existed. Their aim was to halt the expansion.
.Hence it wasnt slavery it was secession that caused it to escalate to war.
But the reason for secession was what the South saw as the threat to the expansion of slavery so we're back to square one.
Well that’s pretty much where one always find himself when he discusses this subject.....buts it’s such fun!!!
After The Constitution was ratified; in an attempt to fix the fragile "Union", Trouble was not far away, The New England States threatened to secede in 1814. Next South Carolina threatened secession in 1832 during the Nullification Crisis, over tariffs. They probably would have had the other Deep South states stepped up and had their back.
Now neither of these two examples show any connection to slavery, just a tedious alliance of States. What I am trying to say is that Slavery may have been the excuse in 1861 but not the roots of the cause. I believe that these roots are now putting forth new shoots without race/creed/religion/ or national origin having anything to do with it.