The link discusses economic differences between North and South -- which were primarily explained by the latter's dependence on slave-served agriculture. The South's culture and economy were built on a foundation of slave labor and plantations. Take away the slaves, and they'd have been a completely different group of people -- and the economic chasm would almost certainly have been eliminated.
And don't forget the entire decades-long Sectional Crisis -- which was entirely about slavery and its expansion into new territories -- was the chief cause of the tensions and ultimately led up to the secessions that followed Lincoln's election.
And, of course, we have the various declarations of secession, which made it clear that they were acting to protect the institution of slavery. The gentlemen of Mississippi were explicit on the matter:
Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery - the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product, which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization. That blow has been long aimed at the institution, and was at the point of reaching its consummation. There was no choice left us but submission to the mandates of abolition, or a dissolution of the Union, whose principles had been subverted to work out our ruin.
When I said "it is impossible to imagine" the CW taking place in the absence of slavery, I did so by reference to historical fact -- as opposed to the hysterical wishes so spittle-tossingly offered by the neo-confeds who infest these threads.
It is dishonest to deny the preeminent role that slavery played in the South's secession, and the war that inevitably followed from it. And yet there are those who do deny it. Because they wish things were different, and are not above employing dishonesty and self-deception to protect their wishes.
We feel the same about ya’ll. LOL!
Only 5% of the Southerners owned slaves. To say that the other 95% just sat around waitin for that cotton money to come down the pike would be ludicrous.
The North's tariffs/blockades were keeping the people in the south from getting some of their basic needs. Basically getting embargoed from their right to trade with other countries.
Your *facts* don't mean squat to real Southerners.