[BroJoeK]

DiogenesLamp: "I still have a reasonable expectation that you and BroJoeK can eventually see the bigger picture. :)"

But it's precisely the "bigger picture" that DiogenesLamp shuts his eyes to and refuses to see, preferring your own vivid historical fantasies to mundane historical fact.

[SoCal Pubbie]

So how much profit would have been eaten up by those added costs I listed, after secession?

[DiogenesLamp]

But it's precisely the "bigger picture" that DiogenesLamp shuts his eyes to and refuses to see, preferring your own vivid historical fantasies to mundane historical fact.

The "mundane historical fact" is that had the South been left alone, the North was going to lose a whole lot of money and power.

Easily sufficient motive to start a war to prevent it.