Lie. You are trying to pretend that the *UNITED STATES* did not protect this system of industry based on the use of slave labor.
Make no mistake. The *UNITED STATES* was going to keep protecting slavery indefinitely. Stop trying to lie us into believing that would have ever changed.
The South opened the ball when it fired on Ft. Sumter.
Lincoln started the war when he attacked the South with his war fleet. He committed the first belligerent act.
bingo!
The act of hostilities were started by Lincoln through his navel blockade of the south and his fortification of sea ports located in the south (e.g. Sumter, Hampton Roads,...etc) These were more than provocative since they could be used to block commercial shipping. Both sides were already a powder keg ready to go off.