I expect most people go through life having no need to ever learn how commodities work.
The Factors serve as marketing, sales agents, bankers and advisors. And no, The Northern banks did not control the Southern planters and especially not their lunatic politicians.
However you want to make it sound good to your ears, the North was making a *LOT* of money from slavery in the South.
Are you starting to grasp *WHY* they didn't want to let those states become independent?
Some Northern banks and a few textile companies made money from slavery. I don’t know what you think is a lot, but it was in no way vital to the economy of the Northern states. As to why they didn’t want them to leave it was simple patriotism, especially after they fired on Fort Sumter. I have always said that if the Southern states had put separation to a vote in Congress, they may well have been successful. But firing on the flag was just the stupidest thing they could have done. But the secessionists were very stupid men.
And you are still nuts.