[stand watie]

i DENY (as do virtually ALL traditional historiographers!)that it was the PRINCIPAL reason for the WBTS.

even U.S. Grant said that reason for the WBTS was Never to abolish the institution of chattel slavery. "the war was ONLY to preserve the integrity of the Union."

no matter what you WISH the TRUTH was, chattel slavery was DYING an UN-lamented natural death. my GUESS is that, absent the NEEDLESS war, slavery wouldn't have lasted over another 5-10 years.

free dixie,sw

[capitan_refugio]

"i DENY (as do virtually ALL traditional historiographers!) that it was the PRINCIPAL reason for the WBTS."

You present the Northern viewpoint well! However, it is abundantly clear from the words, writings, and memoirs of the Southern leadership that that the protection and expansion of slavery was the driving issue for secession. All others were secondary.