[southernsunshine]

Read the periodicals of the time, like DeBow's Review.

I have.

Slaveowning elites were already focused on independence and expansion. When you can have your own empire, why be part of someone else's?

Something wrong with expansion? Something wrong with not wanting someone else picking your pocket for "internal improvements"?

[southernsunshine]

Oop’s! Your second sentence should have been italicized in my post.