[Paleo Conservative]

IMO the slaves were a pawn in a bigger game... by offering to free the slaves, the North was trying to divide the South and start an uprising to weaken them.

They may have agreed with the notion that slaves were people too, but it was a war time strategy to weaken the South and keep them part of the Union.

At the end of the day, wars are fought about resources... and tax dollars to the Republic were that resource.

You're thinking too small. Expanding the war goals in 1863 to the abolition of slavery was intended to prevent Britain and France from recognizing the Confederacy and supplying them with arms. This is the reason Lincoln did not make the announcement till after the Union got a military victory so the declaration of the Emancipation Proclamation would not look like a weak gesture. That's why it was announced after the battle of Antietam which at least for the Union side was not a defeat.

[willyd]

I agree that was definitely part of the thinking.. leaving the south in tact to be supported by the French or English was a danger... so mix it up and as the saying goes let the French and English say don’t wade in when your adversaries are fighting themselves.

Good point