[marktwain]

“In the momentous step which our State has taken of dissolving its connection with the government of which we so long formed a part, it is but just that we should declare the prominent reasons which have induced our course.

Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery— the greatest material interest of the world. “

Good quotes.

The author is rather fast and loose with the facts.

I was taught slavery was the primary cause of the Civil War, in 1967. That was 43 years before 2013.

There has been contention over the causes of the war since it started. Clearly, slavery was an important issue. Maybe not the most important; that is in contention. But, it was an important issue.

[Armscor38]

I attended school back in the ‘60’s and 70’s and from what I recall, slavery was the primary reason for the Civil War. And I agree with you about the author playing fast and loose with the facts.

[FLT-bird]

Nobody denies it was a cause or even an important cause. It’s just that it was not “THE” cause. The vast majority of Southerners did not own slaves. Abolition was deeply unpopular in the North.