People assign every possible motivation for going to war. The bottom line is always, every time and forever, money.
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Well, there was Big Cotton.
But on an individual level it was more complex. Robert E. Lee was against secession, was tolerant of slavery, but not a proponent. The deciding factor for him was loyalty to his state, even though the Union offered him a nice commission which his wife wanted him to take.
In the big picture though, the Union offered generous comprises to avoid war, but the rebels wanted nothing but a fight. As Sherman said, War is the remedy that our enemies have chosen, and I say let us give them all they want.
Big Cotton was money, was it not?
In regards to compromise, I believe that by 1860 the distrust between the North and South was so high that no compromise was believable.
For example as a compromise Democrats agree to build a wall on the border in exchange for amnesty. Now many Conservatives might think that it eould be worth amnesty to get a wall, but none of them would agree to the deal because they kno we the Democrats won’t keep theit side of the
Would keep their side of the bargain.