It took me years of looking at this situation to realize this explanation makes a lot more sense than what I had been taught all my life. The Blockade, for example, never made sense to me because the vast bulk of the major battles were fought on land. Why is it the first thing Lincoln did?
Well it cut off the economics of the South and forced all trade traffic to go through Northern (mostly New York) ports.
And it shows the Deep State was already in high gear back in 1860. And Abraham Lincoln was really a 19th century Mitch McConnell.
I have only recently come to believe that the "deep state" "crony capitalist" system in control of Washington DC had it's origins in the runup to the Civil War. The Civil War was the first time it came together to project it's power, and it has been running Washington DC ever since.
There is a reason why the era subsequent to Lincoln was an era of the worst corruption the nation has ever seen. They got so accustomed to behind the scenes deals, and selling government influence that it became a routine for them, and they became more brazen and careless.
You are a true Diogenes: you’ve shined light and exposed dishonest men.
What you say makes a lot of sense and you’ve convinced me. The blockade makes sense as a way to block cotton and other goods going to Europe.
Makes more sense than ending slavery as the issue. You win on the “follow the money” rule.
BTW, I have no problem letting California set up its own nation, but I expect them to build a high wall to keep citizens out of the United States without visas and other immigration control. And if they don’t control their own border with Mexico, we can set up a travel ban.