[Non-Sequitur]

Adams claims that slavery was never in danger, pointing out that Lincoln pledged to enforce the fugitive slave law, declared he had no right or intention to interfere with slavery, and supported a new irrevocable constitutional amendment to protect slavery forever. The South's proclamation that slavery was in danger was a political ploy full of political cant to stir up secessionist fever.

So when the declarations of the causes of secession gave slavery as the reason for the rebellion, when the secession commissioners gave slavery as the reason for the rebellion, and when the newspaper editorials gave slavery as the reason for the rebellion, you are saying that they were lying? That the whole southern cause was built on a lie? That the only way the southern leadership could get the people to go along with them was to lie to them? Is that what you are saying?

[Gianni]

That the only way the southern leadership could get the people to go along with them was to lie to them? Is that what you are saying?

Maybe slavery was the WMD issue of the 19th century. Of course, regardless of the instigating cause, the confederates fought for independence. All you need to do is explain why independence is such a grotesque evil that it had to be stopped at the cost of a million American lives. Ready... set... GO!

[Smokin' Joe]

What issue was most prominent in the American Revolution? Taxes. Which wars have not been fought over economics?