The Civil War was over many issues including the issues of states rights and yes slavery. Few wars are about only one issue. The one thing that is indisputable is that as a result of the North winning the Civil War, slaves were freed.
BTW, when the South considered the slave issue a matter of states rights they were completely wrong. Just as they were wrong concerning the states rights issues of Jim Crow south. When any American has their civil liberties deprived of them, if local government will not protect them, then the federal government has the right if not the duty to defend those civil liberties. Look at what Jefferson wrote in our Declaration of Independence:
“WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness - That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed”
I doubt that my great great grandfather was fighting simply for freeing slaves. However, what I was pointing out is that as a result of his actions and risking his life (along with many others) the black man’s ancestors were freed. They were even given the choice of going back to Africa if that is what they desired. The former slaves that made that choice have ancestors now that live in modern day Liberia. This was done while some of my ancestors were over in Ireland living under British oppression.
My point was that I have no guilty conscience of being white. My ancestors never owned slaves or benefitted from the slave trade in any way. Even more importantly, any sins of my ancestor cannot fall on me. I’m sick and tired of hearing this hate whitey crap from some members in the black community.
bttt!...