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I know very well what it represents. The man who created it did so to prove the South wasn't paying any tariffs, and therefore the "tariff" argument was just a bunch of bullsh*t.

Ah, I think I see the problem. The author of that graphic should have titled it "northern profits" instead of "Tariffs". LoL

In the real world, what it depicts is the revenue dollars collected at a certain point in time at various ports. It doesn't waste it's time attempting the impossible - trying to differentiate which dollars were for goods headed south vs. goods intended for northern consumption.

The South was producing the vast majority of export value, and imports are payment for exports.

No they aren't.

For those with the wit to understand, it clearly demonstrates New York had somehow managed to acquire control of all wealth generated from Southern exports.

Only in your peculiar world.

No, that went straight to Washington DC, which was the other major player which had a very strong motive to stop the South from taking over that trade themselves.

Thank you for confirming my suspicion. As far as I can tell, you view the world - especially the WBTS - as an "us vs. them" proposition. I don't. For me (and many others) it was an "us vs. us" struggle. I take southerners at their word when they state that they are every bit an American as people from northern states. (full disclosure: Having lived in three southern states and one western state, I do not consider myself a "northerner" - if anything I am a westerner)

So when you attempt to compartmentalize people into simplistic boxes you do everyone a disservice.

The system of revenue policy in the United States was very fluid and evolutionary in the years leading up to the WBTS. There were differences in interests and inclinations north, south, east, west, upland, and downstream. Representatives wrote laws based upon changing circumstances that included international interests and change of presidents. Special interests - all around - advocated for legislation favorable to their constituents.

We all know about the Tariff of Abominations. It was a tariff promoted to benefit one group at the expense of another group. It was so egregious that it sparked the Nullification Crisis. Eventually new legislation with new tariff rates was passed and the crisis passed. That was the nature of tariff law in the early days. the rates were negotiated up and the rates were negotiated down.

You frame your arguments as though you consider that the American people (north and south) saw each other as mortal enemies. I contend that it came to that for many with the advent of the WBTS but that it wasn't always thus. Nor do I believe that we are mortal enemies now. Just people with different perspectives and interests. You may be correct but I don't think so.

Ah, I think I see the problem. The author of that graphic should have titled it "northern profits" instead of "Tariffs". LoL

In terms of Washington DC, those were profits.

It demonstrates that even though 73% of all the trade value was produced by the South, virtually all of the money coming back from Europe went to New York, and was a quite valuable source of income for that City.

No they aren't.

Yes they were. I've posted this numerous times. You might not like it, but this book was written in 1860 by a guy from New York, and he's not trying to shade or color the numbers here.

I am not from any of the Southern states, and I never thought boo about the Civil War for most of my life, but I did start to notice a pattern when I was learning about politics. Washington DC spends the money, and New York runs the major Banks, the Stock market and controls the News.

I've noticed for several decades that the "news" is extraordinarily biased to hate conservative people, ideas and policy, and i've also noticed the Washington DC "establishment" always seems to be against everything conservatives believe in. (Like balanced budgets and opposition to social programs.)

New York news services behave as if New York is the actual core of the United States, while the rest of us are "deplorables" in "fly over country."

For some reason, they have left me with the impression that they see the political divide as an "us" vs. "them" situation.

Special interests - all around - advocated for legislation favorable to their constituents.

And the powerful ones managed to keep things this way. That's why our Federal policy has long resembled what New Yorker's like instead of what "flyover country" likes.

You frame your arguments as though you consider that the American people (north and south) saw each other as mortal enemies.

I do not see American people either North or South to be inherent enemies. What I see are the entire American population being misled by "news" services that appear to be tools of special interest power blocks, and they are manipulating the American people to elect people friendly to this agenda.

You may not believe this, but I have probably written far more about how the Media systems in this country manipulate elections through manipulating the people of America, and I regard this ability as the number one threat facing the nation.

Nor do I believe that we are mortal enemies now. Just people with different perspectives and interests.

I fully agree. I also must say this is the most cognitive thing i've ever seen you write. I'm impressed.