[DiogenesLamp]

The notion that the North went to war to free slaves is just propaganda. They had absolutely no intention of freeing slaves when they invaded the South, and they didn't even free their own slaves till 8 months after the war was over.

But people believe this claim because it has been so oft repeated for the last 170 years or so.

[Svartalfiar]

and they didn't even free their own slaves till 8 months after the war was over.

Yup, funny thing about the Emancipation Proclamation, it was only directed at the Confederate States, where Lincoln had no power. The North (where he did have authority), didn't have anything passed to free their slaves. Technically, slavery ended in the South eight months before it did in the North.