South Carolina's Declaration of Secession says the the preservation of slavery was the reason for secession.
no less an expert than General U S Grant said, "had the war been to perpetuate the institution of chattal slavery, i would have offered my sword to the south."
The North fought to preserve the union.
the evil,hatefilled,arrogant damnyankees cared little if at all about the plight of the slaves in the south OR in the north. if the war had been about freeing the slaves, why didn't the damnyankees free THEIRS, until long after the war?
We were ramping it down for years, the South vowed to perpetuate, big difference.
if one wishes to have just one reason for the WBTS (and only the simpleminded want simplistic answers!), let it be this: the south wanted her freedom from the south-hating damnyankees. nothing more, nothing less. FREEDOM.
You guys never hate, do you? You go breaking contracts and rebelling and there's going to be trouble, no doubt about that. Be smarter next time.