One of the problems with a free-flowing thread that you can step into the middle of the discussion without full appreciating what came before. I came into this thread with the following comment (post #317):
There are several causes but if you don't include among them, the desire on the part of the Southern states to protect the institution of slavery and to perpetuate its spread into the territories, you're not being honest.
That's my story and I'm sticking with it ...
Well, I would agree with THAT statement. There is no doubt that the Southern Aristocracy wanted slavery to continue, etc., but by the same token, Slavery was protected by LAW, so it is not unreasonable by the standards of the day, to feel quite threatened.......