[oblomov]

>>I have a very uncomfortable feeling that some of those in this thread might even feel that the Civil War was unnecessary.

If ending slavery was the goal (as the modern revisionist history tell us it was), then it was unnecessary.

[Hardastarboard]

I heard an economic historian the other day who posited that the Civil War was unnecessary. Other countries had ended slavery without going to war with themselves over it. The US was the exception to that rule. In his view, Lincoln ultimately failed, as he allowed the dispute to drift into war.

You could also make the point that both sides were spoiling for a fight, and that is no doubt true. Also, I don't know enough about the history of slavery world wide to be able to judge the credibility of the above historian's theory. I submit it for your review and comment.

[supremedoctrine]

That’s a brilliant quote of Mencken’s .
I think P. J. O’Rourke owes a lot to him.