[5th MEB]

“principally caused by slavery”?
Are all Brits this stupid?
The principal causes of the American Civil War (the War of Northern Aggression) were in order.
1: Economics.
2: States Rights.
3: Secession; according to Lincoln it was a definite NO NO.
4: Slavery didn’t even enter into it until the North wanted to enlist negroes.
In fact Lincoln said if he could end the war without freeing a single slave he would do it, if he could end the war with freeing only a part of the slaves he would do it, if he had to free all the slaves to end the war he would do it.
President Lincoln knew he NEEDED the support of ALL THE ABOLITIONISTS to win the war.

[IrishBrigade]

‘3: Secession; according to Lincoln it was a definite NO NO.’

what did the seceding states cite as their principle cause of secession...?

‘4: Slavery didn’t even enter into it until the North wanted to enlist negroes.’

funny, I didn’t see that mentioned in the Articles of Secession as promulgated by the states of Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia...

[DoodleDawg]

In fact Lincoln said if he could end the war without freeing a single slave he would do it, if he could end the war with freeing only a part of the slaves he would do it, if he had to free all the slaves to end the war he would do it.

You are aware that when Lincoln penned that letter to Horace Greeley, the Emancipation Proclamation had been written, reviewed by the cabinet, and was only awaiting a military victory before being released?