But beyond that, who's to say that slavery wasn't a real issue? Who's to say that concentration camps or Chinese prison labor or religious persecution or torture or abortion aren't real issues?
X: ***”But beyond that, who’s to say that slavery wasn’t a real issue?”***
Right.
A “real issue” is essential to the Lost Cause myth, something, anything which might draw our attention away from Confederate slaves.
The basic problem though is that any issue other than slavery was just “ politics as usual” in 1860.
For examples, tariffs went up & down, Federal spending went here or there, all determined by deal-making in proverbial smoke filled rooms.
Sure, some people grumbled, but nobody got enraged over small differences.
But I’m thinking there might indeed be a “real issue” which would send Democrats crashing through windows while howling in terror to get away.
It’s the same “real issue” which still drives Democrats insane today.
What is it?
It’s the very thought of genuine conservative Republicans in charge in Washington, especially the President.
When Democrats have spent generations building their power and their nests in Washington, it drives them berserk to be suddenly thrown out.
It did in 1860 and again after 2016.
Indeed, that’s just what Robert Rhett told us in December 1860, and I see no reason to doubt him.
So, let’s say that slavery was the “real reason” for maybe 95% of Deep South secessionists, and simple loss of their power in Washington was the “real reason* for the top 5%.
Do you disagree?