[GeronL]

it was about slavery, whether we like it or not. The Radical Republicans were the zealots on slavery they controlled the Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War, had powerful positions on Ways and Means and other important important committee's. Lincoln had 2 Radicals in his Cabinet.

After the war there were 17 black Republicans elected to Congress, the Democrats got around to it in the 1930's I understand.

[billbears]

it was about slavery, whether we like it or not.

Okay, I'll say this one more timeREAD THE BOOK!!

It's out in the stores, it's quite documented, and it reinforces past research that it was NOT, I repeat NOT over slavery!! Makes you question how slavery was ended throughout the Western Hemisphere peacefully everywhere else EXCEPT the US. The only other place there was a war, supposedly over slavery, there was a political motive, and slavery was used as an excuse there as well