Can you imagine the war - or secession - happening if slavery had not existed?
I believe it would have eventually happened over some issue...maybe abortion or gay marriage? Heck, there are people clamoring for secession today because they don't like the results of the election! I would have to believe that it wouldn't have resulted in the death of 2% of our population though.
Absolutely, the war had to do with economics. Period. Follow the money trail
Absolutely - consider the following:
…[W]e, the People of South Carolina, to the end that it may be fully understood by the Government of the United States, and the people of the co-States, that we are determined to maintain this, our Ordinance and Declaration, at every hazard, Do further Declare that we wil not submit to the application of force, on the part of the Federal Government, to reduce this State to obedience; but that we will consider the passage, by Congress, of any act ... to coerce the State, shut up her ports, destroy or harass her commerce, or to enforce the acts hereby declared to be null and void, otherwise than through the civil tribunals of the country, as inconsistent with the longer continuance of South Carolina in the Union: and that the people of this State will thenceforth hold themselves absolved from all further obligation to maintain or preserve their political connexion with the people of the other States, and will forthwith proceed to organize a separate Government, and do all other acts and things which sovereign and independent States may of right to do.
South Carolina’s Ordinance of Nullification, November 24, 1832
The State of South Carolina very nearly seceded a generation before the war – and slavery was not the issue.
;>)
Knowing what I know about certain hard-headed Yankee types, (like John Kerry :)) Yes, I could see that war happening regardless.......
It would have happened, assuming the South were agricultural and without significant industry without slaves. Actually slavery can be blamed for the war indirectly but not directly because without slavery and the predominance of large plantations in agriculture it is possible that the South would have industrialized more equally with the North and the tarriff and tax issues would not have divided the country.
owever, more southerly warmer zones have industrialized at much slower rates than more northerly climes. Slavery might not have made the difference after all.