[massadvj]

I think slavery was the primary driver of the war in terms of selling it to the northern population. Many, if not most, northerners fought in order to bring an end to slavery. That is not to suggest that most northerners were not racists. They definitely regarded blacks as inferior, but human, and therefore entitled to rights. Blacks in the north endured a way of life that was in many respects worse than that of the south, a situation that remains to this day.

I doubt very many southerners fought to defend slavery. They fought to defend their states, their way of life, their families, their culture. Slavery was a part of that culture, but very few confederates who fought in the war owned slaves.

As to the thesis of the authors, I agree that all wars are primarily economic in nature. But that does not denigrate one bit the blood spilled by the honorable men on both sides of the civil war. They did their duty as they saw fit, and all the cotton brokers and railroard builders in North America at that time did not have the moral standing of cockroaches in comparison to the men who endured Shiloh, Manassas, Antietam, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Atlanta and the cold winters in between.

[WhiskeyPapa]

Many, if not most, northerners fought in order to bring an end to slavery.

That would be nice, but is no where close to the truth.

Northern whites could care less about blacks, and didn't want to face the prospect of competing with free black labor either.

Walt

[stand watie]

IF the average northerner REALLY believed that they were fighting to end slavery (which was DYING by 1860 anyway!), then they were dumber than the average southerner thought/thinks!

BUT you may be correct;damnyankees have forever been noted for ARROGANCE, rather than brains.

free dixie,sw