But then the South’s economy would have still gone to shambles because it was based around slave labor. I don’t think the South would have ever taken the deal, while we also have to realize the burdens of bringing in a huge immigrant population. The South is still feeling the effects of this reality, why would the North want to not only inherit the problem, but have to pay for it too!
IMO forcing the war instead of letting slavery phase itself out caused the problems we have today.
I’ve actually seen more racism demonstrated in the north than in the South. The north didn’t want the freed slaves.