[PeaRidge]

I think those three charts show that debt was increasing drastically, spending was declining, and revenue was declining.

This shows the impact of the recession of 1857. Northern and Western manufacturing and agriculture was curtailed to such an extent that their exports declined and negatively impacted the imports that they would have produced.

Much lost tariff revenue showed up in much lower government revenue.

It is likely the Northern politicians used the situation to foster support for the sectional control of the Morrill tariff.

When secession began, US Treasury revenue declined rapidly. And the government was not ready for it.

[BroJoeK]

PeaRidge: "I think those three charts show that debt was increasing drastically, spending was declining, and revenue was declining. This shows the impact of the recession of 1857."

If you'll review the charts in my post #1568 above, you'll see that in the overall big picture those economic changes of 1857 to 1860 were not major.

So your posts here exaggerate their importance.