[Sopater]

Someone should have told the Southern leaders of the time. They thought it was about slavery.

You, like many others, are confusing secession with the war.

[DoodleDawg]

You, like many others, are confusing secession with the war.

Not really. The South seceded to protect their institution of slavery from expected opposition from the newly elected Republican president. I think we can all agree on that. When they later chose war to further that act of secession then how can you separate the reason for the war from the reason for secession?