T S : "and the obvious:
g. The end of formalized slavery."
I agree with most of the counter points that you and SS bring up to USLC's argument. As I'll summarize what a great history proffessor once told us during a lecture on the foundation that the civil war was based upon: "A pissing match between cousins over who got what, when their rich uncle died." He went on to explain a bit more; there were two seperate America's based upon economy. The south had the labor intensive, but lucrative cotton/tobacco trade.
The north which was not as "blessed" tried the other way: innovation. Human nature being as it is, why screw with something that works? The profits were up because you didn't pay the work force and even better yet, once you establish a young adult work force you encourage them to reproduce, so you don't have to buy your next labor force.
Since growing certain cash crops were next to impossible to grow north because of the climate a certain underlying jealousy arose. The south was popular with Europe because of trade (around 70% of total export) and the north was getting left out. How do you level the playing field? Attempt to impose restrictions to let the other team play without their "ringers."
It became a battle of one uppence, with various laws passed and others voted down. Until it all came to head. So yes, USLC is very correct by positing that it was a "useless war", because if anyone ever had a level head, I firmly believe slavery would have been abolished in time, the economies would have balanced out for both sides and over 1 million AMERICANS would not have died due to fighting, disease and starvation.
Though ULSC's supporting arguments did leave a lot to be desired.... just my 2 pennies!
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