[creekster]

Asking why the North went to war may be a little like today asking why we are in Iraq. SOme would say we are there to prevent terrorism; some would say to steal oil. SOme would say to kill terrorists in their land; still others would say to attack Al Qaeda and those responsible for 9/11, and even a few would say to assert American influence in the region as a pawn of the Jewish overlords. SO which is the true reason? The popular voice is varied now, just as it was then. Many individual soldiers from the North had no or little interest in liberating slaves, just as many guardsmen probably weren't too keen on civil rights in Arkansas. (To be fair and clear, however, many soldiers were motivated to join and fight precisely because of their interest in liberating slaves.) AMong the decision makers, however, those persons who sign the orders that result in putting boot on turnpike, slavery was the issue that fomented the dispute. The North was seeking to maintain the union, but recall, as woot pointed out, the idea of the nation being the UNited States had not yet settled into most minds at the time. Lincoln had a vision of the country as we know the country now, but his vision included a continent free of enslaved humans.

Here is another way to look at it: The south seceded because of slavery, on this I think we can all agree. The North forced their hand by refusing to compromise on slavery and by leaving the South with no alternative but to choose between staying in the union without slaves or trying to leave the union to keep slaves. THe North could have said "keep your slaves, as union is most important to us" but they didn't. THye refused to make that compromise. SO the south secedes and the North fights to force them back. Is it simply a matter of the union or is it slavery? It is impossible to look at the issue and take slavery out of the equation. Absent slavery, there is no war.