That Is Not The Reason

This war is not about slavery.

Robert E. Lee

• Years ago I very much enjoyed an argument between history graduates of Emory and Harvard, debating the root cause of the war. The Harvard graduate offered the typical Yankee politically condition education, slavery, slavery, slavery. The Emory graduate spoke with the confidence of familial experience and suffering.
• Lincoln wanted the issue of slavery disconnected from the war discussion even after the war had started. For him the focal point was maintaining the union. Lee had been offered command the the union armies, he declined. Lee declined because he was a citizen of Virginia first, the intrusion of federal troops constituted an invasion. General Lee fought to protect his beloved Virginia. Lincoln introduced abolition as the primary war incentive in order to whip up war support in the face of general disillusion with the war progress. The results are well established.
• In the Ken Burns series there was description of a discussion between Confederate and Union soldiers. The Union soldier asked "You are poor and own no slaves, why do you fight against the Union?". The answer was "Because you are here". This parallels Lee's beliefs and mine.