re: American Civil War Animated Maps

quote:

---

the actual cause of the war was a disagreement between the federal government and the confederate states on whether or not individual states (or groups of states) had the right under the constitution to secede, period.

---

quote:

---

Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery-- the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization. That blow has been long aimed at the institution, and was at the point of reaching its consummation. There was no choice left us but submission to the mandates of abolition, or a dissolution of the Union, whose principles had been subverted to work out our ruin. That we do not overstate the dangers to our institution, a reference to a few facts will sufficiently prove.

---

quote:

---

But slavery CANNOT be supported as the causus belli of the war itself, simply because Maryland stands in sharp rebuttal to that

---