re: Was slavery an important factor in the Civil War?

And in typical Yankee fantasy fashion ...revisionist history once again rears it's ugly head. There is better question, you would fail to be able to answer.

What exactly what the north fighting for?

It certainly has nothing to do with freeing slaves. It has nothing to do with secession ....That statement makes Lincoln out to be the ultimate liar. A modern day version of the combination of Schumer and Pelosi.

12 Years earlier, Lincoln stood up before Congress and embraced the ideals of secession. In john Kerry fashion, he was for the bill before he was against the bill.

MONEY, pure and simple. The North embraced slavery, as long as, they did not have to admit their citizens had slaves of their own. 60-80% of all income came by way of the tariffs collected at southern ports. Lincoln's Treasury Department was on the way to becoming nothing more than an empty closet.

So I ask again ..If the freedom of slaves was not the reason for the north starting a war ...Exactly what was the issue for the north to cross the Potomac?

Not only was racism on full display up north in the 1800's ....it continues to be on full display today. There are no Saints in the north ....

Regarding statues ...I've never seen one and have never owned a Confederate Battle Flag. Statues don't bother anyone ....If they did, why are there three Lenin Statues no one is demanding to have removed from US shores?

Why would Military Generals start a demand to have Confederate Battle Flags censored from Military Bases ...yet turn a blind eye to BLM stickers on the base? It's reverse discrimination. A Military base is no place to display any political statement of any kind ....That environment has one purpose and one purpose only ...the defense of the Nation ..