The argument that the slave states were aware that Lincoln and Congress were going end slavery and because of that they seceded is without merit. There were so many protections within the Union instead of out of the Union to keep slavery alive that to say they were afraid of this is insulting to their intelligence. The only thing there were afraid of was organized violence from the slave population, and an alligence between the slaves and radical abolitionist.

I say, without John Brown and his Harper's Ferry Raid, there would be no need for secession. Here you might can say that "There would have been no need for secession without slavery", but not because they were trying to protect the institution but to protect themselves from the institution. Had there been no abolitionist, there would have been no secession. Had there been no tobacco, cotton, sugarcane and rice there would not have been any slaves, or abolitionist and for that matter any English colonies.

Had there not been a sectional differences, violence would not have been necessary to resolve problems.

But this is a blame game that only continues. Mistakes and evils were made by both sides, and neither is free from any shame.

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David Upton