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In reply to the discussion: NC lawmaker calls Abraham Lincoln a tyrant like Hitler [View all]Xolodno
(6,395 posts)...had they not fired on Ft. Sumter and started the war. The goal of the Republican Party was to contain slavery in the states where it was legal. Whereas the Democrats wanted to expand it into the new territories that were acquired. So even in succession, the Republicans would have achieved their aims.
But as usual, follow the economics. Greed. The wealthy profited off of cheap labor that was slavery. Containment also meant containment of their wealth, they would not be able to expand west-ward. Imagine a slave owner staking several claims during the gold rush and using slaves to mine. Or buying oil lands and using slaves to develop the area. A company without slave labor wouldn't be able to compete and the slave owners would reap significant wealth.
It wasn't just about keeping slavery, but expanding it. In the end, they lost both. Thankfully.