Replying to a message of Steve Kemp to Johnjwilson:

 SK> AND the Civil War wasn't about slavery! It was about economics!

 SK> Lincoln "freed the slaves" of the South as a tactic ONLY
to limit the 
 SK> South's economic ability! 

Actually, the "Emancipation Proclamation" was issued to prevent
Britain from
recognizing the Confederate government.

 SK> If the Civil War never happened under Lincoln...he wouldn't have
 SK> "freed  them". It's not like Lincoln cared about Blacks.

 SK> Eventually we (the U.S.) WOULD have freed them anyways. If only
 SK> because  we were one of the last "official" slave owner countries.
 SK> And over time  pressure would have been put upon us. No war needed.

Slavery became economically unfeasible after farm machinery became available
in large numbers.  Which happened in the late 1800s.  Machines are cheaper to own
and operate than people are, and don't have to be fed when they're not being used.

--- FleetStreet 1.19+