I guess it is true that the war wasn't fought to "Free the slave" but it was fought to preserve slavery. It's an important distinction, and admittedly one that is often misstated, but it was about slavery. You say it was mainly economic - true because the economics of the South, the wealthy in the south at least, depended on slavery, and there were $billions in 1860 dollars "invested" in slaves. So ending slavery was predictably devastating economically to the region.
My point is that Emancipation and the well being of Black People was very low on the list of motives
Lincoln only "freed the slaves" in the States which had already seceded much earlier for many other reasons than slavery.
As far as Lincoln was concerned, the belated Emancipation served his military agenda, not humanitarian. Remember, the E.P. was 2 years into the War.
There is a new statue in Richmond VA of a smiling Lincoln reading to a group of small, Black children with one sitting in his lap. In reality, he would use the book to beat them away from him, burned his clothes & immediately taken a bath.
What I object to is the teaching of another historical distortion which falsely demonizes one side & fraudulently deifies another.
The following are a few realities that should be taught along with the obvious evils of slavery.
Years ago, I earned another University degree only this one was in History/English Education. I quit after 6 months because of the deceptions & lack of critical literacy we were instructed to instill in young students.
I understand that the sight of the “Confederate” flag is hurtful but the well being of Black people was low on Lincoln’s list of priorities.
For Example:
“5 Things You May Not Know About Lincoln, Slavery and Emancipation”
5 Things You May Not Know About Lincoln, Slavery and Emancipation
- Lincoln made his position clear. “I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races,” he began, going on to say that he opposed blacks having the right to vote, to serve on juries, to hold office and to intermarry with whites.
- Lincoln thought colonization could resolve the issue of slavery.
For much of his career, Lincoln believed that colonization—or the idea that a majority of the African-American population should leave the United States and settle in Africa or Central America—was the best way to confront the problem of slavery.
- As much as he hated the institution of slavery, Lincoln didn’t see the Civil War as a struggle to free the nation’s 4 million slaves from bondage. Emancipation, Lincoln saw, would further undermine the Confederacy while providing the Union with a new source of manpower to crush the rebellion.
- the Emancipation Proclamation didn’t immediately free a single slave, as the only places it applied were places where the federal government had no control—the Southern states currently fighting against the Union." CONTINUED
I think we basically agree, it's just that I feel that current misconceptions contribute to the rancor in the issue.
Thanks