It Was About State's Rights

This month marks the 150th Anniversary of the violent hostilities of the American Civil War - or as the Southerns like to remember it "The War of Northern Aggression".  The Confederates began shelling Fort Sumter on April 12, and on the 13th, the fort surrendered.  Having lived in South Carolina for 16 years, and having known 100s of South Carolinians as colleagues, neighbors, friends, and business associates, I often heard the Southern perspective that the Civil War (which many believe is only in a temporary cease fire, and is not actually over) was "about States' rights".  Well, all you need to do is to read the Declaration of the Causes of Secession, and you can see very clearly, it WAS about States' rights; the right to own slaves.  Read the documents for yourself.