The Civil War

Was it for retaliation of Lincolns election or retaliation for Federal troops of the United States not leaving a fort on Confederate land?

I'm conflicted on the issue. However, since a state's leaving the union affects both the seceding state and the union, I'm leaning towards both having a say in the matter. Perhaps a congressional vote or some version of national plebiscite is the answer, with a specific percentage of votes (1/3?, 51%?, 2/3?) being required before a state can secede.

More importantly, I think no state would consider such a move if they rationally explored all the economic and defense implications of a withdrawal.  It shouldn't be lost on people that California's political leaders have been at odds with the federal government for years, but they immediately ran to the feds for financial assistance when this past season's wildfires ravaged the state.  To whom will they turn once they are an independent nation?

And no, it doesn't matter if the seceding state is liberal or conservative. The same rules should apply to all.

And yes, of course it matters if I live in the seceding state or not. My family left Austria in 1955 to come to the United States, not to some bizarre version of Kalifornia, or Norte California, or whatever it might decide to call itself in its new iteration.

The latter. The Confederates fired at Fort Sumter because they believed that the Union was about to reinforce the island fort (which was a symbol of Union authority within Charleston Harbor) with supplies and men. The fort otherwise could not hang on long without the supplies and the rebels wanted to end  the standoff, otherwise the Union could supply the fort via ocean transport indefinitely. They did exactly what Lincoln was resigned to and had expected them to do: start the shooting and the war......................................Luca

I didn't say he "wanted" one, I said he was resigned to one.

I couldn't resist gloating on TOB.

I don't know why.  I read Douglas Southall Freeman's one-volume Lee as part of an assignment in 6th grade and I was hooked.  Then I read Freeman's four-volume tome on Lee and I never really recovered.  Lee, Stonewall Jackson and J.E.B. Stuart to me were three of most fascinating eccentrics in American history.

And yes, Grant kicked Lee's ass.  But you could probably take almost anyone willing to throw an endless supply of young men into the meat grinder against a starving army of shoeless skeletons and they should kick ass every time.

Some good Civil War stuff I thought I'd copy here as well