October Program

An objective look at the forces that led to state secession and war.

Jim Grefer

In a recent Presidential campaign press conference, a reporter asked candidate Nikki Haley
“What caused the Civil War.” This was her reply, “The cause was basically how the government
was going to run… the freedoms in what people could and couldn’t do.” If this answer seemed
purposely vague, it was likely due to the political ramifications of a more specific answer.
Perhaps it was an unfair question in a press conference. But, more than a century and a half
after the American Civil War, our country is still heatedly debating its cause. What we teach
children and adults about its cause varies widely among regions of the country. And the result is
wide disagreement and discord about it—much the result of emotional judgements attached to
the theories; some due to the desire for an overly-simple answer.
In surveys by Pew and Gallop, the two overwhelmingly popular theories are states’ rights, and
slavery. But what exactly are states’ rights? Could this abstract concept lead to war? If U.S.
leaders were not pushing to end slavery in the 15 slave states, how would slavery have caused
the war?
This will be our discussion at Blue Ridge Torch Club’s October Dinner Event. Using detailed
historical narratives, data, and charts, Jim will delve into these theories and provide evidence
we can use to judge what was—and what was not—the real cause of the War. The answers
may surprise you.
Jim is a retired economist who, with his wife Helena, moved to Potomac Ridge three years ago.
He studies history and employs economic methods to get to the core truths of historical issues.

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