One thing that can never be admitted in polite academic company is the notion that economics had anything to do with the American War between the States. This may seem strange, since wars throughout all of economic history have had important economic components, but it is true nevertheless. For example Richard Ferrier, a critic of my book, The Real Lincoln, recently insisted in a WorldNetDaily interview that in the Lincoln-Douglas debates u201Cthere is not a word about [Lincoln’s] economic agenda. Not a word!’ Absolutely correct. There are many words, not just one. Such as during the July 17, 1858, debate … Continue reading The Economic Causes of Lincoln’s War