"Liberal" support of the Civil War?

[dead0man]

No because a large part of the cultural changes involved are due to the emergence of the American economy as the world superpower after the civil war. And welfare spending would have been non-existent in a second-rate power threatened by a more powerful neighbour to the south.

The South was never more powerful than the North.  The North has always had more people and more factories and more transportation options.  What would have made the south more powerful?

[dead0man]

Ok, but I don't think that was the point he was trying to make.  He said

And welfare spending would have been non-existent in a second-rate power threatened by a more powerful neighbour to the south.

He implied that the North woud be a second rate power and the South would be more powerful than the North.