Here's something to think about:
1. The Civil was from 1861 to 1865.
2. The estimated total cost of this war was over 6 billion dollars (current dollars).
3. There were an estimated 4 million slaves at that time.
4. The estimated price of a slave was $500
5. The estimated average annual wage (non-slave) was $500
6. Had the US government simply compensated each slave owner with $500/slave and every emancipated slave with $500 cash (1 year's wages)
that would have been $1,000 x 4,000,000 = 4 billion.
7. The US government would have saved $2 billion and all the dreadful results of the Civil War. Even if the slave owners would have wanted a bit more, it would have been possible to give them a higher settlement. With proper records for each transaction, the talk of reparations today would have been laughed at.
In other words, the US government was foolish to engage in a Civil War when it would have been cheaper to settle with all parties in cash, and avoid 650,000 casualties (apart from the hatred generated between North and South and blacks vs whites). Like I said, it was a stupid idea.
When the US Constitution was formed, the vote to continue slavery was 7-6 for. Immediately, a law was passed forbidding anyone in the US to build slave ships for the trade. The US ship building ability was outgrowing all shipbuilding in the world. Laws were passed as the slave population grew eventually forbidding any more slaves from Africa. Slaves born here were traded and sold as property. Meanwhile, slaves that escaped the south were to be returned to the south. Laws written and approved by Congress. Northern states by way of a small minority, abolitionists began preventing slaves from being returned. While the north held their own slaves, slaves in the south were not being returned and north ignored the violations. Eventually the Abolitionists were so emboldened, they began crossing the border and attacking farms nearby including killing citizens in the south. The north refused to turn over the criminals from the north.
If you believe the north to be almost saints ..... the north proved to be more racist than the south. Manufacturing and industry refused to hire slaves from the south. After the Secession, the north faced tremendous financial pressure. Over 70% of the income of the country, came by way of southern ports and tariffs trading with foreign nations. Lincoln felt he needed to act. His military advisors made a huge mistake. They crossed to Potomac into Virginia promising Lincoln they would win easily. Bull Run "Manassas" was a rout. The northern armies driven from the battlefield and back across the river. Had Lee been in command ....Washington DC would have fallen in that first day. Lincoln should have negotiated and waited ....there would have been no war.
Reality should have been present before the first shots were fired. Years of fighting and the north was not doing well at all. Then a surge and the north began making headway. Lincoln planned to end the slave issue. He approached Congress and asked them to violate one of the first laws written by the new country. Remember, this a north only congress, all southern seats vacated. Congress and Lincoln form a plan. Build ships to transport slaves ......away from the US. Latin America and Africa the choice. $600,000 was appropriated to build the ships. Lincoln wanted ships to transport slaves, violating one of the first laws of the country. and Congress gave him the money to do so.
Lincoln invites Frederick Douglas and other free black men to the White House. Lincoln presents his plan. Douglas and the leaders storm out of the White House in a rage. Weeks later the Emancipation Proclamation is written and presented. The racist thing about the Proclamation? It does not free one slave in the north, still owned by northern owners. Blacks are still not welcome to work in northern factories.
Eventually Sherman under Grant starts his march to the seas. Nearing the ocean, Sherman issues a Field Order. Along the way and the path of destruction, freed slaves follow the Northern column . They begin to set up the camps, cook, clean and support the northern troops in all matters ....The Field Order states "For those who supported and followed the northern columns ....40 acres and mule would be given to everyone of those freed slaves. Simply put .....40 acres near Savannah and the mule would not have to be shot at the end of the war. Save a bullet and burial of the mule. The war comes to and end and several of the first lawsuits filed ......against the north by north slave-owners for the loss of their property. However the north freed the black man. Keep in mind, Jackie Robinson, was taken to the back of hotels in New York City and through the kitchen because the North was so racist, he could not get off the bus in front of the hotel.
After the war, another plan was suggested. A colony of freed blacks, controlling their own state in southern Georgia. Property for the free men. Once again, the black leadership of the country failed their own population. They refused the offer. Lincoln was assassinated shortly afterwards.