In 1861, as the American Civil War was beginning, John Lothrop Motley wrote a letter to the London Times articulating his views on the underlying causes of the conflict. Arguing that the war was the result of a fundamental clash between the principles of democracy and those of aristocracy, Motley's letter remains one of the most insightful analyses of the Civil War ever written. This book will appeal to anyone interested in American history and the causes of the Civil War. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.