According to the 1860 census, only 15% of the nation's population was black. While the majority of those were slaves, there was a sizable portion of free black. Nearly all of the slaves were employed in what today would be called 'agribusiness' - plantations.   While they contributed a great deal to the economy of the South, they did not build the United States. The economy of the North was more robust and, for lack of a better term, far more progressive than that of the South. That is why the South lost.   The United States as we know it today was built by the hard work, sweat and blood of free whites of European descent.   We are America! That is why whites, unlike other races, feel no need to hyphenate who we are!  -Spike http://resist.com/programs/WARPhotos...ges/WAR095.jpg