During a campaign stop in Berlin, New Hampshire, a voter asked Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, “What was the cause of the United States Civil War?”
Nikki Haley: Well, don't come with an easy question or anything. I mean, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run. The freedoms and what people could and couldn't do. What do you think the cause of the Civil War was?
Questioner: I'm not running for president. I wanted to hear your view on the cause of the Civil War.
Haley: I mean, I think it always comes down to the role of government. We need to have capitalism, we need to have economic freedom, we need to make sure that we do all things so that individuals have the liberties, so that they can have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do or be anything they want to be without government getting in the way.
Questioner: Thank you. In the year 2023, it's astonishing to me that you'd answer that question without mentioning the word "slavery."
Haley: What do you want me to say about slavery?
Questioner: You've answered my question. Thank you.
Haley: Next question.