Nikki Haley tries to clean up Civil War flub: 'It was about the role of government'

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Thursday sought to clean up earlier remarks that excluded slavery as the cause of the U.S. Civil War.

The controversy began when Haley was asked what caused the Civil War at a town hall event in New Hampshire.

"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," she replied, adding, "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."

The voter who asked the question found it "astonishing" that Haley would not mention slavery as a cause of the war.

On Thursday, Haley brought up the subject without being prompted at a campaign event.

"Last night I was asked about the Civil War," she insisted. "And what I think of the Civil War, what was the cause of the Civil War? Of course, the Civil War was about slavery."

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"We know the Civil War was about slavery," she continued. "But it was also more than that. It was about the freedoms of every individual. It was about the role of government."

Haley attempted to explain her earlier answer that excluded slavery.

"But the lessons of what that bigger issue with the Civil War are — is that let's not forget what came out of that, which is government's role, individual liberties, freedom for every single person, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do and be anything you want to be without anyone or government getting in your way," she remarked.

"I say that as a Southern governor who removed the Confederate flag off the Statehouse grounds, and I say that as a proud American of how far we have come," Haley added.

Watch the video below from CNN.