The way I see it is this: The Civil War was fought over federalism, whether states could secede, whether states had the right to self determination. The central government “won”. I see the Confederacy as little different from the Colonies who fought King George for the right to self determination.
No, the Confederate states were forced to remain in the federal club, even though they didn’t want to. What’s “free” about that?
“Confederate states were forced to remain in the federal club, even though they didn’t want to. What’s “free” about that?”
Simultaneously holding slaves, and yearning for freedom.
The colonists in the 1700s weren't about "self-determination." They had specific grievances with the crown and wanted a voice in making the laws and setting the taxes they'd have to live under. Only after fighting had started did independence become an issue.
The slave states were represented in Congress in the 1800s. They did have a voice in the government and a say in forming the laws they'd have to live under. They could have used that voice in Congress to renegotiate or to dissolve the union. Instead they decided to break away on their own and form a new country opposed to the US.
That was a spectacularly bad decision and different from what the colonists were doing during the Revolutionary War era.