As you said platitudes are not helpful. The truth is that the civil war was about states rights. However, one of those rights had to do with slavery. The vast majority of southerners would probably have given up the institution of slavery if it meant that the u.s. would have left the confederacy alone (especially if the war had not started until the cotton gin was in widespread use). However the wealthy minority of plantation owners would never accept it and they had most of the influence.
Furthermore, if the issue of slavery was off the table- the north would still have fought just as hard to keep the south from leaving. One majpr difference would be that the south might have been able to obtain england as an ally as england was very antislavery at the time. That may have made a difference, although I doubt it.
I think the lessons to take from that unfortunate time in history is to wait until you have a good chance at success before you attempt independence, don’t let emotion get in the way of judgement before going to war, be realistic about your chances, and if the timing isn’t right the you continue to prepare until it is. Also make damn sure that what you are fighting for is worth it.
After reading the history of the revolutionary war, i’ve come to the conclusion that the rebels (washington, franklin, et al.) were very lucky. England did some very stupid things and misread the situation in north america- if they hadn’t the east coast and probably more would still be under the crown now.
I don’t agree with some, I believe if they had forsworn slavery (which in practicality they couldn’t), there would have been tremendous pressure to stop the ‘war of northern aggression’ as Lincoln would have lost his moral authority and imperative and Manifest Destiny wasn’t enough particularly when it meant a bloody civil war. One caveat however, had the war ceased and the south seceded under such a scenario, a land war in American was inevitable at some time in the future as both sides would have felt a stirring of Manifest Destiny.
The South however, was locked into it’s own destiny as it couldn’t and didn’t want to forswear slavery as much of their economy and their very Gentry depended upon it. Yes there were other factors involved, States rights not being the least, but it was the Old World (slavery) vs. the New World (Industrialization) and it was the burning hearts of anti-slavery movement that fueled the North and the misguided pride of the south that fueled their defeat and any chance of them winning a future conflict with the North dwindled every decade that slipped by. The South was eager for the war.
Yes, to the South it wasn’t about slavery, but to the North, it was all about slavery.
And for other reasons, I don’t think it was as much a matter of luck as it was matter of distance and cost. Both sides where smart enough to realize that it was just a matter of attrition until the British lost. They weren’t fighting aboriginals, they were fighting people just like them and unlike wars in Europe, it took considerable resources and time to get and maintain troops over here that where otherwise deterring France, Spain and the ever looming Prussians and the nascent Junkers.