[WMarshal]

I don’t believe that you can call them traitors because they were being loyal to their state. In those days Americans’ allegiance was primarily to the state they lived in and were born in than to America as a whole. Most Americans don’t realize that at the time of the Civil War people were citizens of their state as if it was its own country. In those days politics was truly local.

[kevao]

In those days Americans’ allegiance was primarily to the state they lived in and were born in than to America as a whole.

Yes. Prior to the Civil War, the country was usually referred to as "These United States." Afterward, "The United States" became standard.