While the civil war ended slavery and kept the union intact, there is no denying it led us on the path to this monolithic federal behemoth.
Concentrating on international concerns rather than states more individual concerns.
Again we see the never ending cost(s) (there are several ways we are paying still) of 18-19th century cotton.
But I respectfully disagree with the sometimes FR posted sentiment that the abolitionists (Republicans) were the ones responsible for making the federal government grow because of slavery. Blame first and foremost should be placed on the pro-slavery Dims who pushed the federal government into the slavery argument with the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act and the SCOTUS Dred Scott decision. Those 2 actions forced citizens in the Free States to abide by the pro-slavery Dims' will or face the wrath of US Marshalls and fines. That pushed the abolitionist Republicans into having to win the argument at the federal level (which they promised to do in the 1860 campaign, though Lincoln every now and then backpedaled on that).
That being said, after the Republicans won the 1860 election and would soon be able to put in abolitionist policies, should they have let the Confederate Dims break away from the Union and start their own country? I guess that's debatable.