Slavery was the loser.
I disagree. They merely changed ownership of the plantation. We went from the Federal Government that the founders talked about, by force of arms...to a National Government. Where there are no checks on federal authority.
Lincoln made another big Government nationalist, Mr. Hamilton..look rather reasonable. In Federalist No. 26, he places hope in "the State legislatures, who will always be not only vigilant but suspicious and jealous guardians of the rights of the citizens against encroachments from the federal government, will constantly have their attention awake to the conduct of the national rulers, and will be ready enough, if any thing improper appears, to sound the alarm to the people, and not only to be the VOICE, but, if necessary, the ARM of their discontent."