None of my ancestors were here either but it was the most profound event in our history and the issues at play during that awful judgment of God still reverberate today.
I really don't mean to be argumentative, but I can't find much that I agree with in your statement. I can think of at least a half dozen events in American history that were equally or more profound.
I'm hoping that you used "judgement of God" as a figure of speech. I don't subscribe to that type of religious philosophy. I don't believe God inflicts his judgement upon nations or indviduals during our time on Earth.
And I think "reverberation" is an exaggeration. The Civil War was a major event, and it had an impact, and it may even color current events. But for the vast majority of Americans who stopped "fighting" that war (or never fought at all) decades or even a century ago, they feel no shock waves and their lives go on.
I'm not saying I'm right and you're wrong - I just disagree.