centurion316: "I know that these people would not support your view.
They learned many bitter lessons and they worked to heal the nation, not divide it in the years following."
golux: "Finally to refer to Confederate sympathizers as un-American marks you as, perhaps someone..."
In fact, golux, centurion316 did not use the term "un-American".
That is strictly a figment of your own fertile imagination.
golux: "I strongly suspect you misunderstand the reasons for secession and the secession itself, as well as the level of understanding men who might well be brighter than you had of their situation, of the state of the Union, and of their cause."
In fact, there was only one reason for secession: to protect the South's "peculiar institution" against the perceived threat from "Ape" Lincoln's "Black Republicans".
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out, but Lost Causers have long attempted to conceal the truth.
golux: "...the Constitution, States rights, powers of the Federal government, etc., all of which changed drastically and permanently after Appomatox."
No, only a "state's right" to unilaterally declare secession, then provoke, start and declare war on the United States, then send military forces into Union states -- those "states rights" were defeated, unconditionally.
Oh, and slavery was abolished.
Otherwise, the Union remained as it had been, for another 50 years, until the Progressivism of Southern Democrats like President Woodrow Wilson.
Yes. It is the accepted view, promulgated by your Federal government, that the War was all about slavery and racism. You are encouraged to believe it, and you believe it. You should especially thank Lincoln for freeing the slaves of the Northern states - the last, very reluctantly, in New Jersey. But really there is no use. Watch another Hollywood movie on the subject, perhaps with Oprah starring. It will bolster your views.