Well, I think the real reason is that the War of Northern Aggression is still being waged in the land of ideas. It is always reduced to slavery. But, it was more about money, tariffs, and the growth of federal taxation and the centralization of power in the federal government . . . and we have seen the consequences. Now, the free exercise of commerce is diminished (think Obamacare), and even free speech is endangered, as well as Christianity along with the Judeo-Christian foundations of our civilization.
Not original ideas. "War of Northern Aggression"? Really?
Correct you are. Lincoln’s overriding motivation was to “preserve the union” which was a euphemism for maintaining ever more powerful dictatorial control in the central/federal government in Washington DC. Abolition of slavery was eventually used as a war tactic.There was, is, never will be a justification for the loss of 700,000 lives for the political abstraction of preserving the union.
The Confederate states are monuments to states rights and secession which needs to be erased by the state-ists. Can’t have normal citizens being reminded that there is always an option to federal tyranny via secession. The quickest route to freedom is via secession.