Well the civil war was about slavery, economics and principles. The land in the south was becoming less productive and the slave owners wanted to be able to sell their slaves to the Western states. The north felt that the compromise in permitting slavery in the first place should not stand any longer. So it was more than contrariness, IMHO
Every one can, and will think what they want in that regard. However, I don't believe that to be true. Jealousy has always been a HUGE motivator in any conflict. Coveting, if you will. Besides, the north was into slavery up to their eyeballs, a few years prior. But, it was used quite successfully as a motivator during the war. So that's like the pot calling the kettle black. It's an argument that doesn't hold water. Slavery would have fizzled out within 50 years or so because of the new states entering the union. And, yes...the South did want to sell slaves to the west. But how many buyers would have come to market? Not many. Thus, the fizzling out, which would be a natural consequence. And if it was left to fizzle out on it's own, we would not be seeing today's problems. General Robert E. Lee made a comment regarding the future troubles of the civil war outcome. I did not understand them upon reading them. But now, with all the mess we see today, it is quite clear.