"I do not toss the "not about slavery" idea out because it‘s what I wish to believe, but include it with some others. Of course slavery was a factor, but there was more to it. The “more” part is what is often ignored."

It is the old addage of not being able to see the Forest because of all the trees in the way. And a single tree does not a Forest make. Most people have such a narrow focus on such studies that they can only see the most obvious tree in front of their eyes. Slavery is that single tree that is mearly the "5 second sound bite" evaluation of a complex political situation to which we have not found a satisfactory answer for to this day. And that political question is, "What is the legitimate power of government over free men?"

The Civil War gave us one answer, that established the power of a certral Government over that of the States. But that answer is only satisfactory as long as the government does not become too intrusive in the lives of it people. But we see now that our hopes of a government that will restrain itself is doubtful.