The Civil War violently destroyed the decentralized federal system of the Founders and opened a way for the vast centralized empire of today. To legitimate this revolutionary change, Americans have taught that secession was unconstitutional; that the South seceded to protect slavery; and that the North fought to emancipate slaves. This lofty moral rationalization was created after the war. It would be like today claiming the US invaded Afghanistan over women's rights. While true that women do not have equal rights in Afghanistan it has zero to do with why the US is actually at war. It's would be like saying the conflict in Iraq was about WMD and the conflict in Syria is to protect an organic rebellion from the oppression of a dictator. This canard is actually being said and if the US succeeds that is how the corporate media and public school will portray that war. Well there was no internet in the 1860s so the lies were even worse. The only ones with the truth are the victims of the war and diligent historians. They have to constantly fight the state approved narrative of the empire. The south is still demonized by Hollywood and imperial history. The Civil war was about what most wars are fought over: control of territory, resources, and revenue. via Ryan Dawson of ANC Report (Anti Neocon)