[ClearCase_guy]

Good summary. Prior to the Civil War, just about every important question was basically a form of “Which region will come out on top?” After the Civil War, the answer was always “The Federal government will come out on top.”

[Tupelo]

I think Shelby Foote said it best.
Before the war, it was said,”the United States ARE”
After the war it was said, “The United States IS.”

As for the uninformed that talk of Robert E. Lee being a traitor, please read his statement about his allegiance to Virginia. To paraphrase, “I can not raise arms against MY COUNTRY." Lee believed his country to be Virginia. Much like an Italian to day thinks of himself as an Italian not a European Unionist.