[central_va]

It's simply a lie to claim that Confederates posed no "existential threat" to the United States.

Can/could 5 million whites, over half women and children ever pose and extensional threat to 30+ million northerners? Show me one Southern CONTEMPORARY writing, legislation, letter, editorial stating the the South wanted to conquer the North? You sir are a ridiculous a$$. You have a cartoon mind.

[BroJoeK]

central_va: "Can/could 5 million whites, over half women and children ever pose and extensional threat to 30+ million northerners?"

Sure, if those 30+ million were not determined to defend themselves.
As it was, Confederates outright claimed & invaded two Union states, Missouri & Kentucky.
Confederate forces also invaded Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Oklahoma & New Mexico.
Confederate guerillas operated in California, Colorado & Vermont among others.
Confederate navy captured or sank hundreds of Union ships.

If those are not "existential threats", then nothing is.

central_va: "You sir are a ridiculous a$$.
You have a cartoon mind."

Nonsense.
In the Civil War's first 12 months more battles were fought in Union states than Confederate and more Confederate soldiers died in the Union than in the Confederacy.