Ok, to start with we had a Strong States. They set up a Central Government to conduct business for the States internationally and internally. The States gave the Government the power to govern over all of them but not so much power as to dictate to an individual state what it can and can not do. For example the 55mph speed limit of 1974. To control this government the States created and accepted by individually ratifying through their States Congress, a Constutution. This Consitution was to protect the citizens from the Government and guarantee States Sovereignty.

Lincoln and his Federalist cronies did not like the system as it was. They wanted a Strong Central Government with the States subordinate to the Government. How to change this they asked?????

Along came the secession. Now with 13 States legislators out of the way, most of the current legislators has bought into Lincoln's way of doing things, change the Government while it is in turmoil.

Thus we came out of the War a strong central government instead of individual States holding their sovereignty