I'm with George the debate is what stirs the juices and fosters enlightenment and understanding.

I will attempt to start one:

The War was not about ending or expanding slavery it was about expanding political power and money.

The South and North had been fighting politically and economically against each other from the inception of the Union of States, an unnatural union born of war.

The root cause of the war was political parties and controlling taxes and who pays them. Big businesses and markets drove the political mindsets to secession ...on both sides.

The slavery issue created polarized movements inline with party power and big money directions, just like the issue of new States, Wars and Trade.