The wars primary cause was the pro states rights south, opposing the federalist north, slavery was just a casus belli for both sides, nothing more.. in fact the confederacy was preparing to free the slaves under its own reign in the closing year of the conflict. I am not revising history, I just take the time to study it rather then gobbling down what was written in my text book, printed in the 50s during the height of the cold war to bolster patriotism among all American citizens.