I would still make the case that the civil war was about slavery, but not like you're thinking...

Slavery of the south to the whims of the north was the issue at hand. Plantations had nothing to do with it. The descendants of puritans were still trying to create their heaven on earth, their utopia (as they are doing now with socialism and ever-narrowing interest groups claiming the right to force others to do business with them). This was about northern interests trying to force their will on people they considered inferior to them, much as liberal democrats are doing today (listen to them talk about rural folk and replace the word "redneck" with derogatory words for any other group, and you'll find it to be an eye-opener).

I would argue that this war is still underway, although open hostilities are rare, except via proxies. Fast and Furious was a shot fired, so was George Zimmerman, so is the attempt to mandate government paying for birth control. The intent isn't to create something; the intent is to shame a people into accepting what they consider abhorrent until their will is broken. The chains go on after that. You don't put a saddle on a horse until it's comfortable with a bridle...

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Pissing on the host in the middle of the living room with guests present is a pretty good reason for the host to forcibly remove one from the scene, in my humble and correct opinion. - Jack_Crabb