Civil war is a misnomer. A civil war is a war wherein 2 or more factions fight for control over the government. The Confederacy didn't want to take over the federal government, they wanted to depart from the union and form their own government.
I'll provide 2 links that you can use as a jumping off point for finding out what really happened...
In no particular order: What really happened in the War of Northern Aggression, especially Lincoln's, Sherman's and Sheridan's actions The Alien and Sedition Act The Whisky Rebellion The Indian wars And of course the writing of the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
I'll provide 2 links that you can use as a jumping off point for finding out what really happened...
http://snapoutofitamerica.wordpress.com/...
http://www.lewrockwell.com/author/thomas...
Are you talking about the Civil War?
What really happened in the War of Northern Aggression, especially Lincoln's, Sherman's and Sheridan's actions
The Alien and Sedition Act
The Whisky Rebellion
The Indian wars
And of course the writing of the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.