Growing up in the South i've always been taught that the civil war was not started because of slavery, it was because of states rights. Yes slavery had something to do with it, but it was not the main reason of the war. The states believed the government was having too much control over them the same Britain had before. So when I see the confederate flag, I don't see a symbol of slavery, I see a flag condoning states rights, meaning that they are in favor of less interference from the government. I was also taught that whether or not Abe Lincoln created the emancipation proclamation, slavery was on its way out anyway.
It was indeed about states rights, but specifically about the states rights to own human beings.
I can recall reading an argument piece from the 1860s (the name and author escape me sadly) in which a man even at that age actively stated the entire conflict was started over slavery.
Of course there were several factors that played into the coming of the civil war, but it was always about slavery. Keeping the balance, 3/5ths compromise, the Mason-Dixon line; every law up to that point in slavery was meant to keep the question about slavery off the table for as long as possible.
I believe that this former thread should summarise the idea. Archived thread here.
Which state did you grow up in?