The American Civil war

Well maybe the south would have been an undeveloped agricultural economy, but Texas, Oklahoma and maybe New Mexico would have moved the economy far in advance with their oil crude reserves and unmathing Texas' natural gas reserve

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  Now would the North buy Alaska if they lost the war? I dont think so. the US bought Alaska from Russia in 1867 which is 2 years after the war ended. If the North lost, it would have been busy recovering and guarding their now southern long borders with the south. Other problems would be:

1- increasing British military presence in the south (didn't they help the South indirectly?)

2- increasing tention between the Union and the Confederacy as more slaves are escaping from South to North after the South won the war.

3- A race to absorb other forming states in the Midwest and on the Rocky moutains (possible military conflict).

  If I can think of anything that helped the North in winnig is the draft system they had and allowing for many immigrants to settle in the States (Mainly Irish due to the famine) who provided great human resource for the Northern armies.

Your also assuming a worst case scenario.  One thing regarded likely by many Civil War scholars was that after sucession it would be only a matter of time before peaceful re-integration.  Re integration without all that death and destruction would probably be quite a bit better than what happened.  I also dont see west coast sessesion as likely either as all the midwest and western states were very heavily populated by pro union northerners and pro union germna immigrants.  Theres a population dynamic at play  here too.

Had the CSA actually suceeded I think (given the diplomatic relations at the time) it would have become friends with a freindly France and Britain for protection.  This would lead to WW1 being fought in North America as well as Europe and thus the massive industrial resources and navy of the north-combined with Germany, would ahve made victory for the Central POwers.

You bring up a lot of very good questions.  The Civil War was in reality, a continuation of the American Revolution.  The origional Founding Fathers had never settled the slavery issue, due to the fact that it was so highly sensetive.  They knew that the timing was not ready from a political perspective.  This however, is not an excuse, but it is a fact. 

As time went by, many factors helped to steer the country towards war.  The Missouri Compromise of 1820, the Kansas/Nebraska Act, and even the Mexican/American War all brought the slavery issue to the forefront.  Abraham Lincoln had resigned from politics, but as he witnessed what was happening, he realized that slavery has an evil that needed to be fought. 

Anyone who says that slavery was not an issue in the American Civil War is wrong.  Of course other political factors played a role, but slavery what what loaded the gun. 

As far as your question about ancestors who fought...I actually have family that fought on both sides.  My Great-great grandfather (Elijah Widener) fought for the 37th Virginia under Stonewall Jackson.  He also had 4 brothers who fought along side him.  They were present at the First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run), Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.  Elijah lost his brother Samuel during the war from wounds he recieved.  Elijah and his 2 brothers were even taken prisoner and were sent to Ft. Delaware, where they were guarded bt some of the first black soldiers of the war. 

On my father's side, I have family that fought in the 20th Maine under George Meade.  They were also present at Gettysburg and Fredricksburg.