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(0:59) – The Civil War started due to deep-seated tensions between the Northern and Southern states over slavery, states’ rights, and economic differences.
Slavery:
The core issue was slavery, especially its expansion into new territories. The Southern economy relied heavily on slave labor, while the North was increasingly opposed to it. The question was: should slavery be allowed to spread into the western territories?
States’ Rights vs. Federal Power:
Southern states believed they had the right to govern themselves and make their own laws, including those about slavery. The North, however, supported a stronger central government that could set national policies.
Economic Differences:
The North and South had very different economies—industrial vs. agricultural. Tariffs and trade policies often favored the North, frustrating Southern states that depended on exports and imported goods.
Election of Abraham Lincoln (1860):
Lincoln opposed the expansion of slavery, and his election triggered fears in the South that slavery would be abolished. This led 11 Southern states to secede from the Union, starting with South Carolina.