Causes of the Civil War
States' Rights: Southern states seceded, in part, to preserve the freedom of individual states and to prevent states, as they saw it, from being pushed around by the federal government.
Sectionalism: Deep seeded differences between the three main sections of the country—North, West and South. The economic, political and social differences led to three distinct cultures, each with interests that set them apart from the other two.
Slavery: The North did not want slavery and viewed it as a moral issue; a matter of good and evil, and could not stand by while the South kept millions of people in bondage. The South’s economy was dependent on the free labor.
Westward Expansion: The South wanted slavery in the western territories, the North was wanted the West open to white labor alone. Over the next thirty-four years Congress passes several Compromises and Laws to ensure that each newly added state is not dominated by the North or the South.
Sectionalism: Deep seeded differences between the three main sections of the country—North, West and South. The economic, political and social differences led to three distinct cultures, each with interests that set them apart from the other two.
Slavery: The North did not want slavery and viewed it as a moral issue; a matter of good and evil, and could not stand by while the South kept millions of people in bondage. The South’s economy was dependent on the free labor.
Westward Expansion: The South wanted slavery in the western territories, the North was wanted the West open to white labor alone. Over the next thirty-four years Congress passes several Compromises and Laws to ensure that each newly added state is not dominated by the North or the South.