Question

Since the end of the Civil War in 1865, different historians have held various opinions about what caused the Civil War. Slavery, states’ rights, and regional economics are all disputed causes. What do you think caused the Civil War? Write a three- to four-paragraph essay opinion piece that explains your ideas. Use the events and your notes from the table above to support your opinion. You may also reference other events that took place during or after the Civil War to support your ideas. When developing your argument, keep the following factors in mind: Your opinion and argument should be well supported by your notes and any other research you have done. It should also focus on specific issues relating to the causes of the Civil War. If you need additional guidance, many writing resources are available to help you create a strong thesis statement. Using the author date system, make sure you provide parenthetical, in-text citations for any information you use from outside sources. When you finish writing, reread to check for the points above, and then proofread it to sure your work doesn’t contain errors in grammar or spelling.

Answer 1

A common explanation is that the Civil War was fought over the moral issue of slavery from both the north and south. Many maintain that the primary cause of the war was the Southern states' desire to preserve the institution of slavery. Others minimize slavery and point to other factors, such as taxation or the principle of States' Rights.On Dec. 24, 1860, delegates at South Carolina's secession convention adopted a “Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union.”

Meanwhile, the newly formed Republican party, whose members were strongly opposed to the westward expansion of slavery into new states, was gaining prominence.The election of a Republican, Abraham Lincoln, as President in 1860 sealed the deal. His victory, without a single Southern electoral vote, was a clear signal to the Southern states that they had lost all influence.Feeling excluded from the political system, they turned to the only alternative they believed was left to them: secession, a political decision that led directly to war.

The North and the South shared a common history, but they effectively became two nations in the early 19th century. One was an agrarian society reliant on slave labor that exported cash crops; it had little liquid capital, less manufacturing, was debt-dependent, favored low tariffs, and opposed direct taxation. The other was an industrial economy that favored high tariffs (to protect industry), favored direct taxation, had an elaborate financial system, and was eager to expand into the West through homesteading and railroads.The anti-slavery movement, many in the South believed, was merely a vehicle to achieve Northern dominance. Jefferson Davis, in a speech in the early 1850s, spoke for many Southerners when he said,

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