History of North America

What was the immidiate cause of civil war?

The immediate cause of the Civil War was the Southern states' secession from the Union following Abraham Lincoln's election to the presidency in 1860.

Lincoln's election was seen by many Southerners as a threat to their way of life, particularly the institution of slavery. The Southern states argued that they had the right to secede from the Union if they felt that their interests were not being represented.

By February 1861, seven Southern states had seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina, marking the official start of the Civil War.

The war lasted for four years and resulted in the victory of the Union. The Confederacy was dissolved, and slavery was abolished in the United States.