- The preservation of slavery was the main cause of the Civil War in the Confederate States of America.
- The Confederate states were determined to maintain and extend slavery, which they viewed as essential to their economic and social system.
- They feared that the election of Abraham Lincoln, who opposed the expansion of slavery, would threaten the institution.
States' rights:
- The Confederate states believed in states' rights, including the right to own slaves and to secede from the Union.
- They argued that the federal government was overstepping its authority by interfering with their internal affairs.
Economic interests:
- The Confederate states were largely agrarian economies, and their wealth was based on the cultivation of cash crops such as cotton, tobacco, and sugar.
- Slavery was essential to the profitability of these crops, as it provided a cheap and reliable labor force.
Political power:
- The Confederate states were also concerned about their political power within the Union.
- They felt that they were not adequately represented in the federal government, and they feared that their interests would be subordinated to those of the more populous northern states.