- States' rights: Many Southern states believed that the federal government was overstepping its authority by trying to regulate slavery. They argued that the Constitution gave states the right to make their own laws, and that the federal government should not interfere.
- Economic development: The North and the South had different economic interests. The North was industrialized, while the South was largely agricultural. The North wanted to protect its industries by taxing imported goods, while the South wanted to keep tariffs low so that it could buy goods cheaply.
- Westward expansion: The United States was expanding westward rapidly in the 1850s, and there was a debate over whether slavery would be allowed in the new territories. The North was opposed to the spread of slavery, while the South was determined to protect its institution.
These are just some of the factors that led to the American Civil War. Slavery was a major cause, but it was not the only cause.