The South
* To preserve slavery. The South was a slave society, and slavery was under threat from the North. The North was increasingly opposed to slavery, and there were growing calls to abolish it. Southern states feared that if they did not fight to preserve slavery, it would eventually be abolished.
* To protect states' rights. The South believed that the federal government was encroaching on the rights of states. Southern states feared that the federal government would eventually become too powerful and would take away their autonomy.
* To expand their territory. The South wanted to expand its territory into the West and Southwest. Southern states believed that they had a right to this territory, and they were willing to fight to get it.
The West
* To gain independence. The West was not yet fully settled, and there were many people who wanted to break away from the United States and form their own independent country. Westerners felt that they were not getting a fair share of representation in the federal government, and they were tired of being controlled by the East.
* To get access to natural resources. The West was rich in natural resources, such as gold, silver, and timber. Westerners wanted access to these resources so that they could develop their own economy.
* To protect their land. Westerners were concerned about the increasing number of settlers moving into the West. They feared that these settlers would take over their land and destroy their way of life.