The American Civil War began in 1861 after decades of tension between the Northern and Southern states. The main cause of the war was slavery, which was legal in the Southern states but not in the North. Other factors that contributed to the war included:
* Economic differences: The North was industrialized, while the South was agricultural. This led to different economic interests and political priorities.
* States' rights: Southerners believed that states had the right to make their own laws, including laws about slavery. Northerners believed that the federal government had the right to override state laws.
* Political power: The South had a disproportionate amount of political power in the United States government. This angered many Northerners, who felt that the South was getting special treatment.
Timeline
The events that led up to the Civil War began in the early 1800s. In 1820, the Missouri Compromise temporarily resolved the issue of slavery in the territories west of the Mississippi River. However, the issue continued to be a source of tension between the North and the South.
In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise and allowed the people of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether they would allow slavery. This led to a wave of violence in Kansas, known as "Bleeding Kansas."
In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States. Lincoln was a Republican who opposed the spread of slavery. His election led to the secession of several Southern states from the Union.
In 1861, the Confederate States of America was formed by the seceding Southern states. The Confederate government attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina, starting the Civil War.
The Civil War lasted for four years and resulted in the victory of the Union. The war ended slavery in the United States and led to the reunification of the country.