What Caused the American Civil War?

The northern States believed slavery was wrong while the southern States supported slavery. Many historians believe that war was inevitable due these two contrasting views. In the presidential election of 1860, Republican Abraham Lincoln campaigned against the expansion of slavery and the Republicans won that election. Both the North and South believed that slavery would die out if it could not expand. Therefore, Lincoln did not want slavery to expand into new territories that were being formed. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln, 11 Southern States declared secession (withdrawal from the United States) and formed the Confederate States of America. The Union (the name given to the rest of the United States) believed this was a rebellion.

The Civil War ultimately started on April 12, 1861 when Confederate forces attacked a Union military installation at Fort Sumter (that is why it is called the Battle of Fort Sumter). Four more Southern Slave States joined the Confederate States of America after Lincoln called for a volunteer army from each state. The Civil War was the deadliest in the history of the United States, costing the lives of 620,000 soldiers and an unknown number of civilians. However, it led to the abolition of slavery in the United States and led to changes which made the country a ’superpower’.

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