What do you believe to be the point where the United States destined for war against herself in the Civil War?

Answer 1

Articles of Confederation, then cemented with the passing of the constitution.
The north threatened many times to ceceed from the union, there were constant problems. Unfortunately military action and force is what it took to seccure the union (for the time being at least-who knows when it will happen again)

Answer 2

The earliest point or the point of no return. The earliest point would have to be Constitutional Convention: given that the civil war was a struggle between the power of states vs the federal government I find myself forced to believe that the beginning of the conflict can be traced back to the Federalist Papers and the 3/5's compromise which sought to patch irreconcilable differences between North and South until the North was capable of forcibly denying the South independence... from then on, concessions to the South were made grudgingly, avoiding confrontation in as much the South could be contained.
The acquisition of Louisiana and the invasion of Mexico exacerbated North-South tensions. A nascent imperial power contained to diverging cultures within it struggling for control. When it had to be decided which culture would receive the spoils of the conquest of the west, civil war became inevitable.

Answer 3

Election of Lincoln. Before he was elected, the South expressed that they felt that if he won, he would put up a fight against slavery (which actually wasn't true) and so they said that they would secede if, in fact, he did win the presidency. He won, they seceded, Lincoln sent supplies to Fort Sumter, it made South Carolina mad, shots were fired, and hence the beginning of the Civil War.

Answer 4

It is arguable that it was going to happen from the moment that the constitution was first adopted.

It was a compromise and in places not a very good one. The issue of slavery was skirted and the rights of the states were not very clearly delineated. As these were the two major causes it was really inevitable from then on.

Answer 5

Election of Lincoln