Main Cause Of Civil War.?

Question

I'm writing an essay, and I've narrowed it down to three possible choices.
Slavery, Compromises, And State-Federal Powers.
And input? Which one do you personally think it was?

Answer 1

Yes, the main cause, and the cause without which there would have been no war, was slavery. States right, as people like to argue it, were only important insofar as they related to slavery. The argument between state and federal powers were wokrable is all areas but one - slavery. The compromises which delayed, but could not stop, the conflict (and in fact some of them made the conflict unavoidable) were about slavery.

What people forget quite often is that the slave states were not an oppressed minority trying to throw off the yoke. The slave states had the majority in congress and were getting their way in most political matters. They used that power throughout the 1850's to weaken the army and navy, to disarm the US military, and to prepare for secession.

Why?

To protect slavery above and beyond all else.

The election of Lincoln was the excuse they needed, and most Confederacy leaders were glad to see it because it gave them the rallying cry to gain support for secession among population.

It was slavery.

Answer 2

Q1111 has put it best so far.
The primary reasons which led to the Civil War were all economic in nature, including slavery. Mr. Lincoln was quite adept at "using" that horrific institution to garner support for the North.

Answer 3

its slavery. period. states rights and other stuff contributed as well but without the issue of slavery there would have been no war.

Answer 4

It was about the usurpation of states' rights by Federalists.About unfair trade policies and tariffs.http://www.sweetliberty.org/s1.htm http://www.fff.org/freedom/1100f.asp

Answer 5

slavery and Lincoln's election