Why did the civil war occur?

Answer 1

Slavery ---- 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.

I have studied this period of time for over 30 years - I have a degree in US History, and have written six books on the subject. I don't rely on books written 50 or 100 years after the War, but go to those things written at the time. If you do this you'll see that SLAVERY - not so-called states rights (except the right to own slaves) or other issues, were the cause of the war.

Answer 2

It was essentially a difference of opinion, in that the states believed that they should have ultimate control over their own legislature, while the federal government was trying to strengthen itself, and impose national laws that took rights away from the states.

Answer 3

States rights.

The federal government, with the majority vote of the more populous industrial based northern states, were dictating to the south their trade policies. They also had control of the Banking system.

Answer 4

States rights vs federal control