What was the primary cause of the Civil War?

The primary cause of the Civil War is widely understood to be the disputes over slavery and states' rights. The issue of slavery was central to the conflict, as it was deeply ingrained in the economy and social structure, particularly in the Southern states. As the nation expanded westward, tensions arose over whether new territories would be free or slave states, which directly influenced the balance of power between North and South.

Additionally, the concept of states' rights emerged from the South's belief that individual states had the authority to govern themselves, particularly regarding the legality of slavery. This idea was a rallying point for secessionist sentiments when Southern states felt that their rights and way of life were threatened by Northern political and social pressures.

While economic differences between the North and South contributed to the tensions—especially regarding industrial versus agrarian interests—slavery and states' rights were the core issues that led to the secession of Southern states and the ensuing conflict. Factors such as immigration policies and territorial expansion played roles in shaping the era but were not the primary causes of the war. The disputes over slavery and the accompanying beliefs about states' rights were the critical underlying realities that drove the nation into Civil War.