How important was the issue of slavery in causing the American Civil War? 
How important was the issue of slavery in causing the American Civil War?
- Felix Shepherd 12c. When looking at the causes of the American Civil War, it is a common assumption to believe that slavery was the most important cause. Slavery caused the north and south to become increasingly distant. Some believe the north was no longer willing to tolerate slavery as being part of the fabric of the US society. The North’s political powers in Washington were planning to abolish slavery throughout the Union. However, this would have a detrimental affect on the southern states, whose economy thrived with slavery and heavily relied on it. The Dred Scott case; a slave who sought citizenship through the American legal system, and whose case even tually ended up in the Supreme Court, led to increased tensions between free states and those with slaves. As well as the direct effect of slavery, there are many other causes of the civil war: Lincoln's election, an abolitionist who wanted northern domination, became president in March 1861. This created tension in the south as they feared for the future of slavery. States right's, another cause, refers to the struggle between the federal government and individual states over political power. By 1860 America could not be seen as being a united society beacuse defined areas could be identified as having different outlooks and different values towards many issues. There are a few more factors, but these are more distant from slavery and are not a direct cause to the civil war. The future of slavery was the burning issue that led to the disruption in the union. Eventually this debate led to secession after secession and then arguably caused war. By 1860, 40% of southerners were now slave holders. Slavery had a massive part to play in the southern society; slaves acted as a reminder to poorer whites that there was a social class below them. There was a general belief that slavery was fundamental to the economy and the social
- Felix Shepherd 12c. When looking at the causes of the American Civil War, it is a common assumption to believe that slavery was the most important cause. Slavery caused the north and south to become increasingly distant. Some believe the north was no longer willing to tolerate slavery as being part of the fabric of the US society. The North’s political powers in Washington were planning to abolish slavery throughout the Union. However, this would have a detrimental affect on the southern states, whose economy thrived with slavery and heavily relied on it. The Dred Scott case; a slave who sought citizenship through the American legal system, and whose case even tually ended up in the Supreme Court, led to increased tensions between free states and those with slaves. As well as the direct effect of slavery, there are many other causes of the civil war: Lincoln's election, an abolitionist who wanted northern domination, became president in March 1861. This created tension in the south as they feared for the future of slavery. States right's, another cause, refers to the struggle between the federal government and individual states over political power. By 1860 America could not be seen as being a united society beacuse defined areas could be identified as having different outlooks and different values towards many issues. There are a few more factors, but these are more distant from slavery and are not a direct cause to the civil war. The future of slavery was the burning issue that led to the disruption in the union. Eventually this debate led to secession after secession and then arguably caused war. By 1860, 40% of southerners were now slave holders. Slavery had a massive part to play in the southern society; slaves acted as a reminder to poorer whites that there was a social class below them. There was a general belief that slavery was fundamental to the economy and the social