The Underlying Cause Of The Civil War

Slavery is inevitably one of the most sensitive topics discussed today. Americans choose to avoid the subject altogether, due to our abusive history towards African Americans. However, our society has evolved and has been active in promoting equality for all. It wasn’t until 1865 when slaves were free. Around “36,000 men died in the Civil war” (Civil War Facts), for the abolishment of slavery. The Civil war, being the bloodiest war in American history, all came down to the question of; whether human bondage is moral? Slavery is the underlying cause of the Civil war, as a result of the confederates inability to give up forced human labor. The South economically depended on slaves, but with limited state rights, along with the election of Abraham
If the states were to obtain more power, they could easily avoid laws enacted the federal government, as well as create laws that are unconstitutional. Although states should be given the right to make laws, issues like slavery should be dealt by the government. Southern states would abuse their power -and create a society where no African American is free, and even worse spread it toward the West- if not suppressed by federal powers. “The South wished to take slavery into the western territories, while the North was committed to keeping them open to white labor alone” (Causes of Civil War). The chances of increasing state power slowly turned to an illusion until the idea of nullification. If states were allowed to nullify federal laws and deem them unconstitutional, it would ensure the continuation of slavery. Of course, the federal government denied the right of nullification, causing southern states to get angry and feel as though they are mistreated. The mistreatment and disrespect the Southerners felt caused thoughts on succeeding to be more common. Both sides continued to deal with their vast differences as one, but it wasn’t until the election of 1861, that the south was ready to make changes for
Lincoln was a Republican, and like most Republicans, he was for with the abolishment of slavery. The south refused to have Lincoln as their president; they knew that if he were to become the next leader of the United States -with the power of the federal government- Lincoln would abolish slavery. “His victory, without a single Southern electoral vote, was a clear signal to the Southern states that they had lost all influence” (Causes of Civil War). With a huge defeat, the South feared their rights to slaves would be taken from them as well as their livelihood. The south resorted to the only thing they knew that would guarantee their life back. “Feeling excluded from the political system, they turned to the only alternative they believed was left to them: secession, a political decision that led directly to war.” (Causes of Civil War) The south felt as if they had no other choice but to secede from the union. The fear of losing an essential part of their life, causing profits to cease, would spark the urge of rebellion, allowing the right to make new and “fair” laws that would support