The American Civil War was an intense, violent war fought within one of the most powerful countries in the world. The reasons for the outbreak of this war are varied. From the formation of America to 1860, the people in this country were divided. This division was a result of location and personal sentiments. Peace could not continue in a country filled with quarrels that affected the common American. There is a common misconception that the American Civil War was fought only over slavery, when in fact there were several other reasons for why the War Between the States was fought. One cannot deny that issues over the rights and wrongs of slavery were at the core of this infamous war; however it would be naïve to assume that slavery was the only driving force behind this conflict.
The Civil War lasted for four years, from 1861-1865. It was between the American people; primarily the northern states vs. the southern states. The South was called the Confederate States of America and was led by President Jefferson Davis. The North was still known as the United States of America, and the people were led by President Abraham Lincoln. If one were to ask the average person the causes of the War Between the States, that person would most likely answer with one word: slavery. But this was not the only cause. Slavery had been a historical problem before the war. Slavery came up in debate during the making of the American Constitution, and both Northern and Southern states held slaves.
In 1611, a group of Scottish women and children were sold as the first slaves in America, and in 1618 the first African slaves were sold in America. Between 1611 and 1865 people of many cultures were sold as slaves in America. It is also a fallacy that American slaves were only African, because many were not and there was a diverse range in ethnicity of the slaves that were sold. It is purely