What was the primary cause of the American Civil War?

The primary cause of the American Civil War was disputes over slavery and states' rights. Tensions between the Northern and Southern states had been escalating for decades, with slavery at the forefront of these conflicts. Southern states relied heavily on the institution of slavery for their agricultural economy and viewed it as essential for their way of life. Conversely, the Northern states were increasingly moving toward abolition and advocating for individual rights and freedoms.

Additionally, the concept of states' rights illustrated the Southern viewpoint that individual states had the authority to determine their own laws, including the legality of slavery. This led to significant disagreements over federal authority and the rights of states versus the central government. The culmination of these disputes, especially following events like the Missouri Compromise, the Dred Scott decision, and the election of Abraham Lincoln—who was seen as anti-slavery—precipitated the secession of Southern states and ultimately led to the outbreak of war.

Other factors, such as economic disparity and territorial expansion, contributed to the context of the Civil War but were not as pivotal as the foundational issue of slavery and the rights of states to govern themselves. These broader economic and territorial issues intersected with the central conflict over slavery, but the fundamental disagreements about slavery itself were what most directly sparked