Causes of the Civil War
Causality can often be a complex issue when discussing historical events. In the case of the American Civil War, causality can be boiled down to a single issue: slavery. Many events took place that helped prod the North and South to the brink of war, but slavery was always the foundational issue.
Some historians have argued that the opening of the western territories was a cause of the Civil War. This argument is true but only because the North and South vehemently disagreed on whether or not new states in the western territories should allow slavery. For example, the settlement of western territories touched off the slavery issue as early as 1819 when Missouri applied for statehood as a slave state. If Missouri were allowed into the Union, the balance of eleven slave states to eleven free states would be destroyed. At this same time, however, Maine applied for statehood as a free state. People in the North did not want to allow Missouri admission as a slave state. They knew, however, that if they blocked the admission of Missouri, the South would block Maine. A compromise was finally suggested, which is known as the Missouri Compromise. Missouri would be admitted as a slave state, and Maine would be allowed in as a free state. This would maintain the balance between slave and free states. In addition, the compromise proposed that the rest of the Louisiana Purchase territory would prohibit slavery in all regions north of Missouri's southern boundary. Representatives from the North and South applauded this compromise, but the clash over the territories was far from over.
Other historians have said that economics was a cause. They argue that the agricultural system of the South was inherently at odds with the industrial, free labor system of the North. The economy of the South revolved around agriculture and slavery. The South was completely committed to a single crop, a crop that was picked entirely by slave labor. Therefore, virtually all of the labor in the South was slave labor. Many in the northern states felt that slavery was morally wrong, but this was just one cause for concern. The North worried that slave labor would undermine the position of free white laborers. Northern society was increasingly coming to believe that the south had intentions to extend its “slave power” beyond its existing boundaries, hindering white laborers from finding work.
Still other historians might argue that a rise in sectionalism was in fact the cause of war. The nation seemed to be splitting down ideological, social, and political lines, becoming two different cultures. These cultures, however, were divided most basically on the issue of allowing slavery and not allowing slavery. The southern states believed they had the right to practice slavery. To them, ending slavery would mean an end to their culture, their means of making a living, and their very way of life. In fact, only a small percentage of the southern population owned slaves. Due to these societal differences, the North and South found it difficult to agree on political issues. The two areas of the country grew further apart until it seemed that secession or war was inevitable.
Which of the following sentences could best be added to the fourth paragraph?
A.
Southerners also believed they were being kind to slaves by offering them a better life than they would have known in Africa.
B.
The victory of Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 presidential election was a final straw for many southerners.
C.
Northerners were shocked after reading portrayals of the evils of slavery written by former slaves.
D.
Sectionalism can be defined as feelings of loyalty to a region rather than loyalty to a nation as a whole.