The American Civil War, fought between 1861 and 1865, was a defining conflict in the history of the United States, marking a turning point in the nation's development. The war arose from deep-seated issues related to slavery, states' rights, and economic and social differences between the North and the South. It was a battle between the Union, representing the northern states, and the Confederacy, formed by the secessionist southern states.

At its core, the Civil War was a struggle over the future of slavery in the United States. The Southern economy, heavily reliant on agriculture and slave labour, stood in stark contrast to the increasingly industrialized and abolitionist North. The election of Abraham Lincoln as President in 1860, who was committed to preventing the expansion of slavery, was the catalyst for the secession of southern states and the formation of the Confederate States of America.

The conflict was the deadliest in American history, claiming the lives of over 600,000 soldiers and leaving deep scars on the nation. The war led to the emancipation of millions of enslaved African Americans and set the stage for the long and difficult process of Reconstruction, during which the country grappled with integrating the formerly enslaved population into American society and rebuilding the war-torn South.

The American Civil War not only determined the survival of the Union but also shaped the future of the United States, laying the groundwork for its emergence as a unified, modern nation. The war's legacy continues to influence American society, politics, and race relations to this day, making it one of the most significant events in U.S. history.

Economic Causes

1. Slavery as an Economic Institution

Slavery was the cornerstone of the Southern economy, which was predominantly agrarian and relied heavily on the labour-intensive cultivation of cash crops like cotton, tobacco, and sugar. Enslaved African Americans provided the labour force that sustained these large plantations, and the wealth of the Southern elite was directly tied to the institution of slavery.