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Civil War and Reconstruction

The causes of the Civil War were diverse, despite the institution of slavery typically being viewed as the main cause of the war by a majority of Americans unfamiliar with other issues of the time. One of the biggest differences was the growing economic differences between the increasingly industrial North and the agrarian South. Even though the North relied on the cotton of the South for production, the plantation organization of Southern society relied on slave labor and undermined urbanization and maintained antiquated class divisions.

Another cause of the Civil War stemmed from the evolution of a relatively new nation that was still determining the nature of power relations between the states and federal government. Some states still argued they should not have to accept federal acts if they chose not to do so, but the federal government would not permit states this right. Since states were denied the ability to nullify federal acts, the motivation to move toward secession was laid.

Another major issue that led to the Civil War was the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency. Before Lincoln was voted president seven states had already left the Union. However, other states, especially those in the South, viewed Lincoln as pro-abolition and partial to the industrial and other interests of the North. Tensions over slavery were building between North and South and many felt Lincoln wanted to free the slaves though his main goal in taking office was to prevent more states from seceding from the Union.

Another issue that helped pave the path to Civil War was the expansion of U.S. territories west. Some, like David Wilmot, went so far as to propose banning slavery in the newly acquired states which were attractive to Southern farmers looking for more acreage. This turned into a major conflict between salve and non-slave state proponents. At the same time this was occurring, the a...

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Civil War and Reconstruction. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 06:40, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/2001015.html