The Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865 and led to over 618,000 people dead. Here are the 3 main causes I think lead to the civil war, Social differences, growth of the abolition movement, and the election of Abraham Lincoln.
1. Economic and social differences between the North and the South.
With the invention of the cotton gin in 1793, cotton became very profitable. This machine was able to reduce the time it took to separate seeds from the cotton. However, at the same time the increase in the number of plantations willing to move from other crops to cotton meant the greater need for a large amount of cheap labor. That’s where slaves came in. The southern economy became a one crop economy, depending on cotton and therefore on slavery. On the other hand, the northern economy was based more on industry than plantations. In fact, the northern industries were purchasing the cotton and turning it into finished goods. This set up a major difference in economic belief.
2. Growth of the Abolition Movement.
Even more the northerners became more against slavery. Sympathy began to grow for abolitionists and against slavery and slaveholders. This occurred especially after some major events including: Uncle Tom’s Cabin and the Dred Scott Case, and the passage of the fugitive slave act that held individuals responsible for harboring fugitive slaves even if they were located in non-slave states.
3. The election of Abraham Lincoln.
When Lincoln was elected in 1860, South Carolina issued its Declaration of the Causes of Secession. They believed that Lincoln was anti-slavery and in favor of Northern interests. Before Lincoln was even president, seven states had pulled away from the Union: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.