The Civil War was one of the most devastating conflicts in American history. fought from 1861-1865, the war resulted in the death of over 600,000 soldiers and civilians. And yet, despite its importance, the causes of the Civil War are still widely debated. Was it primarily a conflict over slavery? States’ rights? Economic interests? The answer is likely all of the above. At its core, the Civil War was a battle over two very different visions of America’s future. The Confederacy wanted to maintain a society based on slave labor, while the Union sought to create an industrialized nation with free labor. This disagreement ultimately led to war. While there were many other factors that contributed to the outbreak of hostilities, these two competing visions were at the heart of the conflict.
The Civil War: Why Did It Start?
