Causes Of The American Civil War

The American Civil War was a turning point for America’s future. The issues it dealt with were between the existing states in America that were divided: The North and the South. The causes of the war were a variety of issues that involved differences of opinions. Causes included: economic and social differences, states vs. federal rights, opinions on slave and non-slave states, a growth of an abolition movement, and the election of Abraham Lincoln. The major cause was the question of what would be done involving slavery in new territories.

The economic and social differences between the North and South was a proponent of the Civil War. The South relied on cotton as a cash crop, and cotton was a majority of all the crops produced. Producing

Once Lincoln was elected North Carolina said they were seceding. They believed that he was against slavery, and that he favored the North. Southern states believed they could leave the Union because of the Declaration of Independence. Abraham Lincoln said, “A house divided itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved- I do not expect the House to fall- but I do expect I will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other.” This quote was a foreshadowing of the Civil War. The North viewed the election of Lincoln as a vote for moderation toward the issue of slavery, and a vote for the belief in the Union. The South felt they no longer had a voice in the national government, and did not see how it could remain in the Union. Lincoln won the election without any support, or votes from any Southern state. The disagreements on his beliefs between the North and South lead to the war, which was a year after his election (The History

Lee evaluated his army, and decided to attack the Federals. He ordered one general to attack on the left, and another to attack the right. This day consisted of very bloody confrontations, and both sides had casualties of 9,000 or more. These first two days of The Battle of Gettysburg tolled up a massive number of 35,000 casualties, the largest casualty toll of the war. The remaining days of the battle also consisted of fighting (The History Channel).

The last day of the battle was unsuccessful for the Confederates. Lee wanted to continue his attacks on the Union, and the one on the final day was called “Pickett’s Charge.” After three days of fighting, and no victorious defeat of the North, Lee waited for a counter attack on July 4th. The North were elated after the battle and the South were mourning. The hopes for their own recognition was crushed (The History Channel).

The Civil War ended by the Confederate army surrendering to the Union. Robert E. Lee surrendered his Northern Virginia army to Ulysses S. Grant. There were still Confederate forces that had not surrendered, some large and some small. The Grant and Lee agreement was an example for the rest of the surrenders, and was also a sign that the South had lost the war