Douglas and Others on Causes of the Civil War The American Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865 and was a complex and multifaceted conflict with deep-rooted causes spanning several decades. At its core, the war was fought over the issue of slavery, which had become a large issue in American politics. However, slavery was just one of several issues that contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War. Other factors included economic and social differences between the North and South, states' rights, and the election of Abraham Lincoln as president in 1860. These factors created tensions that eventually exploded into the bloodiest conflict in American history. The causes of the civil war were important and a pivotal point in American history changing …show more content…
This speech is seen in Document 6 when Lincoln states, “ I believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free.” it showed that there needed to be a Civil War to even out the nation. Lincoln's statement that the government cannot endure half slave and half free implies that the nation must ultimately choose one path or the other. This sentiment threatened the power and interests of the southern states, which relied heavily on slave labor to maintain their economic and social systems. By suggesting that slavery was incompatible with the nation's future, Lincoln challenged the legitimacy of the South's way of life and its political power within the Union. This speech, along with other political and social factors, contributed to the growing sectionalism and deepening divide between the North and South that ultimately led to the outbreak of the Civil …show more content…
Douglass points out the stark contrast between the ideals of political freedom and natural justice espoused in the Declaration of Independence and the reality of slavery and oppression experienced by African Americans. This speech challenged the legitimacy of the South's defense of slavery and raised awareness about the need for reform and change. It also contributed to the growing sectionalism and polarization between the North and South, as the issue of slavery continued to be a point of contention between the two regions. The issue of slavery shown also in Document 7 in the depiction of the terrible conditions of slavery and how hard everyone was worked. The sentiments expressed by Douglass and other abolitionists fueled the debate over the future of slavery in America and ultimately contributed to the events that led to the outbreak of the Civil