The Civil War was a war fought in the United States from 1861 to 1865 between two countries: the Union,which was the North, and the Confederate States of America, which was the South. The War was caused by many factors that created tension between the North and the South. The Civil War was caused by Ostend Malfesto, by Lincoln's presidency, and by the secession of the southern states. The Ostend Manifesto was a document secretly written by American diplomats in 1854 at Ostend, Belgium. (Ostend Maifesto, 1) This document was a plan to aquire the island of Cuba from Spain. American expansionalists believed Americans had no right to obtain Cuba. The diplomatsm, such as Pierre Soule, James Mason, and James Buchana were advocates for slavery and expansion. The diplomats threatened Spain by claiming if Spain didn't sell Cuba to the Unites States, that the diplomats will take Cuba by force. The diplomats were not authorized to make such a threat. This caused the rejection of England, France, and Spain. Once the word leaked about Ostend Manfesto, Northern states caused controversy and were outraged. Northeners believed Ostend Manfesto was a document that extended slavery throughout the United States. The South, obviously, …show more content…
The Democrat Party was split into two: the North and South. The Northern states elected Stephen A. Douglas. The Southern elected John C. Breckinridge. As for the Republican Party, a newly-formed and anti-slavery party, the people elected Abraham Lincoln. On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln became president of the United States. The Southern states were disappointed, considering they didn't have Lincoln's name on their ballot. The South were afraid Lincoln would abolish slavery. Because Lincoln won presidency, South Carolina decided to secede from the Union. This caused many states to soon follow in their footsteps. Thus, creating tension between the the North and the