What was the primary cause of the Civil War?

The primary cause of the Civil War was fundamentally rooted in the issues surrounding slavery and states' rights. The institution of slavery was pivotal to the Southern economy, which relied heavily on plantation agriculture and the labor of enslaved people. This created a stark contrast to the industrialized economy of the North, which was moving toward free labor and had little economic dependence on slavery.

The debate over states' rights also intertwined with the issue of slavery, as Southern states sought to assert their right to govern themselves and maintain their social and economic systems without federal interference. This culminated in significant tensions, including the desire of Southern states to expand slavery into new territories and states as the nation grew westward. The inability to reconcile these differences led to secession movements in several Southern states and the formation of the Confederacy.

While economic disparities, tariff disagreements, and westward expansion played roles in the broader context of national tensions, they were ultimately subordinate to the core issues of slavery and the rights of states versus federal authority. These fundamental disagreements resulted in the outbreak of the Civil War, marking it as the central conflict of the era.