Essay on Cause of the American Civil War - 1732 Words

The cause of the American Civil War has been a politicized subject for the past 152 years. There are many different theories for what the main cause is, however the best answer is an all of the above approach. The cause of the war that divided the nation cannot be narrowly defined into a single issue but each cause is affected and tied together. The main causes that resulted in the Civil War were the issue of nullification, tariffs, but most importantly just an overall difference in their ways of life. Yes, slavery was a cause of the war, but that was not one of the central causes that popular belief has engrained in us all, however, the role that slavery had will be discussed. These reasons all-fed off each other, which eventually†¦show more content†¦Most of the enlisted men who fought and died overwhelmingly said on both sides stated that the preservation or abolition of slavery was not the main cause of the war. James McPhearson’s book, For Causes and Comrad es: Why Men fought in the Civil War, highlights these causes, and stated, â€Å"Relatively few Union volunteers mentioned the slavery issue when they enlisted† . McPhearson uses letters written home or diaries as his example and most do not touch upon the issue. The question of slavery truly became important after the Emancipation Proclamation, in 1862-3. The North started to string victories together, moved further down south, and they witnessed slavery firsthand. That is when the average Union soldier began to care about the issue of slavery, well into 1863. The reason why most men enlisted in the Union in 1861 was for one major reason, that was patriotism and keeping the spirit of 1776 alive. The Northern view on the spirit of 1776 was the goal of preserving the Union that was created by the Founding Fathers. As one Yankee Volunteer declared, â€Å"I do feel that the liberty of the world is placed in our hands to defend and if we are overcome then farewell to freedom† . Union soldiers believed and fought for the idea that America continued to be the last best hope for freedom. The soldiers believed that a defeat would weaken America’s perception by EuropeansShow MoreRelatedCauses Of The American Civil War760 Words   |  4 PagesThe Civil War was one of the most momentous and pivotal periods in U.S history. After decades of tension between the North and South over matters involving expansion, slavery, and the states rights these caused the beginning of a horrific devastating time known as the American Civil War, that lasted between 1861-1865. Within these 4 long barbaric and destructive years, it led to an innumerous amount of political, social, and economical changes for the U.S. Leaving 2.4 million dead and millionsRead MoreCause Of The American Civil War1403 Words   |  6 Pagesdebates on the causes of the American Civil War. Many have stated that slavery was the primary cause for the Civil War. Some historians have argued that there were other causes of the Civil War. The one thing that all historians agreed upon was the division between the North (known as the Union) and the South (known as the Confederacy) that escalated on the soil of the United States of America (In Stampp, 1965). 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WhileRead MoreThe Ultimate Causes Of The American Civil War941 Words   |  4 PagesThe American Civil War was a war fought within the United States of America between the North (Union) and the South (Confederacy) The war was one of the most critical events in American history. â€Å"It is estimated that 623,000 soldiers died during the Civil War†(Garrison) starting from 1861 and ending in 1865. While many still debate the ultimate causes of the Civil War, author James McPherson writes that, The Civil War started because of uncompromising differences between the free and slave statesRead MoreCauses of the American Civil War Essay1181 Words   |  5 PagesThe Civil War was caused by a myriad of conflicting pressures, principles, and prejudices, fueled by sectional differences and pride, and set into motion by a most unlikely set of political events. 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Introduction to Civil War The American Civil War was a war within the United States of America fought by the North (Union) and the South (Confederacy) starting from 1861 and ending in 1865. This war was one of the most devastating events in American history, consuming more than 600,000 lives. It was thought to be one that molded the character of the American individual today. This war was seen as a War for Southern Independence or War of Rebellion for the