IndexEconomic causes of the conflictEscalating the conflictConclusionThe Civil War, which took place from 1861 to 1865, is a crucial event in American history that significantly shaped American society and consolidate the national identity of the United States. Although the primary cause of the war is commonly attributed to the controversy over slavery, the factors that led to the conflict are multiple. By examining the economic and political issues that contributed to the Civil War, it becomes apparent that, although the war may have been postponed through compromise, underlying tensions between the Southern and Northern states would ultimately lead to armed conflict. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayEconomic Causes of ConflictOne of the primary causes of conflict was economic disparities between the North and the South. The rapid development of a rail network in the North left the Southern states in an economically vulnerable position (Davidson et al. 270). As a result, Southern states were heavily dependent on cotton production, which required cheap labor. Limited immigration to the Southern states further increased their reliance on slavery (Davidson et al. 273). Slavery was an integral part of the Southern economy, and without it, the region would have been at a significant disadvantage compared to the industrialized North. Therefore, as debates over slavery intensified before the Civil War, it was inevitable that the South would resist any attempt to abolish slavery. From a political perspective, the imbalance of power between North and South made the Civil War seem inevitable. Southern states believed that remaining in the Union would compromise their honor and security (Calhoun 1). Southerners feared that the North, with its dominance in banking and commerce, aimed to subjugate the South (Davidson et al. 273). Although the idea of a colonization of the South by the North was unfounded, such perceptions fueled Southern reactions to the political imbalance and further increased tensions between the two regions. The model of industrialization and trade relations between the North and the South, from which the North has largely benefited, contributed to these beliefs. Escalation of the conflict The conflict was further exacerbated by regulatory instability, which hindered the achievement of a lasting compromise. The Kansas-Nebraska Act, introduced by Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois in 1854, repealed the Missouri Compromise and intensified tensions over the issue of slavery (U.S. Senate). The act aimed to organize Nebraska territories to facilitate railroad development (Davidson et al. 273). However, to gain the support of Southern senators, Douglas had to explicitly address the issue of slavery by repealing the Missouri Compromise (Davidson et al. 273). Although this decision was risky due to growing tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups, Douglas prioritized the development of east-west railroads. The act created two territories, Kansas and Nebraska, where the status of slavery would be determined by popular sovereignty (Davidson et al. 274). This led to an influx of pro-slavery and anti-slavery activists into both territories, resulting in violent episodes known as Bleeding Kansas (Davidson et al. 276). These events further intensified the divide between the North and the South, culminating in the election of Abraham Lincoln and the subsequent secession of eleven Southern states (Liu 68). Please note: this is just an example. Get.
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