The Civil War

The Civil War, the worst war in our nation’s history, was caused by two major factors and those were the economic and social differences between the North and South (Stewart, 2005). Many other factors like the election of Abraham Lincoln, the division of States rights vs. Federal rights, and the growth of the abolition movement followed (Brinkley, 2009). Almost immediately after Lincoln’s election, a disunion crisis was upon the country. However, prior to 1861, tension was mounting between the North and South as the differences in opportunity, economic strategy and social climate became increasingly different. In 1793 Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin and further boosted the cotton demand. This machine was able to reduce the time it took to separate seeds from the cotton (Stewart, 2005). However, at the same time the increase in the number of plantations willing to move from other crops to cotton meant the greater need for slaves. So, the southern economy became a one crop economy, depending on cotton which thrived on slavery. During this time, the economy of the North was based more on industry. In fact, many in the North were purchasing raw cotton from the South and turning it into finished goods. This disparity between the two set up a major difference in economic attitudes. The South still rooted in tradition was holding on to the plantation system while the North was focused on changes which lead to city life. This change in the North meant that society evolved as people of different cultures and classes were forced to work together (Brinkley, 2009). The South, unwilling to change, held onto the old ways of social order. It was this divide that sparked the worst war in our nation’s history. On April 12, 1861, at dawn, the Confederate batteries in the harbor opened fire (Stewart, 2005).

Brinkley, A. (2009). The unfinished nation: A concise history of the American people, (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw