What was the main cause of the Civil War?

The main cause of the Civil War was rooted in the disputes over slavery and states' rights. At the heart of the conflict was the institution of slavery, which was a deeply entrenched aspect of the Southern economy and society. The Northern states, many of which were moving towards abolition and a more industrialized economy, increasingly opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories and states. This conflict was exacerbated by differing views on states' rights, particularly the Southern belief that states should have the authority to make their own laws regarding slavery and other issues without federal interference.

As abolitionist sentiments grew in the North and tensions increased over whether new states admitted to the Union would be free or slave states, these disputes led to heightened sectionalism. Events such as the Missouri Compromise, the Dred Scott decision, and John Brown's raid further inflamed the situation, leading to the South's perception that their way of life was under threat. This culmination of factors ultimately resulted in the Southern states seceding from the Union and the onset of the Civil War, making the disagreements over slavery and states' rights the central issues that ignited the conflict.