What was the American Civil War about?

zbeckabee

The American Civil War (1861–1865) was a sectional conflict in the United States between the Federal government ("Union") and 11 southern slave states that declared their secession and formed the Confederate States of America, led by President Jefferson Davis. The "Union", led by President Abraham Lincoln and the Republican party which opposed expansion of slavery, rejected any right of secession. Fighting began April 12, 1861 when Confederate forces attacked a Federal fort at the Battle of Fort Sumter. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_civil_war http://www.strategictransitions.com/ocausescivilwar.htm Jul 05 06, 12:05 PM

bufflehaid

It has been my understanding that although slavery was a major component, a lightning rod of emotion in the cause of the war, the basic issue was States rights vs Federal rights. http://www.civilwarhome.com/statesrights.htm Secession was based on the idea of state rights (or "states rights," a variant that came into use after the Civil War). This exalted the powers of the individual states as opposed to those of the Federal government. It generally rested on the theory of state sovereignty-- that in the United States the ultimate source of political authority lay in the separate states. Associated with the principle of state rights was a sense of state loyalty that could prevail over a feeling of national patriotism. Before the war, the principle found expression in different ways at different times, in the North as well as in the South. During the war it reappeared in the Confederacy. [Added reference - McG] Jul 05 06, 12:17 PM

Original22

It was a battle between the North (Union) and the South (Confederates). They had many differences that started the fighting, including government and slavery. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_war Dec 19 08, 8:19 AM

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What was the Civil War about? What is the official name for the American Civil War? Who was the last man to be killed in the American Civil War? Who was the first American executed for desertion since the Civil War? How many states were there during the American Civil War?

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