The American Civil War: A Fated Battle

A Fated Battle It is in human nature to have a different viewpoint from someone else. However, different viewpoints normally leads to a dispute between individuals. Disputes can range from as simple as debating on which football team is better, to more pensive economical and political issues. A prominent example is the American Civil War. The American Civil War is a result of a dispute between the northern and southern states of America. The southern states were intimidated by the northern states gaining more power and they also feared the abolishment of slavery. As a result, the southern states withdrew from the union to establish their own independent confederation known as, the Confederate State of America. These events triggered …show more content…
The majority of the economy’s wealth was invested in slaves and slave labor. With this said, who would want to give up their most profitable source of income without a fight? On the other hand, Abraham Lincoln as well as the northern states strongly opposed the expansion of slavery. Abraham Lincoln’s letter to the south states that, “I suppose, however, this does not meet the case. You think slavery is right and ought to be extended, while we think it is wrong and ought to be restricted. That I supposed is the rub. It certainly is the only substantial difference between us.” This is evidence that both groups could not accommodate each other’s differences. The northern states also felt that their economy was threatened by the southern states. This is because the south was responsible for approximately sixty percent of the US export therefore, the south leaving the union could lessen the northerners control over the southern …show more content…
As a matter of fact, by the 1860s, the northern states became a more industrialized and manufacturing economy. At this time, the northern states produced over 90 percent of the country’s output. However, the Southern states did not convert to this industrialized era. The south remained substantially loyal to an agrarian economy. Henceforth, slavery was still a key component towards the south’s economic wealth. More importantly, at this time, the country’s factories and banks together were no match for the economic value of slaves. Therefore, even though the northern states were able to incorporate and utilize the industrial era, the southern states remained predominant to an agricultural economic which was still in need of slaves and slave labor. The disagreement between the two states could not be settled without an armed conflict. As a matter of fact, both groups tried to avoid the war but it was inevitable. For example, the 1820’s Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850 were put in place to solve the issue of slave expansion in western territories. Unfortunately, neither of these compromise were able to prevent the war. The southern states were determined to leave the union. However, they were not able to leave peacefully because states have no right to secede under the