What was a primary cause of the Civil War?

The primary cause of the Civil War was slavery and economic factors. The institution of slavery was deeply embedded in the economy and social structure, particularly in the Southern states, where it supported agricultural production. The differing economic interests between the industrialized North and the agrarian South were a significant source of conflict. The Southern economy relied heavily on slave labor for its cotton and tobacco production, whereas the North was moving toward a wage labor system and industrialization.

Additionally, various political compromises leading up to the war, including the Compromise of 1850, attempted to address the tensions between free and slave states but ultimately failed to resolve the underlying issues of slavery. Events like the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott decision further inflamed tensions and contributed to the divide. Therefore, recognizing slavery and economic factors as the central issues offers a clearer understanding of why the Civil War broke out, as these elements were at the heart of the conflict between the North and the South.