The Reasons for the Outbreak of Civil War (1859-1861)

The Role of Slavery in the Civil War

While this era is rife with numerous complex issues, slavery remains at the heart of the causes for the outbreak of the American Civil War. It was a divisive issue that pitted the agricultural South, which heavily depended on slave labour, against the industrialized North.
The commitment of the South to maintain and extend slavery led to the concept of secession. The desire to separate from the Union was rooted in the South’s determination to protect its economic investment in slavery and the ideological and social systems that supported it.

Political Conflict and the Election of 1860

The Election of 1860 was marked by a split in the Democratic Party between Northern Democrats and Southern Democrats, largely over the issue of slavery in the territories. The divide allowed Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln to win the presidency with only 40% of the popular vote.
Lincoln’s victory was deeply unsettling for Southern states, who viewed him as a radical abolitionist. His election was the immediate trigger for secession, leading South Carolina, followed by six other states, to leave the Union before he took office.

The Failure of Compromise

Failed compromises contributed to the impending war. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Compromise of 1850 couldn’t suppress the divisive slavery issue, while the Kansas-Nebraska Act only rekindled the debate over slavery in the territories.
The Supreme Court also fuelled sectional tensions with the Dred Scott decision of 1857, which ruled that Congress had no authority to exclude slavery in the territories, an affront to many in the North.

Violence and the Breakdown of Mutual Understanding

Alongside the political disagreements, physical violence like Bleeding Kansas and the brutal assault on Senator Charles Sumner reflected the deep division and animosity on the issue of slavery.
Events granted both sides a perception of the other as an existential threat, with the South fearing for their economy and way of life and the North growing increasingly repelled by what they saw as a Southern slave power.

Revision of these events and concepts are vital in understanding the reasons that led the American Republic towards the crisis and eventually the Civil War. Revisit these points, linking them to other topics in this module for a comprehensive view of this pivotal chapter in American history.