American History: Causes of the Civil War

Introduction

It is important to note that the Civil War of 1861 was one of the most critical turning points in U.S. history, which fundamentally changed the direction the nation has been taking since then. The diversion of viewpoints between the North and the South reached the culmination manifested in the war. Although the war ended with a victory of the Union, it is useful to identify key causal factors preceding it. The American Civil War was mainly caused by the economic differences between the North and South.

Discussion

Firstly, although it is well-known that slavery was among the causes of the Civil War, economic differences between the North and the South were more of a fundamental factor than slaves themselves. Arrington states that “in 1860, the South was still predominantly agricultural, highly dependent upon the sale of staples to a world market. By 1815, cotton was the most valuable export in the United States.”¹ In other words, the primary cause of the Civil War began with the differential developments of the economies in the North and the South.

The detailed analysis of the source reveals that the primary cause of the Civil War began with the differential developments of the economies in the North and the South. The latter was mainly an agricultural economy dependent on manual labor to collect the crops. Black slaves played a significant role in the sustenance and maintenance of the farms. The core goods produced by the South were tobacco, cotton, and other essential crops.² However, the North was fundamentally different in its economic development, which was primarily driven by industrialization and the use of machines.

Secondly, the divide in economic development drastically impacted the political values and beliefs held in the North and the South reflected in the legislation. In 1837, John C. Calhoun gave a speech found in the primary source. He was a prominent political theorist from South Caroline who occupied key political and governmental positions throughout his career. ³ His key contributions were in the area of U.S. Army reformations and reorganizations, which made the U.S. armed forces stronger and more powerful under his leadership as a secretary of war. He stated: “I hold that in the present state of civilization, where two races of different origin … in the slaveholding States between the two, is, instead of an evil, a good—a positive good.”⁴ Thus, the differences in economy and values spilled over into differential political beliefs, where the South no longer viewed the North as their countrymen and fellow citizens.

The detailed analysis of the source shows that the economic differences created diverging narratives and interests between the North and the South, including how they viewed slavery. Slaves were important for the bottom line of the Southern farming and agricultural industries. This is the reason why Calhoun is trying to justify the practice of slavery as a ‘good’ system rather than admitting its atrocious nature. Another key detail from the speech relevant to the topic is that he attempted to appeal to the White population of the North by highlighting how races are of different origin. His statements are essentially weaponizing and normalizing racism to ensure that the economy of the South remains intact in the light of the abolitionist movement’s efforts.

Thirdly, the lack of economic dependence on slave practice by the North created the environment in which the abolitionist movement could emerge. The northerners became advocates for the abolitionism of slavery and for freeing Black people from their masters.⁵ The detailed analysis of the source indicates that slavery was ultimately at the heart of the causes of the Civil War, tied to the economy and values. The researchers explicitly found that the South used its entire bureaucratic power and influence to halt any policies or changes advocated by the abolitionists due to the devastating impact of emancipation on their agricultural sector. ⁶ Due to the massive economic interest of the South in continuing to keep the slaves, they viewed such sentiments in a negative light. Essentially, the North began viewing slavery for what it always was, which is a horrendous, inhumane, and immoral practice.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the root cause of the Civil War was economic. It created a deep divide in American society between the North and South. It was reflected in their stances on slavery and the abolitionist movement, as well as political values and beliefs. Thus, the Civil War was the tipping point of the divide in society between the North and the South due to their different values, practices, economies, political beliefs, and stances on slavery. The economic difference led to the development of incompatible values on the two fronts, where one side called the practice a positive good. The legal and political conflicts reached a culmination in a desire for secession by the South in response to the presidential victory of Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party.

Footnotes

1. Benjamin T. Arrington, Industry and Economy During the Civil War, [Washington, D.C.]: National Park Service: U.S. Department of the Interior, 2017.
2. Benjamin, Industry and Economy During, 2017.
3. John C. Calhoun, “John Calhoun On Slavery as A Positive Good,” The Online Library of Liberty, February 6, 1837, para. 2.
4. John C. Calhoun, “John Calhoun On Slavery as A Positive Good,” The Online Library of Liberty, February 6, 1837, para. 2.
5. Pavithra Suryanarayan and Steven White, “Slavery, Reconstruction, and Bureaucratic Capacity in the American South,” American Political Science Review 115, no. 2 (2020): 568-584.
6. Pavithra Suryanarayan and Steven White, “Slavery, Reconstruction, and Bureaucratic Capacity in the American South,” American Political Science Review 115, no. 2 (2020): 568-584.