Some Major Causes of the Civil War

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Sectionalism: The growing differences between the North and the South

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States rights: The belief that states had certain rights….even above the national government!

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Slavery: The South depended on slavery as their way of life. Many northerners were “abolitionists” and wanted to abolish, or do away with, slavery

The book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin: This book by Harriet Beecher Stowe caused great controversy about the condition of slavery!

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Dred Scott v. Sanford: The Supreme Court stated in this decision that slaves were property and had no rights as citizens!

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Election of Abraham Lincoln: This was the “final straw” for the Southerners. Lincoln was a Republican and southerners felt he was going to do away with slavery!

Secession: After Lincoln’s election, the southern states began to secede, or remove themselves, from the union.

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