What were some of the key issues that contributed to the Civil War?

The Civil War, which took place from 1861 to 1865, was primarily driven by the profound and contentious issues of slavery and states' rights. At the heart of the conflict was slavery, as the Southern states relied heavily on an economic system that depended on enslaved labor for their agricultural economy, particularly in cotton production. Meanwhile, the Northern states were moving toward industrialization and had increasingly adopted anti-slavery sentiments.

States' rights played a critical role as well, as many Southern states believed they had the right to govern themselves and make their own decisions regarding the legality of slavery. This created a tension between state sovereignty and federal authority, particularly when the federal government began to take steps toward abolishing slavery or limiting its expansion into new territories.

These two factors, intertwined with economic interests and cultural differences, set the stage for a conflict that would ultimately culminate in the Civil War.