Since the end of the American Civil War in 1865, more than a century later, many historians are still debating what the precise cause of the war was. Depending on who you discuss the heated issue with, everyone may come to a different conclusion. However, there are three main/general cases that most people agree played a role in this bloody war between the people of a nation, which include slavery, pre-battles (including Bleeding Kansas, and the Raid by John Brown) and the election of President Lincoln. First, a common assumption explaining the cause of the American Civil War was that the North no longer wanted to tolerate slavery in the United States. Therefore, most people can agree that slavery was the central key issue from which the other causes stemmed. The key question regarding slavery was whether or not it should exist or whether it was actually necessary for the nation's success. Many Southerners relied on slaves for their agricultural labor, including the “Southern cotton boom that rested on the backs of slaves, who grew 75 percent of the crop on plantations, working in gangs in large fields under the direct supervision of whites.” (American Promise, 2009). In contrast, Northerners had no need for slaves because their economy was based primarily on manufacturing and exporting. Since American's founding, the issue of slavery has come up many times, resulting in compromises that attempted to please both sides. The North believed that slavery was morally corrupt, while those in the South believed it was essential to their livelihood. This dispute was also fueled by the nation's thirst to expand new territories. When the new territory was conquered, the question arose whether the new state would be a slave state... middle of paper... and the last major issue leading to the outbreak of the Civil War was the election of the Republican president. Lincoln in 1860, which increased the fiery debate and ultimately led to secession between the states. Abraham Lincoln believed and made it known that he thought that “slavery was evil… that [every man] had a right to liberty and to the fruits of his labor” (PowerPoint). Many Southerners (including the Whig Party) feared that President Lincoln, if elected, would outlaw slavery altogether. Because of this dispute, Southern states (including South Carolina) began the process of secession wanting to make a political statement. This claim, however, resulted in a war in which the Northern and Western states and territories fought to preserve the Union, and the South fought to establish the South's independence as a new confederation of states with its own constitution..