RCM Level 9 History Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

The main cause of the American Civil War was the conflict over slavery and states' rights. This issue became increasingly divisive during the years leading up to the war, as different regions of the United States developed distinct economic, social, and political systems. In the Southern states, the economy relied heavily on agriculture and slave labor, while the Northern states moved towards industrialization and often held anti-slavery sentiments.

The debate over whether new territories and states admitted to the Union would allow slavery intensified tensions. Southern states believed in the rights of states to govern themselves, including the right to decide on the legality of slavery. This belief in states' rights often came into conflict with federal authority and the growing abolitionist movement in the North.

As issues surrounding slavery became more pronounced, the election of Abraham Lincoln, who opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories, prompted several Southern states to secede from the Union, ultimately leading to the outbreak of war. Therefore, the war can be fundamentally understood as a struggle over the future of slavery in America and the balance of power between state and federal governance.