Question

What was the main issue that led to the American Civil War?

Answers

GPT-4o mini
The main issue that led to the American Civil War was slavery, particularly the expansion of slavery into the newly acquired territories and states. The conflict stemmed from the differing economic, social, and political interests of the Northern and Southern states. The North, which was becoming more industrial and opposed to the expansion of slavery, clashed with the agrarian South, which depended on slave labor for its economy.

Other contributing factors included states' rights, economic differences, and political power struggles, but the central and most contentious issue was indeed slavery. The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, who was seen by Southern states as a threat to the institution of slavery, prompted several Southern states to secede from the Union, leading to the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.