Causes of the Civil War:

 

Slavery and the issues connected to it:

     Extension of slavery

     Federal Interference in "domestic institutions"

     Morality of slavery

 

Nature of the Union:

 

     South: Creation or “compact” of the states

 

     North: Creation of the People and therefore indivisible

 

Different Civilizations:

 

     South: static, feudalistic society dominated by small

           aristocracy of influential planter families

 

     North: more culturally and socially diverse region that

           was dynamic, changing and generally more

           democratic

 

Fanaticism by extremists who exaggerated the differences between the sides:

 

     Abolitionists projected unfair stereotypes of southern

           slave-owners

 

     Secessionists characterized abolitionists, free soilers

           and “political enemies” in Congress in the same

           way (i.e. Brooks-Sumner Affair)