The American Civil War (1861–1865) was the result of decades of escalating tension between the Northern and Southern states, primarily driven by the existence and expansion of slavery. By the mid-19th century, the North had become increasingly industrialized and favored federal authority, while the South’s economy relied heavily on a plantation system powered by enslaved labor, leading to fierce debates over states' rights. These sectional divides reached a breaking point with the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860; fearing his administration would dismantle the institution of slavery, eleven Southern states seceded to form the Confederate States of America, sparking a conflict that would fundamentally redefine the nation's legal and social fabric.
