Why Was the First American Civil War Fought? - Explained for 11-Year-Old Students

The First American Civil War, also known simply as the Civil War, was fought between 1861 and 1865. It was mainly a conflict between the Northern states (called the Union) and the Southern states (called the Confederacy).

Here are the main reasons why the war happened:

1. Slavery: The Southern states had many farms and used enslaved people to work on them. The Northern states wanted to end slavery, but the Southern states wanted to keep it.
2. States' Rights: The Southern states wanted more power to make their own laws, especially about slavery, without the federal government interfering.
3. Economic Differences: The North's economy was more based on factories and trade, while the South depended on agriculture and slavery. These differences caused disagreements.
4. Political Power: Both the North and South wanted more influence in the government, which caused tension.

When Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860, many Southern states felt worried he would try to end slavery. As a result, these states decided to leave the United States and formed their own country called the Confederate States of America. This led to fighting and started the Civil War.

So, the Civil War was mainly fought over the future of slavery and whether states could choose their own rules. It was a very important event that helped shape the United States.