Which of the following best describes the Civil War?

The Civil War is best described as a conflict primarily over slavery because the institution of slavery was the central issue that led to deep divisions between the Northern and Southern states. The Southern economy relied heavily on slavery for agricultural production, particularly in the cotton industry, while many Northern states had movements aimed at abolishing slavery and promoting civil rights for African Americans. The tensions escalated over issues such as states’ rights, economic differences, and the moral implications of slavery, culminating in the secession of Southern states and the outbreak of war in 1861.

While there were other factors that contributed to the Civil War, such as differing economic interests and political power struggles, they were often interwoven with the issue of slavery. The war ultimately centered around the question of whether new territories would permit slavery and how to handle the growing political power of abolitionist sentiment in the North. Thus, the primary root cause of the conflict is recognized as being slavery, making it the best descriptor of the Civil War.