The issues between the North and South prior to the American Civil War were primarily economic and political in nature. The main point of contention was slavery and its expansion into new states and territories. The North, which was industrialized and relied on free labor, opposed the spread of slavery and wanted to limit its growth. The South, on the other hand, was largely agrarian and relied on slavery as an essential part of its economy. As a result, they wanted to protect and expand the institution of slavery.
Another major issue was states' rights. The South believed that states had the right to secede from the Union if they so desired, while the North maintained that the Union was indivisible and that secession was unconstitutional.
Additionally, there were also disagreements over tariffs, trade policies, and the balance of power between the federal government and the states. These issues, combined with the issue of slavery, ultimately led to the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861.