Final answer:
The cause of the Civil War that does NOT belong in the list is 'Northern independence'. Key factors were economic disputes, slavery, sectionalism, and westward expansion. Tensions had been rising for decades, culminating with the South's secession following Lincoln's election, and finally the outbreak of war at Fort Sumter.
Step-by-step explanation:
All of the following are causes of the Civil War EXCEPT Northern independence. The American Civil War was largely over control of economic rules, slavery, and cultural norms. Both the Northern and Southern states saw themselves as American, but with different views on whether control should be local or centralized, particularly on matters such as slavery.
Sectionalism, referring to the different economies, social structure, customs, and political values that developed between the North and the South, significantly contributed to the war. Furthermore, westward expansion exacerbated the divide, as battles emerged over whether new territories should permit slavery, affecting both economic interests and political power.
Despite Abraham Lincoln's election being a catalyst, the Civil War was not solely caused by it. The sectional divisions had been widening for decades, influenced by factors such as the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the formation of the Confederate States of America following Lincoln's victory, all leading to the conflict that erupted at Fort Sumter.