Final answer:
The cause of the Civil War in 1850 was slavery in new territories. The ultimate cause between 1851-1860 was the divide between Northern and Southern states.
Step-by-step explanation:
A cause of the Civil War in 1850 was the issue of slavery in the newly acquired territories from the Mexican-American War. The Compromise of 1850 attempted to address this issue but ultimately only delayed the conflict. The ultimate cause of the Civil War that occurred between 1851 and 1860 was the growing sectional divide between the Northern and Southern states based on their economic and social differences, with slavery being the primary point of contention.
Learn more about Causes of the Civil War