Final answer:
The American Civil War was largely catalyzed by economic disparities between the North and South focused on slavery, escalating slavery tensions, political disagreements highlighted by Lincoln's election, and cultural differences between the two regions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The underlying causes of the American Civil War spanned several factors. First, economic disparities predominantly stemmed from the relation between the Southern economy's dependence on slave labor for crops like cotton and tobacco, and the Northern economy's industry-focused model that did not benefit from slavery. Second, slavery tensions were significant, which escalated further with divisive events like the Dred Scott ruling and Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. Third, political disagreements came to a head with Lincoln's election, which triggered Southern states' secession. The South viewed this as an attack on their political and economic rights. Finally, cultural differences between the North and the South widened the divide, relating to contrasting views on social issues, including slavery, and different economic systems.
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