Question

What role did the U.S. Constitution play in the American Civil War?

1) The war was fought over a potential amendment to the constitution that would legalize slavery.
2) The war was started when Confederate troops burned a copy of the U.S. Constitution.
3) The war was fought, in part, over the relative constitutional powers of the states and the central government.
4) The war was started on the 75th anniversary of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Answer 1

The U.S. Constitution played a role in the American Civil War due to the disagreement over constitutional powers between the North and the South. The war resulted from the clash between the Southern states' preference for a weak central government to protect slavery and the Northern states' support for a stronger central government to eliminate slavery. The defeat of the South shifted the balance of power towards the national government.

Step-by-step explanation:

The U.S. Constitution played a significant role in the American Civil War as it was a central point of disagreement between the North and the South. The war was fought, in part, over the relative constitutional powers of the states and the central government. While the Southern states preferred a weak central government to protect their slave economy, the Northern states favored a stronger central government that could override state's rights and outlaw slavery nationwide. The defeat of the South in the war led to a shift in power balance towards the national government.