Final answer:
The issue of slavery, particularly its expansion into new territories, led to increased tensions between the North and South, culminating in the Civil War following the election of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln's initial goal to preserve the Union transformed into a fight to abolish slavery, leading to the eventual defeat of the Confederacy and the end of slavery in the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Role of Slavery in Leading to the Civil War
The period from 1848 to 1861 was marked by escalating tensions over slavery, which became a central issue leading to the Civil War. The 1860 election of Abraham Lincoln signaled a turning point, as his platform opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories. This position, along with fears that Republicans would adopt radical anti-slavery measures, led Southern states to secede, forming the Confederate States of America. The Civil War broke out in 1861, with the initial goal of preserving the Union. Over time, the conflict evolved into a struggle to abolish slavery. The North's economic and political advantages contributed to its victory and the eventual end of slavery in the United States.
Slavery was intimately tied to the South's economy and was presumed an essential for sustaining agricultural production. As the Union expanded westward, the question of whether new states would be free or slave-holding heightened the division. The Republican Party's success in keeping slavery out of these new territories was perceived by Southern states as a threat to their way of life, exacerbating the divide. Events like John Brown's raid amplified the tensions and increased the likelihood of conflict.
Throughout this period, various efforts to compromise and avoid war, such as the Crittenden proposal and the Corwin amendment, failed. While President Lincoln's initial priority was the preservation of the Union, the war ultimately transformed into a decisive struggle against slavery. With the Emancipation Proclamation and the eventual defeat of the Confederacy, slavery was abolished, ending the primary cause of division between the North and the South.