Final answer:
The American Civil War was caused by a profound conflict over slavery, which symbolized deeper issues of political and economic freedoms between the North and South, leading to major changes in federal and state power dynamics after the war.
Step-by-step explanation:
The central issue leading to the American Civil War was the conflict over slavery, which represented deeper disputes about political and economic freedoms and the authority between the states and the national government. Northerners and Southerners both claimed to fight for liberty and the legacy of the American Revolution, but their interpretations were sharply divided. The two conflicting positions in 19th century American society that led to the American Civil War were the northern perspective and the southern perspective. Northerners saw a vast slave power conspiracy dominating national politics, while southerners believed there was an influential abolitionist element trying to eliminate slavery throughout the country.
These differing perspectives created tensions between the North and South, ultimately leading to the war.Northerners saw slavery as a moral issue and an impediment to national progress, while Southerners believed abolition threatened their way of life and economic interests. This division was exacerbated by events such as the Dred Scott decision and Lincoln's election, culminating in an 'irrepressible conflict' as termed by William H. Seward. The Civil War resulted in profound social, political, and economic changes, shifting power towards the national government and addressing slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation and subsequent constitutional amendments.