Slavery Caused the Civil War''I do not wish to conceal my opinions concerning the institution of slavery. I consider this a great evil... A house divided against itself cannot stand. Abraham Lincoln said this while running for U.S. senator, including his views on the slavery conflict between the North and South. The United States had a great conflict between the north and south of the country over the belief in slavery and whether slaves should be free or not. This conflict took place from 1861 to 1865. Two events leading to the Civil War that slavery caused were the Missouri Conflict and the election of President Lincoln. Slavery was the root cause of the Civil War due to the conflict between the North and South centered on slavery beliefs. In 1818, the Territory of Missouri applied to join the United States as a slave state. This raised the question of whether slavery would expand into this new territory, both for and against a slave state that threatened the unity of the country. President Jefferson wrote letters to friends, including one to Hugh Nelson in 1820, saying: “The Missouri question is the most serious that has ever threatened our union. In the darkest moments of the Revolutionary War, I never had apprehensions equal to those which I feel in regard to this" to which I have been sent. This comment by Jefferson showed how Jefferson viewed conflict and how even the Revolutionary War did not compare to the unity of the nation. The Missouri Conflict became a major issue, and many members of Congress refused to allow Missouri to be admitted as a slave state. The economically supportive South was particularly furious at an idea from Congressman Tallmadge who disliked slavery and proposed that Missouri could enter as slaves...... middle of paper ...... economic progress and national policies. During the southern battle between the states, rights, meaning the power and decisions a state would have, were decided by the decision to secede. The differences between the north and the south grew because of the power and opinions that each side received and brought to the table. Even though people believe that the Civil War was caused, in some way, by states' rights, by differences over slavery. Tensions between the sides were high, leading to civil war, but all were caused by their conflicts over slavery moving to the new and expanding territories. Slavery was the reason both sides fought if slavery was to exist and led to secession and civil war. The Civil War was caused by conflict between the North and South over the rights and political power of the state over slavery. Slavery was the