Elementary Lessons | Causes of the Civil War

In this elementary history lesson, explore how growing disagreements between the North and South led to one of the most important events in American history—the Civil War. Discover how differences in farming, slavery, and beliefs about states' rights caused rising tension across the country. Learn about key moments like the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the Dred Scott decision, and how they deepened divisions. Meet important figures like Abraham Lincoln and John Brown, and see how the election of 1860 pushed the nation to the breaking point. From sectionalism to secession, this powerful story shows how conflict and courage helped shape the United States we know today.