Introduction

Question 1

background

Answer 1

By 1861 sectional loyalties between the North and South had completely dissolved. The victory of Abraham Lincoln and the Republicans, an anti-slavery party, in the 1860 presidential election had led to the secession of several Southern states, which would go on to create the Confederacy under its new president, Jefferson Davis. Attempts at compromise were proposed, however these failed, and the first shots of the American Civil War were fired in 1861, when confederate forces fired on Northern troops stationed at Fort Sumter in Charleston Bay.

Question 2

factors

Answer 2

Some historians including James McPherson argue that the economic differences between the North and South was the main reason for the outbreak of civil war. Others, like James Ford Rhodes argue that the main reason for the outbreak of civil war was the slave power conspiracy. Finally, historians like Hugh Tulloch argue that the collapse of the 2nd party system was the main reason for the outbreak of civil war in 1861. James Randall argues it was a bludering generation of politicians.

Question 3

line of argument

Answer 3

This essay will argue that it was in fact the existence of a slave power conspiracy that was the main reason for the outbreak of Civil War because it influenced the other factors.