The main reasons for the secession of
the Southern from the Union were states' rights, unfair taxation and
slavery. In general, the states that seceded felt that the laws of the
Union were unfair.
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Abolitionist groups in the North
succeeded in swaying popular opinion in favor of abolishing slavery, and
many Northern states outlawed the practice. Business interests in the
South, particularly agriculture, remained in favor of slavery because it
was advantageous to the economy of the region. The Southern states were
concerned about legal provisions that outlawed slavery in newly formed
states admitted into the Union.
Slavery was the most prominent issue in the Civil War, but it was not
the only source of the conflict. Southern states believed they deserved
more sovereignty and wanted to be able to nullify federal laws.
Southerners were also upset about taxation laws that were
disproportionately beneficial to the Northern states. A belief in
Southern nationalism also played a role for citizens with no economic
stake in defending slavery. These Southerners sided with the
Confederacy, even though they did not own slaves. Abraham Lincoln's
presidential election was also a direct trigger for secession. Seven
Southern slave states formed the Confederate States of America before
Lincoln was inaugurated.
