From a Constitutional standpoint, what was the Civil War about?

Question

From a Constitutional standpoint, what was the Civil War about?

Answer 1

First, in response to the above person, it is secession, not succession..

constitutionally it is harder to define the "why" of the American Civil War, but the main basis could be pointed to State Sovereignty or State's Rights, which  ties in with the tenth amendment.  Pro slavery factions said that state's rights allowed for protection of slave property no matter where they moved (which is why the Dred Scott case is so important when you study the Civil War).  Abolitionists said that non slave state's rights were violated when slave owners brought their slave property into them.

Here is the preamble of the Confederate Constitution, it may help frame this for you:

"We, the people of the Confederate States, each State acting in its sovereign and independent character..."

Answer 2

Slavery was a part of it, yes, but it was more about the South's succession. Which, by the Constitution, could be recognized as an insurrection or rebellion.

Answer 3

Abolishing slavery and to unite the United States again.  The misconception about the ending of slavery is that blacks had it better.  Actually the blacks had it worse.  They had no education, no money and no job skills.  No one would loan them money to purchase a farm, no one would hire a black person.  When they were slaves they at least had a shelter, clothes and food.

Answer 4

Reason for the Civil War: the south wanted slaves because their economy depended on it.

Maybe it was about the right of (white) men to pursue happiness.

Answer 5

State rights.