Why did internal improvements lead to the civil war?

Question

internal improvements such as roads, rail ways, canals.

Answer 1

It was the "War of Northern Aggression" and they were impeding on states rights...

Answer 2

The bulk of the federal tax revenue at that time came from trade tariffs on imported goods.  The South was paying the lion's share of this because of its trade relationship with Europe.  I've read that by 1860 nearly 75% of the federal tariff was collected in Southern ports.  The South argued that internal improvements benefits the people in the locality of the improvement more than the nation as a whole.  Therefore if a locality wanted a canal or a road, they should pay for it by local taxes.  The Northern states had control of Congress and were voting to pay for these improvements in Northern and Western States.  The South felt this was unconstitutional and that tax money should be spend proportionaly to where it was collected.

Answer 3

If you would define "internal improvements" it might help to answer the question.

Answer 4

Internal improvements provided the infrastructure for expanding industry and commerce, which primarily benefited the North and opened access to the newer states of the West and Mid-west. The possible development of western states as free states alarmed the South, threatening the political power it needed to protect its slave-based economy. This threat created the tensions that led to Civil War. Internal improvements also strengthened the industrial and population base of the North, giving it the advantage once war was underway.