The reasons for the Civil War had to do with two large regions on the same continent, each holding different philosophies and ways of life, trying to live under one set of rules that seemed to emanate from and favor the north.

             There were distinct differences in the northern states in terms of attitudes, religion and agriculture, and these had been building since the country was first settled. The middle and New England states were building a primarily based on the of manufacture goods for trade. The agricultural states in the north and west of the Appalachians exported much of their crops to other states and to Europe. .

             In the south, the dominant way of life revolved around agriculture. The south was dependent upon slavery to produce the large amounts of cotton and tobacco it needed to export to other countries, as well as to the northern states. .

             Because the agriculture and economy was so different in the south, and because the issue of slavery was a moral one in the north, the north began pressuring the south to abolish slavery. Also, laws and bills were being passed in Congress that favored the north, and siphoned off money from the south's economy. Southern states felt isolated from the union and reacted to the hostility that was steadily sent their way by abolitionists. .

             The southern states were a minority in the Electoral College, and had lost power in Congress. When President Lincoln was elected in 1860, South Carolina seceded from the union, feeling threatened by the north's dominance and its seeming determination to destroy the southern way of life. In 1861, six other states divided themselves off from the country and formed their own, separate governments and united themselves into the "confederacy." These seven united confederate states overtook most of the remaining states that were still under the confederacy. The Northern states began gathering arms for war (Tagate).