What role did slavery play in the bringing about of the American Civil War?

Question: What role did slavery play in the bringing about of the American Civil War!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

In the years leading up to the Civil War, the biggest controversy in the U!.S!. was the debate over extending slavery into the nation's new Western territories!. Southern slave states wanted slavery in the territories so that they would eventually become slave states and send pro-slavery Senators and Representatives to Congress!. also, slavery in the West would have created a lucrative market for slaves bred on Southern plantations!. (Early in the 19th century, it had become illegal to import slaves from Africa!.)

When Abraham Lincoln won the 1860 presidential election, running on a platform that opposed the westward expansion of slavery, Southern states began seceding from the Union!. The first wave of secession began just weeks after the election, months before Lincoln took office!. Some Confederate apologists will tell you today that secession was not about slavery, but Southerners at the time said openly that slavery was the main issue driving them to leave the Union!. Confederate Vice-President Alexander Stephens said so in his notorious "Cornerstone Speech," and Southern states said so in their secession resolutions!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It simply provided the Federal Government a justification to put down the will of Southern States to form an Independent Nation!. A hard sell for a Country that was founded on the principle of the right to Self Governance!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

South - Confederates - "We want slavery!" workers will work in the cotton fields

North - Union - "Must end slavery" -!.!.!.!.!.!.ummm!.!.!.Because it's bad!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Washington D!.C!. sought to outlaw it - - -

Southern states saw it as a "States Rights" vs "Federal" issue!.

Dan in Miami next_phase@yahoo!.comWww@QuestionHome@Com