"The state's previous social studies standards listed three causes for the Civil War: sectionalism, states' rights and slavery, in that order." I have emphasiz

"The state's previous social studies standards listed three causes for the Civil War: sectionalism, states' rights and slavery, in that order." I have emphasized the part that shows how, while that position avoids being formally completely wrong, it fundamentally misrepresents the situation. The reality is that the only significant issues (significant enough to lead to secession), with regard to the first two causes stated here, were over slavery. We don't have to guess about motives here, because the leaders were not shy about stating clearly, on the record, what their issues were.