> (The cultural divergence caused by different economic systems was arguably the main cause of the Civil War.) Arguably, sure. One can argue anything. But that

> (The cultural divergence caused by different economic systems was arguably the main cause of the Civil War.) Arguably, sure. One can argue anything. But that argument would be incorrect and intellectually dishonest. Cultural divergence did not cause different economic systems, quite the opposite, in fact: the different economic systems caused the cultural divergence. What caused the Civil War was uncompromising differences between the free and slave states over the power of the national government to prohibit slavery. It was the economics of slavery and political control of that system that was central to the conflict. States rights and territorial expansion each took a back seat to the South's obsession with protecting the institution of slavery. Though it is more complicated, in a single word that anyone can understand, slavery caused the Civil War. But one may also argue accurately that it was the election of Abraham Lincoln, who did not appear on southern ballots, that caused the War, but that is merely passing the buck. Let's not hedge here: it was slavery.