This free 4th grade social studies worksheet explains the key causes of the American Civil War with a reading passage and comprehension questions.
The American Civil War began in 1861. There were several causes. The biggest issue was slavery. Southern states wanted to keep slavery legal because their economy depended on it. Northern states wanted to stop slavery from spreading to new territories. When Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860, many Southern states were angry. Lincoln opposed the spread of slavery. Eleven Southern states decided to leave the United States and form their own country called the Confederate States of America. The North, called the Union, refused to let them go. The result was a war that lasted four years.
The causes of the Civil War are a core 4th grade social studies topic. This worksheet helps students understand the political and moral conflicts over slavery, states' rights, and the election of Abraham Lincoln.