American Civil War

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In 1861, the American Civil War commenced after many years of tension building between the Northern and Southern states. The main reason of the tension was said to be the debate of slavery between the North and South, and although some documents support this claim, it is false. The war had been brewing since 1607, before slavery was even introduced to the colonies that would become the United States of America. The debate of slavery did play a major part in the civil war; however it did so in supporting the true cause of the civil war. The main cause of the American Civil War was not the debate of slavery, but rather Europe’s role in the American economy.

Europe’s involvement of America’s economy can be dated as far back as Marco Polo’s expedition to China. In 1323, Marco Polo voyaged to China, a country that was obscure to the majority of Europeans. Polo depicted China to be “abound with ginger, silk, and fowl” and also stated that “there [was] vast abundance of silk and much trade.” Europe, ready to explore the new land and new resource of wealth, decided to establish thriving trades with China. After years of successful trades, new conflicts had risen when the Turkish Empire conquered Constantinople and the eastern Mediterranean, allowing the powerful Empire to gain control of all land routes to the Silk Road.

Without an access to the silk and spices they desired, Europe soon turned their interest elsewhere for a trade route. In 1492, Spanish explorers were off on an expedition in search of a westward sea route to the Indies. The expedition was led by Italian explorer Christopher Columbus who landed upon “unknown, uncharted land” in which he believed to be the Indies, but turned out to be the Americas. Columbus, believin...

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