Two main issues that plagued America during the mid-1800s were states’ rights and slavery. Both of these issues were related though. Each state wanted to govern itself and they were upset with the way the government was making certain states slave states and free states. Both sides were trying to make both sides happy with their decisions. However, people were getting upset.
Riots and attacks were being conducted which strengthened the anger about slavery on both sides. Then in the early 1860s, there were northern troops near Charleston, SC and there were southern troops guarding a fort. The war started when the first battle at Fort Sumter. On a small island, both the North and South were shooting back and forth. No one was killed until later but the south surrendered and the war began.