To this day, Americans continue to debate the origins of the Civil War. Was it fought over slavery? States' rights? Tariffs? Or something else entirely? Continued public discussion about the origins, consequences, and memorialization of the war show how culturally relevant it is, with lasting implications up to the present day. While there is a general consensus that the origins of the war were complex, historians overwhelmingly agree that the primary cause of the conflict was slavery. Scholars maintain that the war was more about preserving slavery, its expansion, and white supremacy than any other single factor leading into the conflict.
This exhibit explores this conversation about Civil War causation and the role print culture has played in shaping public and national memory while using sources within our collection to highlight examples.