Since the Civil War ended, thousands of great minds have attempted to ascertain the main cause or causes. A few less likely options, including the ineptness of politicians of the time and fears of government conspiracy in the South, have emerged, but they are not widely known. Because the Civil War led to the emancipation of slaves and was divided mainly between slave states and free soil states, it is a common misconception that slavery …showed first 75 words of 1254 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1254 total…most sobering reality check of all, for both sides, was the Emancipation Proclamation. Though it did not immediately free all slaves (this would take several more years), the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Lincoln after the Union "victory" at Antietam, forced Northerners and Southerners alike to face the harsh truth of their common situation--no matter which side won, there would be no chance of returning to the antebellum culture that many had taken for granted.