During the Civil War, many events occurred that created a disconnect between Americans in the United States. The South believed that slave labor increased the profitability and sustainability of their economy by allowing cheap labor that lasted for a long time, while slaves could also reproduce, creating more labor cheap to come. The North, however, disagreed with the South; they did not want slaves taking American jobs and they also promoted American labor. The North and South each tried to influence the other's position on the issue of forced labor, but neither would budge. Over time, certain events led to the decline of slavery. The South recognized this and threatened to secede from the Union, widening the divide between the two. Secession is defined as: breaking away from; but for the South, it was a lever to either help them achieve what they wanted or leave the union. The admission of free states, the prohibition of the expansion of slavery, and the election of President Lincoln were important factors that led to the secession of the Southern states in 1860 and 1861. The union faced its first obstacle when the decision to admit States was made. Maine, Missouri, and the recently conquered new territories known as the Louisiana Territory each sought admission to the Union. At the time, the South led the Senate by a slim margin; Additionally, Maine was admitted as a free state, while Missouri was admitted as a slave state. It was also decided that no territory in Louisiana would allow slave labor. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 sparked backlash from both sides: Abolitionists despised the expansion of slavery in Missouri, while pro-slavery supporters wanted more land than Missouri that allowed... .. middle of paper ......weighed he chose and each state, one by one, seceded, in the hope that slavery would be preserved. Eventually slavery disappeared and the southern states became part of the union again, but not without civil war. Ultimately, the differences between North and South could only be resolved through civil war. These and other causes left the South with no viable option, in their eyes, but to secede from the union, which led to civil war. Political, societal, and philosophical conflicts combined to form the ultimate disagreement over slavery between the two regions. Overall, the admission of a disproportionate number of free and slave states into the union, preventing slavery from expanding, and the election of President Lincoln were important factors that led to to the secession of the Southern States in 1860 and 1861.