The American Civil War, which took place from 1861 to 1865, was a major conflict that resulted in the deaths of over 600,000 Americans. While many different factors contributed to the outbreak of the war, the actions of several key individuals ultimately played a significant role in starting the conflict.

One of the most prominent figures associated with the start of the Civil War was Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. Lincoln, a member of the newly formed Republican Party, was elected in 1860 on a platform that opposed the expansion of slavery into the western territories. His election caused several southern states to secede from the Union, leading to the formation of the Confederate States of America and the outbreak of war.

Another key individual who played a role in starting the Civil War was Jefferson Davis, who served as the President of the Confederate States of America. Davis, a former US Senator from Mississippi, was an

advocate for states' rights and believed that the southern states had the right to secede from the Union. His leadership in the Confederate government helped to solidify the secession movement and ultimately led to the start of the war.

The issue of slavery was also a major factor in starting the Civil War. The southern states had long relied on slavery to support their agricultural economy, while many in the northern states opposed the institution of slavery. As tensions over slavery increased in the years leading up to the war, it became clear that a resolution would have to be reached through political or military means.

One of the events that pushed the country closer to war was the raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859, carried out by the abolitionist John Brown. Brown and his followers attempted to start a slave rebellion by seizing a federal armory, but the raid was quickly put down by the US military. While Brown's actions were ultimately unsuccessful, they served to further inflame tensions between the North and South.

The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 was another key event that led to the start of the Civil War. Many in the South saw Lincoln's election as a threat to their way of life and feared that his policies would undermine the institution of slavery. As a result, several southern states seceded from the Union in protest, setting the stage for the outbreak of war.

In addition to political and social factors, there were economic factors that contributed to the start of the Civil War. The southern states relied heavily on the export of agricultural products, particularly cotton, to foreign markets. The North was more industrialized and benefited from protective tariffs that supported domestic manufacturing. These economic differences created further divisions between the North and South and helped to fuel the conflict.

Ultimately, it was a combination of all these factors that led to the start of the American Civil War. While individual actions by key figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis played a significant role in starting the conflict, it was the broader cultural, political, and economic differences between the North and South that ultimately led to the outbreak of war. The Civil War would go on to be one of the bloodiest conflicts in American history, but it also set the stage for the end of slavery and the reunification of the country