More input here is welcome, but FYI, you can get started with the FAQ section The American Civil War | Causes

###The Civil War and Slavery

• Was the American Civil War about more than just slavery? by /u/Georgy_K_Zhukov

• Causes of the American Civil War? by /u/Borimi

• Civil War: Slavery or States Rights? by [deleted]

• How was slavery abolished at the end of the U.S. Civil War? by /u/Vallerius

• How was slavery abolished at the end of the U.S. Civil War? by /u/ThinMountainAir and /u/Irishfafnir

###Secession

• Multiple claims about slavery and the Civil War on the Daily Show. How accurate? by /u/turtleeatingalderman

• U.S. Civil War: To what extent did the voters in the Presidential election of 1860 believe that they were voting on keeping the country together / out of a civil war? by /u/barkevious

• How close to secession did the Union slave states come during the Civil War? by /u/Anastik

These posts have been archived, so if you have follow-up questions for any of the users therein, just ask them here and tag their username to notify them