A common statement about the United States Civil War is that the war was not necessarily about slavery, but centered around state’s rights. What might a historian say in response to this idea to most accurately and historically explain what the war was about?
Educators spend a lot of time thinking about this question and how to respond, especially when the question is coming from a child - who was told the information from their parent. Teaching Tolerance, a resource group out of the Southern Poverty Law Center, has created a podcast with historians that explore how to teach American slavery. The first episode explicitly answers your question and cites primary sources you may find helpful and serves as a supplement to /u/Georgy_K_Zhukov's detailed response.