Leading up to the Civil War

Slavery. Slavery was one of the main reasons for the start of the Civil War. The states in the north (Union) were against slavery and were trying to abolish it, whereas the southern states (Confederacy) were pro-slavery and needed slaves to work the plantations. Slaves lived in pretty bad conditions and weren't treated any better. Whole families were shoved into tiny, dirty shacks and only got small portions of food.  Many slaves would sneak away and try to catch the Underground Railroad system when it past through there town. The Underground Railroad was a railway of safe houses on secret routes that helped the slaves escape to free states or to Canada. It was all directed by, Union spy, Harriet Tubman.