The Civil War The Civil War was mainly started because of the issue of slavery. The South wanted the right to have slavery in the West, but the North didn't want it to spread to the West. Since they couldn't agree they became very angry and started the war between the states. CONFEDERATE STATES OF 1861 In 1860, on December 20, South Carolina seceded from the Union. Because South Carolina was the only state that seceded, representatives from South Carolina were sent to talk to other Southern states to get them to secede from the Union and start their own country. On January 9, 1861, Mississippi seceded and then on January 10, Florida seceded, Alabam