The period leading up to the American Civil War is often referred to as the Antebellum period. “Antebellum” is a Latin term meaning “before the war.” During this time, various social, economic, and political tensions were brewing between the Northern and Southern states over issues such as slavery, states’ rights, and the expansion of slavery into new territories. These tensions ultimately erupted into open conflict with the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.
