1. The document provides an overview of several key events and issues leading up to the American Civil War, including the growth of industry in the North, the Mexican-American War and acquisition of territory, the discovery of gold in California, the Dred Scott decision, the rise of the abolitionist movement, and increasing tensions over the issue of slavery. 2. Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860 on the Republican ticket, whose victory alarmed the southern states and led to the secession of seven states before Lincoln even took office and the start of the Civil War. 3. The document examines multiple perspectives on slavery and the factors that led the nation to the brink of war over the issue of states' rights and the future