What was the primary and overriding cause of the civil war?

The primary cause of the Civil War was states rights. More specifically it was a states right to allow slavery which was a cornerstone of the Southern economy.

There were many different Causes of the Civil War between the Union of the North and the Confederacy of the South. The two major causes of the Civil War were slavery and States Rights. The economy in the south was based on the cash crop plantation system which depended on the institution of slavery whereas the economy in the north was based on manufacturing and industry and was not reliant on slaves. The south were concerned about the dominance of the northern states following the election of Abraham Lincoln and the Republican party and the possible infringement of states rights.