‘The Cause’ of the American Civil War John Spicer judges that slavery was the key factor in producing the conflict. John Spicer | Published in History Review Issue 49 September 2004 To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive. Buy Online Access Buy Print & Archive Subscription If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.