The Civil War remains one of the most significant events in the history of the state of North Carolina. This conflict pitted North Carolinians against their neighbors and fellow Americans. By the end of the war it is estimated that around 40,000 North Carolinian troops had been killed in battle. We have few statistics about the cost to civilians and the amount of damage done to public and private property. In this module, students will trace the causes of the war, including the perpetuation of slavery and the assertion of states rights.  They will explore whether North Carolinians were reluctant to join the Confederacy and the political events that ultimately led the state to secede from the Union.