A Marxist interpretation of the U.S. Civil War would likely emphasize which factor aside from slavery?

A Marxist interpretation of the U.S. Civil War focuses on the economic structures and class relations that shaped the conflict. The emphasis on the conflicting economic goals of industrial and agrarian capitalists is significant because it highlights how the interests of the northern industrial economy and the agrarian economy of the South were at odds, ultimately contributing to the outbreak of war.

In this view, the North represented a burgeoning industrial capital seeking markets and resources, while the South relied on a plantation system dependent on slave labor. The clash between these economic paradigms created tensions not just over slavery but over economic policies, trade, and the future direction of the nation. This interplay of economic interests reflects a core Marxist principle that economic factors drive social and political change.

While other options highlight relevant factors, they do not capture the core economic struggle that a Marxist perspective would emphasize. The dynamics of class and the interests of different capitalist systems are central to understanding the motivations behind the conflict and its broader implications for American society.