text: who started the civil war?   that depends on how you look at it and whether or not you believe it was over slavery.  if it was over slavery, which is the opinion of some, then the south started it because they did not want to give up there "right" to own slaves.  however, there is another opinion that may ring more true.  that is that the war actually started over the north wanting the south to give up it's seperate nation attitude and join the union.  when they refused the north's request the north decided to force it.  so if that's the case then it was the north.