Which of the following is NOT an appropriate example to use in describing a cause or effect of the US Civil War?

The choice that is not an appropriate example to use when describing a cause or effect of the US Civil War involves the claim that European immigrants were attracted to the South because of its booming economy, exacerbating tensions that led to the Civil War. This assertion is inaccurate in the context of the Civil War's causes and effects.

While it is true that the South had a strong economy largely driven by the cotton industry, the influx of European immigrants did not significantly contribute to this economic situation during the time leading up to the Civil War. Most European immigrants during this period tended to settle in the North, where industrial jobs were more plentiful, rather than moving to the South. Thus, the supposed connection between European immigration to the South and increased tensions leading to the Civil War is misleading and does not accurately reflect the historical scenario.

In contrast, the other options are supported by historical evidence. Inflation in both the North and the South during the Civil War resulted from monetary policies and the financial strain of sustaining war efforts. The Union's naval blockade effectively crippled the Southern economy by halting cotton exports to England, a key market for Southern goods. Furthermore, the decision of several states to secede from the Union following Abraham Lincoln's election was a well-documented immediate response