What was the main factor for Kentucky's involvement in the Civil War?

Kentucky’s involvement in the Civil War is primarily attributed to the state’s divided loyalties between the Union and the Confederacy. As a border state, Kentucky had a significant number of citizens with allegiances to both the North and the South, making the situation particularly complex. The state was geographically located between Union states to the north and Confederate states to the south, and its population was split in its sentiments regarding slavery and secession.

This division was reflected in the state’s political leadership, which included both Unionists and Confederates. Although Kentucky declared neutrality at the onset of the war, this stance quickly became untenable as conflicts arose and pressures mounted from both sides. The presence of both Union and Confederate forces in the state ultimately escalated the conflict, leading to Kentucky becoming a strategic military location during the war, with both sides wanting to control it due to its resources and strategic highways.

Economic factors and military strategy also played roles in the events surrounding Kentucky’s involvement, but the central issue was the allegiances formed among its citizens, which profoundly impacted the state's position and the decisions it made throughout the conflict.