Causes of the American Civil War

Before we begin…. When do you think people know that a country is going to war? What is a Civil War? Is there an UnCivilized War?

Missouri Compromise of 1820 The Missouri Territory requested admission into the Union as a slave state, which would upset balance in Congress between slave and free states. Henry Clay—comes up with a plan 1. Missouri admitted as a slave state 2. Maine admitted as a free state.

Added an amendment to the law:  An imaginary line was drawn through the Louisiana Territory  Made a boundary between free and slave regions

Missouri Compromise of 1820 Compare the land area of the territory closed to slavery by the Missouri Compromise to the land area in open to slavery by the Missouri Compromise. Which had the most land area?

Nullification Crisis Nullify means to ignore In 1832, South Carolina said they could “nullify” federal law by simply ignoring it. President Jackson threatened to send federal troops – SC chilled, for now.

Compromise of 1850 Here’s a question for ya: Why did the Missouri Compromise of 1820 last so long? What territory was added that made the Missouri Compromise obsolete? What was the concept called which led the U.S. to the West Coast Side?

Compromise of 1850 Resulted from territory gained in the Mexican- American War ( ) There were 5 parts to the Compromise 1. California would be admitted as a Free State

Compromise of Popular Sovereignty would be used to decide in Utah and New Mexico 3. Texas gave up claims to New Mexico 4. Slave auctions would be banned in Washington, D.C. The 5 th part, we’ll discuss now

5…..Fugitive Slave Act The Fugitive Slave Acts were a pair of federal laws that allowed for the capture and return of runaway slaves within the territory of the United States. Levied harsher punishments for interfering in their capture. The Fugitive Slave Acts were among the most controversial laws of the early 19th century

Fugitive Slave Act The Fugitive Slave Act was an inclusion in what larger piece of legislation?

Uncle Tom’s Cabin—Harriet Beecher Stowe Most popular novel of the Nineteenth Century. When Abraham Lincoln met Stowe, he said “So this is the little lady who started this great war.” Changed how many Northern Americans viewed slavery, the system that treated people as property.

Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854 Kansas and Nebraska Territories ready for admittal into the Union. Would they be slave or free. Congress decides to let the people decide. What is this concept called, when the government lets the people decide? (#wethepeople, #checkcolorado, #republicanism)

Kansas-Nebraska Act-1854 Abolitionists and Pro-Slavery people flood to Kansas to decide. Lots and Lots of violence. We call this time period, Bleeding Kansas! And now, one of my favorite pictures….ever!

John Brown

The Dred Scott Case Dred Scott was a slave whose owner, an army doctor, had spent time in Illinois, a free state, and Wisconsin, a free territory at the time of Scott’s residence. Scott sued for his freedom and his case was heard by the Supreme Court. How do you think the Supreme Court ruled in this case? Was he free or not?

The Dred Scott Case The court held that Scott was not free based on his residence in either Illinois or Wisconsin because he was not considered a person under the U.S. Constitution. Dred Scott was the property of his owner, and property could not be taken from a person without due process of law. Slave owners were now allowed to take their slaves into the Western territories without fear.

The Dred Scott Case How did the Dred Scott decision affect the question of slavery in the United States?