CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR Sectionalism Tariffs Slavery States Rights

Sectionalism When people are more concerned with the good of their region than the good of the entire country.

The North Economy based on industry Used cheap immigrant labor Sectionalism Used cheap immigrant labor

The South Economy based on agriculture Used slave labor Sectionalism

Examples of Sectionalism: Compromise of 1850 Allowed the new territories gained from Mexico to choose if they want slavery or not. Settled the dispute over Texas’ borders. Included the “Fugitive Slave Act” which required citizens to return escaped slaves. Sectionalism

Examples of Sectionalism: Kansas – Nebraska Act Allowed people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders Sectionalism

Balance of Power in Congress Shifts As the population grew in the North, so did its political power The North now was able to pass laws that helped the North but hurt the South This made the South feel like their government was no longer working for them Sectionalism

Tariffs The north supported tariffs (taxes) which raise prices on imports & benefited the North’s industrial economy.

Tariffs The South felt the high tariffs would destroy their economy which depended on foreign trade & slave labor.

Slavery Only a very small percentage of Southerners owned slaves. Its supporters felt that it was an economic issue, not a moral issue. Many of people who disagreed with it still felt that abolishing it would destroy the Southern economy. Many Southerners felt that the North had no right to claim the moral high ground because of how immigrant laborers were treated in Northern factories.

State Rights The debate between the North (Republicans) and the South (Democrats) led to another argument over State rights.

STATES RIGHTS VS STRONG FEDERAL GOV’T. The Southern states felt that they had the right to leave the Union and choose its own government. The Northern states felt that all of the states had signed a contract when the US Constitution was agreed on, and that no state had the power to leave. States Rights

Election of 1860: The Trigger Event Lincoln won the election even though he did not win a single Southern state

Southern States Leave the Union With Northern politicians in control of The Congress and the White House, Southern states begin to leave the Union. S. Carolina:   Dec. 20, 1860 Mississippi:    Jan. 9, 1861 Florida:          Jan.10, 1861 Alabama:       Jan.11, 1861 Georgia:         Jan. 19, 1861 Louisiana:      Jan. 26, 1861 Texas:             Feb. 1, 1861         Virginia:         April 17, 1861 Arkansas:       May 6, 1861        N. Carolina:   May 20, 1861 Tennessee:      June 8, 1861

Southern States Seize Federal Property Southern leaders believe forts in their states are theirs to have Northern leaders consider this an act of war against the United States

At Fort Sumter in South Carolina, Federal troops refuse to surrender their post. On April 12, 1861, Confederate artillery fired on Fort Sumter. The Civil War Begins