Events and Issues Leading up to the Civil War Calhoun Academy Fourth Grade

Sectionalism Sectionalism is loyalty to one section of a country rather than to the whole country. Sectionalism in the U.S. at this time, was because of the differences between the North and South on issues over... Slavery Economical differences Cultural differences States’ rights Sectionalism means that the interests of each section (North or South)was more important to the people of that region, than what was best for the United States.

States’ Rights The North and South had different beliefs about the powers of the federal government. Southerners supported states’ rights: they feared slaves would be emancipated (freed) by the federal government. Southern states preferred the Articles of Confederation. Northerners supported the federal government and the emancipation of slaves

The Election of 1860 The election of brought the conflict between the North and South to the breaking point! The Republican party opposed slavery and nominated Abraham Lincoln as their candidate. The Democratic party, who supported slavery, split their nomination between two candidates Stephen A. Douglas and John C. Breckinridge

Southern Fears about The Election of 1860 If Lincoln was elected they would lose power in the government. Any new states would become free states. The balance of power would shift to the free states. The federal government might outlaw slavery in the United States. If Lincoln was elected, he may free the slaves.

The Outcome Abraham Lincoln won the election of 1860. He promised to respect and keep slavery in the states where it existed. He promised to protect states’ rights

Secession After Abraham Lincoln won, Secessionists ( a person who wanted the state to leave the Union, U.S.) believed that Lincoln would abolish slavery everywhere. South Carolina was the first to secede from the Union Eleven Southern states seceded (separated) from the Union – South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee

The Country Splits in Two After the secession, these 11 states declared that they were a new country, the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis was elected president of the Confederacy.

The Country Splits in Two Still, Lincoln promised to try and bring the Union back together Causes of the Civil War Slavery - Lincoln did not support freeing the slaves. Debate of states’ rights Cultural and Economic differences – north was focus on industry, the south was focused on farming and cash crops The first shots of the Civil War are fired at Fort Sumter, in Charleston, South Carolina.

Lincoln vs. Douglas Quotes - Analyze “If slavery is not wrong, then nothing is wrong…But I would not do anything to bring about a war between the free and slave states” – Abraham Lincoln “If each state will only agree to mind its own business…this republic can exist forever divided into free and slave states.” – Stephen Douglas

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