Conflict Leads to Crisis: The Causes of the U.S. Civil War

Conflict Between the North and South After the Revolutionary War, conflicts (problems) arose between the northern and southern states. 3 main issues that the states disagreed on were: States’ rights Slavery Economic differences

States’ Rights States’ rights is the belief that each state should make its own decisions on issues. (slavery was the main issue)

Slavery: A Major Issue During this time, new states were being created on the land that was part of the Louisiana Territory. The North wanted these new states to be “free states” – no slavery allowed. The South wanted these new states to be “slave states” – slavery allowed.

Slavery: A Major Issue The slavery issue divided the North and the South more than any other. Many southern whites were afraid that their plantations would go out of business if slavery ended. By 1860, all of the northern states had outlawed slavery.

Two Different Economies economy - the use of resources, money, and goods to meet people’s wants and needs. The North and the South had very different economies. This led to conflict between these two areas of the country!

The Northern Economy It was industrialized – this means the North had many factories and produced goods. The North had many railroads so it could transport the goods made in its factories.

The Southern Economy It was based on agriculture (farming). The huge plantations and farms relied on slaves to do the work. The South had some factories and railroads, but not nearly as many as the North.

The Fight For Freedom: Nat Turner’s Revolt Nat Turner was a Virginia slave who led a revolt against plantation owners in Virginia. Turner and a group of slaves began killing plantation owners in Virginia! Turner and his group were caught and hanged for their actions!

The Fight for Freedom: John Brown’s Raid John Brown was a white man who was against slavery. He led a raid on the United States Armory (Arsenal) at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. (Now West Virginia)

The Fight for Freedom: John Brown’s Raid He was trying to take the guns and ammunitions stored at the armory so he could arm (give weapons to) the slaves and lead a slave rebellion. John Brown’s raid was unsuccessful and he was captured and hanged!

The Fight for Freedom: Abolition Abolition – to do away with something. Abolitionists were people who wanted to do away with slavery. Abolitionists helped slaves runaway from their “masters” and get to places where slavery was against the law.

Harriet Tubman and the “Underground Railroad” Harriet Tubman, an escaped slave, helped hundreds of slaves escape the South. The Underground Railroad was a secret route that enslaved African Americans took to gain their freedom.

Harriet Tubman and the “Underground Railroad” Stations – homes of people who hid runaway slaves. Conductors – people who were guides to the runaway slaves on their journey to freedom.

Harriet Tubman and the “Underground Railroad” This was dangerous work. The most famous conductor of the Underground Railroad was Harriet Tubman.

Things Get Worse Between the North and the South Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860. Lincoln wanted to keep slavery from spreading into the new states. Many southerners felt strongly that it was up to each state to decide about slavery.

Things Get Worse Between the North and the South Because of slavery, states’ rights, and the economic differences between the North and the South, they were unable to resolve their conflicts (problems). Seven southern states decide to secede (leave) the U.S. after Lincoln is elected as president.

The Confederate States of America These 7 states formed the Confederate States of America. (C.S.A.) Jefferson Davis was elected president of the new country. (C.S.A.)

Virginia Decides to Secede Virginia seceded from the Union in April 1861. Later that month, the Confederate Army took control of Fort Sumter (A Union fort) in South Carolina.

The Road to War! President Lincoln asked for volunteers from the Union (the North) to retake Fort Sumter. This was the beginning of the U.S. Civil War.