Causes of the Civil War 10 Critical Events

US-Mexican War (1846-48) Starts with a fight over Texas Results in the addition of lots of new territory (S.W. part of the U.S.) Will slavery be allowed into the new territory? Wilmot-Proviso = bill introduced in Congress that bans slavery in the new territory Leads to a huge fight = regional divisions

Compromise of 1850 Sen. John C. Calhoun vs. Sen. Daniel Webster Calhoun = allow for the expansion of slavery or else Webster = opposes the expansion of slavery Henry Clay = The Great Compromiser offers up a deal to “save the union”

Details of the Compromise California = free state Utah & New Mexico = vote on whether or not they would allow slavery Texas-New Mexico boundary resolved; Texas is paid $10 million by the federal gov’t Slave trading banned in DC, but slavery allowed to continue Fugitive Slave Act = slaves must be returned to their owner; to assist runaway slaves was a crime

Kansas-Nebraska Act Divides the large territory into two separate parts: Nebraska and Kansas Popular Sovereignty = Allow the people in Nebraska & Kansas to vote on the issue of slavery Border Ruffians vs. Free Soilers Leads to Bleeding Kansas = violence breaks out over the issue of slavery Bleeding Sumner – Sen. Charles Sumner attacked on the floor of the senate by Rep. Preston Brooks

Dred Scott Decision Dred Scott – slave taken to a free territory in the North Argues that because of the Missouri Compromise; he should be free = sues for his freedom Supreme Court says that he is property; therefore has no standing to sue (no rights) Missouri Comp. was unconstitutional

Birth of the Republican Party The Whig Party disappears in the early 1850s New political party = Republican Party Made up of discontented Whigs & Anti-slavery Democrats Main issue = opposition to slavery (keep it from spreading) Strongest support in the Northern states

Fugitive Slave Act & Uncle Tom’s Cabin Outrages Harriet Beecher Stowe Decides to write Uncle Tom’s Cabin Describes in detail the horrific practice of slavery Further divides northerners and southerners

Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858) U.S. Senate Race in Illinois Stephen Douglas (Demo.) Abraham Lincoln (Rep.) Series of debates outlining the future of slavery Douglas – strong supporter of popular sovereignty Lincoln – contain slavery to the South

John Brown Radical abolitionist Wants to lead a violent overthrow in the South He & his sons raid a weapons depot in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (1859) Have a standoff with authorities Eventually, John Brown is executed Becomes a hero in the North Southerners think he’s crazy

Election of 1860 Four major candidates: Abraham Lincoln – Republican Stephen Douglas – Northern Democrat John C. Breckinridge – Southern Democrat John Bell – Constitution Union Party Lincoln wins a majority of the Electoral College Most of the population is in the North

Electoral Map - 1860

Southern Secession South doesn’t trust Lincoln South Carolina secedes from the Union followed by many other southern states Big Question = Is secession legal? Can states just leave? Lincoln says “NO!” 1861 war begins

Map of the Divided U.S.A.