The Causes; Course & Consequences of the Civil War

The Causes During the 1800’s; the North and South found they disagreed about many things. The two parts of the nation seemed to be more like two different nations. They lived and thought differently. Slavery was a big problem. The North wanted to stop the spread of slavery; the South wanted new states to allow slave holding. But slavery was not the only problem. Things such as foreign trade and taxes caused hard feelings between the two sections of the nations.

How did the North and the South Differ? Foundation Population 3. Manufacturing & Resources Industry & Trade 71% of U.S. population 92% of US industrial output; generous resources to produce weapons. Agriculture 29% of U.S. population 8% of US industrial output minimal resources to produce weapons.

How did the North and the South Differ? 5. Exports & Views on Tariffs 6. Food Production 7. Railroads 5. Favored high tariffs on imported goods to protect northern industries and worker’s jobs. 6. More than twice the South 7. efficient railway transport system. 5. Favored low (or no) tariffs on imported goods to keep prices of goods more affordable. 6. Less than half the North 7. inefficient railway transport system.

Missouri Compromise of 1820 Under the Compromise: Missouri became a slave state Maine became a free state Louisiana Territory was divided at the 36 degree, 30 minute parallel; north of the line must be free territory; south of the line could be slave territory Missouri applied for statehood in 1819 as a slave state. At the time there was 11 free states & 11 slave states. By adding another slave state; it would upset the senate’s equal balance Henry Clay created the Missouri Compromise Although it became a law; few people on either side were happy about it. The senate would retain its equal balance until the next state asked to enter the Union.

Wilmot Proviso (1846) Northerners favored the bill Southerners opposed because they had the right to slaves in new territories because they were property and property was protected under the Constitution The Wilmot Proviso never passed It was a bill that would ban slavery in the new territories acquired from Mexico

The Compromise stated: The Compromise of 1850 The Compromise stated: The state of New Mexico and Utah would be established from land taken from Mexico New Mexico voters would determine whether to be slave or free (popular sovereignty) California would be admitted to the Union as a free state All people in free states had to help capture slaves who escaped from their owners. Those who failed to do so will receive harsh punishments (Fugitive Slave Act) Ban of sale of slaves in D.C. The expansion of U.S. territory and population growth in the West continued to fuel political tensions between free states and slave states over the extension of slavery Those who favored slavery and those who opposed slavery therefore agreed to five laws that addressed these concerns. The five laws are known as the Compromise of 1850

Compromise of 1850

Slave and Free Territories Under the Compromise of 1850

Sectional Views Differ on Key Political Issues North South Protective Tariff (taxes on goods brought in from other country) They wanted high tariffs on imported goods so they could sell their own products in the United States. They wanted to keep out competition by marking foreign goods more expensive. They wanted to sell their cotton and tobacco to other countries and buy manufactured goods as cheaply as possible because it had few factories. (Against it)

Issue North South *National Bank Yes; Demanded a federally backed national bank to help stabilize currency & credit. No; Argued that a national bank tended to tighten money & credit and placed too much power in the hands of few bankers *Internal Improvements Yes; better transportation helped to expand its trade No; Resented paying for projects that provided little benefits to its people. *Cheap Western Land No; because westward migration reduced the supply of labor for its mills and factories Yes; Seeking to expand its plantation system and slavery; also favored cheap land

Issue North South *The Union Yes; Believed the United States must remain one country to remain strong. No; Felt since they chose to join in; they could also choose to leave and form their own country. Slavery No; They wanted to end the expansion of slavery. Yes; Slave owners wanted to extend slavery to all new states. *States’ Rights No; They felt the federal government should have more power than individual state. Yes; Believed individual states should have more control over laws than the federal government.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin 1852 Published by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The novel described all that was wrong with slavery. It helped readers see slaves as real people. It also helped northern abolitionists to increase their protests against the Fugitive Slave Act Southerners criticized the Book as an attack on their way of life.

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811 – 1896) So this is the lady who started the Civil War. -- Abraham Lincoln

Kansas-Nebraska Act Slavery became a major issue again when Nebraska Territory was opened up for settlement. The Kansas-Nebraska Act became a law in 1854. It said that people of the territories of Kansas and Nebraska would decide for themselves about slavery. Principle of popular sovereignty (rule by the people) The Act repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820

Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854

“Bleeding Kansas” Pro and anti-slavery group hurried into Kansas in attempts to create voting majorities there. People fought and killed each other over the slavery question. One person was killed in an anti-slave town. John Brown; a fierce opponent of slavery; killed five proslavery people in the raid. Because of the violence of both sides; the territory was nicknamed “Bleeding Kansas”

Abolitionist Movement Abolitionists were people who wanted to end slavery. They believed they could convince others of the evils of slavery by publishing newspaper; almanacs & books. They sponsored lectures and invited former slaves to speak. Some helped runaway slaves escaped and some believed violence was the only way to end slavery.

Formation of the Republican Party As the debate over slavery grew more intense; national parties splintered or broke apart- and groups formed new parties. This was called the Republican Party. The Republican Party nominated Abraham Lincoln as its candidate Major Platform: opposed expansion of slavery into territories Opposing the Kansas-Nebraska Act

What was the Dred Scott Decision? Dred Scott born a slave Scott claimed that residing in the free states made him a free man. Went to court to obtain freedom for himself and his family. The court rejected Scott’s claim; ruling slaves were considered property. Therefore; free or slave they were not considered US citizens and could not file lawsuits in federal courts. The Dred Scott decision gave slavery the protection under the Constitution. The court did find popular sovereignty and Missouri Compromise of 1820 to be unconstitutional

Who established a secret route to the North used by escaped slaves? Harriet Tubman Born a slave on a Maryland plantation She was a runaway slave. She rode the underground railroad to Pennsylvania. She returned secretly to help others to freedom. She became a conductor for the underground railroad

How did Lincoln and Douglas view slavery? Douglas Opposed slavery but favored popular sovereignty Believed popular sovereignty would allow slavery to pass away on its own He did not think slavery was immoral; he did believe it was a backward labor system Lincoln Opposed slavery & did not support popular sovereignty Believed slavery was immoral a labor system of greed He doubted that slavery would cease to spread without legislation outlawing it in the territories

John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry, 1859 John Brown believed in fighting slavery with violence. He led a group of white/black men in a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry; Va (today W. Va). Killing seven people He was going to give guns to the black slaves so they could fight and become free. The raid failed and Brown was captured. He was executed by hanging.

1860 Presidential Election √ Abraham Lincoln Republican John Bell Constitutional Union 1860 Presidential Election Stephen A. Douglas Northern Democrat John C. Breckinridge Southern Democrat

What was the results of the Presidential Election of 1860 Abraham Lincoln wins the Presidential election. Southern states begin to leave the Union. South Carolina seceded (withdraw) on Dec. 20; 1860. The following year Alabama; Florida; Georgia; Louisiana; Mississippi and Texas joined S. Carolina to form the Confederate States of America

Secession!: SC Dec. 20, 1860

Evaluating the Causes of the Civil War The Civil War was caused by many interlocking and complex factors. The expansion of slavery; constitutional disputes over state’s rights; economic & social differences between N & S; political disagreements and failure of compromises were all general causes of the Civil War. The publication of Uncle Tom’s Cabin; “Bleeding Kansas”; the Dred Scott case; and even the election of Abraham Lincoln and the Republicans in 1860 can all be considered specific causes of the Civil War.

Sample Questions The Western expansion of the United States in the early 1800s provoked a congressional debate over the issue of slavery; Congress resolved this debate by: Making the Louisiana Purchase Passing a Constitutional amendment Adopting the Missouri Compromise Accepting the doctrine of nullification