Lesson 4: Civil War Begins

Abraham Lincoln By 1860, the conflict over slavery was becoming worse. Southerners thought abolitionists wanted to start a slave rebellion. Some southerners thought secession was the only way to protect their states’ rights and continue to own slaves. Secession is Northerners were also upset. They disliked the Kansas- Nebraska Act (allowing settlers to make their own decisions about slavery) and the Dred Scott decision. They feared that slavery would spread over the country. when part of a country leaves or breaks off from the rest.

Abraham Lincoln Some northerners formed a new political party called the Republicans. Republicans wanted to keep slavery out of the territories. Abraham Lincoln was a famous Republican. He became one of the most important leaders the United States has ever had.

Lincoln’s Early Years Abraham Lincoln was born in a small cabin in Kentucky. His family moved to Indiana, then later to Illinois. Lincoln grew up on a farm and did not have much time to go to school. He loved reading and read all the books he could find. Lincoln did not want to be a farmer; he studied law and became a lawyer. He became a member of the Illinois legislature at the age of 25. He served 1 term as a representative in the United States Legislature.

Lincoln’s Campaigns Lincoln saw slavery as a “moral, social, and political evil”. He said that United States could not go on forever divided by slavery. “A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure (last) permanently half slave and half free… It will become all one thing, or the other.” In 1858, Lincoln ran against Stephen Douglas for the State Senate in Illinois. They debated their ideas including their belief about slavery. Douglas did not believe slavery was wrong and thought the territories should have popular sovereignty (decide by popular vote).

A Divided Nation Lincoln lost the election to Douglas. The Lincoln/Douglas debate made Lincoln famous. Many northerners agreed with his views on slavery. In the South, many people saw him as an enemy. In 1860, Lincoln won the election for president. Many southerners began to feel that the federal government was too powerful and with Lincoln as president, its power would increase. They believed that secession was the only way to protect their rights.

Secession Begins South Carolina withdrew from the Union first. They voted to leave the Union on December 20, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas soon followed. On February 4, 1861, delegates from the seven southern states voted to form their own confederation. These states called themselves the Confederate States of America, or the Confederacy. They decided that the states would have more power than the central government. Jefferson Davis was elected as President.

Attack on Fort Sumter President Lincoln was determined to find a way to hold the country together. He said, “We are not enemies, but friends.” In Charleston, South Carolina, the state militia had already surrounded Fort Sumter, a federal fort with United States soldiers inside. The Confederate government wanted control of the fort. Lincoln refused to surrender the fort and sent the troops supplies. Confederate leaders saw this as an act of war and fired on Fort Sumter on April 12, Cannons fired on the fort for 34 hours until the soldiers had to surrender.

Attack on Fort Sumter This attack was the beginning of the Civil War. A civil war is a war between 2 groups or regions within a nation. President Lincoln called for 75,000 soldiers to fight the rebellion. Some states refused to send men to help Lincoln. Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia joined the Confederacy. Citizens in the North and South prepared to fight a war.