1. The Real Cause of the Civil War
AP US History Project

2. What was the Real Cause of the Civil War?
Some people argue over the cause of the Civil War.
As a whole, most people think it was fought over the issue of slavery alone.
There were many issues that led up to the war, however.
This presentation will attempt to address each of those issues and draw a conclusion as to what the major reason was.

3. Compact Theory and the Emergence of States’ Rights
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions written by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson introduced the idea of states’ rights.
It stated that states could nullify law passed by Congress that the states thought was unconstitutional based on the Compact Theory.

4. Sectionalism Some people view sectionalism as a major issue.
Sectionalism is the rivalry between the North and South over several issues:
slavery
tariffs
states’ rights
transportation

5. Westward Expansion & the Growth of Sectionalism
The history of the United States is a history of movement from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

6. Early attempts at Westward Expansion
Articles of Confederation
which included the:
Land Ordinance of 1785 which was early expansion into the Old Northwest &
Northwest Ordinance which prohibited slavery

7. COMPROMISES
Because of the expansion into westward territory, compromises had to be reached regarding slavery.
Missouri
Compromise
Compromise
of 1850
Kansas-Nebraska
Act
Dred Scott
Decision
Click on the words above to review the provisions of each compromise.

8. Missouri Compromise Missouri admitted as a slave state
Maine admitted as a free state
Line drawn at 36 degrees 30 minutes North latitude
Everything north of the line would be free
Everything south of the line could be slave

9. Compromise of 1850 California admitted as a free state
The rest of the Mexican Cession to be formed into New Mexico & Utah territories
Texas to give disputed territory to New Mexico
No slave trade in Washington, DC
Stronger fugitive slave law
Government to pay debts of Texas

10. Kansas-Nebraska Act Popular sovereignty led to a civil war in Kansas
the people decide if the area will be a free state or a slave state by voting
led to a civil war in Kansas
Kansas became known as Bleeding Kansas
Kansas admitted as a free state

11. Dred Scott Decision
Supreme Court ruled that Scott and his family were not free
Slaves were property
Federal government could not take a citizen’s property from them
Made all other compromises null and void

12. Economic Issues
Each section of the country had its own economic interests.

13. In the North, the economic issues centered around the growth of industry and trade.

14. In the South, the economy was based on agriculture.

15. Early arguments centered on tariffs
Early arguments centered on tariffs. The North wanted high tariffs and the South wanted low tariffs.
High tariffs helped the industry in the North because they made American made goods cheaper than European goods. Result -The northern economy would be stimulated.

16. High tariffs helped the North
High tariffs helped the North. By adding tariffs onto certain products, consumers would buy American made products.

17. High tariffs hurt the South because much of their trade was with Europe. If they did not buy from European merchants then those merchants would not buy cotton and other agricultural products from the South.

18. Southerners feared the election of Lincoln and the growth of the Republican Party. They thought Lincoln wanted to free the slaves. In reality, he just wanted to stop the spread of slavery into new territories.

19. So, what was the real cause of the war?
There is no one answer.
Each issue from the beginning of our nation to the outbreak of the war contributed to the cause.
The compromises only delayed the onset.
The war was inevitable.

20. Internet resources
Below is a link to a time line of sectionalism and secession:
Below is a link to many different internet locations dealing with westward expansion:
The link below is a good source of information on the causes of the civil war

21. Works Cited: