1. A Time of Turmoil and Turbulence
The Early & Mid 1800’s
A Time of Turmoil and Turbulence

2. Congressional Balance of Power
In 1819, there were 11 free states and 11 slave states. Therefore in congress the house and senate were balanced
Most politicians didn’t want to end slavery in current states, but wanted to control where it spread in new ones
In 1820, Maine and Missouri ask to ratify the Constitution & become states, Missouri had thousands of slaves and a larger population than Maine
NY attempts to block Missouri from statehood and heated arguments begin
To keep the country from splitting up, it’s agreed that future states below Missouri ‘s southern most border can have slaves as long as states above that border are no slave states - historically known as “The Missouri Compromise”

3. Economic & Social Differences
1793, the invention of the cotton gin drastically increases profits to new levels and plantations begin to spread though out the southern USA
The southern economy will become a “one crop” economy dependant on slavery
The northern climate was not as perfect for agriculture, so their economy was based on industry and textiles
Although most northern states do not support slavery, they continue to be the south’s largest importer of cotton
Socially the south becomes reliant on plantation life and the north becomes focused on city life

4. State’s Rights vs. Federal Rights
The 1st system of government in our country was based on a confederation of states with a limited federal government
the weakness of this form of government caused the leaders of the time to come together at the Constitutional Convention and create, in secret, the US Constitution
Many southern states felt that they should have the right to govern themselves & that they should be able to nullify unjust laws, if the nullification was not recognized then they had the right to secede from the Union
Many northern states felt that we should have a central ruling power who created universal laws for the country & that all states should be restricted in their political influence over their neighbors

5. Growth of the Abolitionist Movement
Increasingly, the northerners became more polarized against slavery
Sympathies began to grow for abolitionists and against slavery and slaveholders
This occurred especially after some major events including: the publishing of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, the Dred Scott Case, John Brown's Raid, and the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act that held individuals responsible for harboring fugitive slaves even if they were located in non-slave states.

6. The Election of Abraham Lincoln
- Upon accepting the Republican Party’s nomination to run for United States senator, Lincoln delivers his famous “A House Divided Against Itself” speech in Illinois
The speech uses quotes from the Bible (Matthew 12:25) to illustrate that our country cannot continue to exist as half slave and half free states
Fearing that once elected he will Constitutionally outlaw slavery nationwide, southern states begin to threaten secession if Lincoln is elected
Two years later, he does run for president and 7 southern states leave the United States of America, upon winning the election the remaining southern states join TX, SC, GA, FL, MS,AL and LA in forming the Confederate States of America
Southern states feel they are their own country and do not have to abide by the Constitution, northern states do not recognize the secession and begin to brace for war