1. What are the key issues and events that led to the Civil War? Sectionalism Slavery States’ Rights Nullification Missouri Compromise Compromise of 1850 Georgia Platform Kansas-Nebraska Act Dred Scott Case Election of 1860 Debate over the Secession in Georgia Role of Alexander Stephens

2. Causes of Civil War (8 Ss) States’ Rights Structure (Classes) Solvency (Ability to Pay Debt) Style Slavery Sectionalism Selection of Lincoln Secession

4. What is Sectionalism? The belief by the people in a given region or area that their ideas and interests are better and more important than those of another region or area.

5. Sectionalism was quickly becoming a NATIONAL ISSUE! As the country expanded westward, the slavery question would have to be answered (both Congress and the courts had tried)...

6. South Southern states believed that their stand on slavery was just, their concerns over tariffs were fair, and their culture and lifestyle were to be treasured. They believed in the rights of states to determine their own destiny. They knew their section of the country was best. North Northern states believed that their stand against slavery and their concerns over tariffs, culture and lifestyle made them the favored, and therefore the best section of the country.

7. California Gold Rush After the gold rush in California, people from all over the world traveled there dreaming of riches. By late 1849, the population was over 100,000 (enough to ask for statehood)

8. In 1850, Slave States vs. Free States There were 15 Slave States and 15 Free States. California did NOT allow slavery. If California became a state, the balance in the Senate between slave states and free states would change.

9. THE GREAT DEBATE For 8 months, Congress tried to decide what to do about California!

10. The Compromise of 1850 Afraid that this issue might disrupt the Union, Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky proposed a compromise bill.

11. Benefits of the Compromise North California came into the Union as a free state. Slave trading was ended in the District of Columbia. Texas gave up its idea of annexing New Mexico, thus taking that territory away from a slave state. South The territories of New Mexico and Utah would determine whether they wanted to be slave or free. The residents of the District of Columbia could keep the slaves they already had. Congress would pass a law (Fugitive Slave Act) stating that slaves who ran away to free states would be returned to their owners.

13. Slavery Issue Would Not Die! As more and more people moved into the plains west of Missouri and Iowa, there was a need for a territorial government.

14. Kansas-Nebraska Act Created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska Contained a clause about Popular Sovereignty (when a territory asked for statehood, the people of a territory could vote on whether they wanted to be a free or slave state).

16. Northerners Were Angry! They felt that this law changed the Missouri Compromise, which did not permit slavery north of Missouri’s southern boundary. People began to move into Kansas to influence the vote.

18. Bleeding Kansas Proslavery “Border Ruffians” For slavery Took over polls, prevented free soilers from voting, and ensured the election of a proslavery legislature. Free Soilers Against slavery Wanted land to be given to western settlers for farming. There was so much violence in Kansas between the proslavery people and the free soilers that the territory was called “Bleeding Kansas.” More Than 200 Died...