Causes of the American Civil War U.S. History

Today’s Target Students will be able to understand the main causes of the American Civil War after completing graphic organizer.

Question What do you thing the word civil mean to you? Answers Relating to ordinary citizens and their concerns. Courteous and Polite Does the same definition apply to the Civil War?

5 “W”s of The U.S. Civil War When? ( ) Where? Mostly in the Southern States, but all over Who? Union States verses Confederate States What? A violent domestic war between its citizens. Why? Fighting over political and economic differences.

How did this come to be? 1 st Cause *The Fight between Slave and Non Slave states The Compromise of 1850 – An Agreement designed to ease tension over expansion of slavery into western territories Example Forming new Slave and Free states Fugitive Slave Act

How did this come to be? 2 nd Cause *States’ Rights – States have the right to nullify acts of the federal government and even to leave the Union if they wish to do so Example Nullification Sen. John Calhoun

States’ Rights Cont’d Popular Sovereignty – Giving people the within a region to vote on a specific potential law. -Bleeding Kansas (1854–1861) Example Town hall meeting/ Direct Democracy

Causes 3 rd Cause *Abolitionist movement Abolitionists- People that supported the end of slavery. Mostly were religious people in the north. Examples Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) William Lloyd Garrison’s The Liberator ( ) The Underground Railroad

Causes Cont’d 4 th Cause *Economic and social difference between the North and South Plantation System – An organization of large farms on which crops are raised mainly for sale. Example Plantation (Additional Notes) Back page on the bottom – Industry vs. Agriculture – Different cultures and classes had to work together in North – Social Order of the South

Lastly 5th Cause *Election of 1860 – Abraham Lincoln wins – His victory has a great influence. The final straw! Boarder states- States that are in the middle between the North and South. They did not leave the union but still had slaves. Succession- the action of withdrawing membership of a political state.

EXAMPLE

What does this lead to? Example South Carolina Succeeds from the U.S. and attacks the Fort Sumter April 12, Soon the other states follow and the Confederate States of America are formed!

Homework Read the article “Strengths and Weakness of the Union and Confederate States” Complete the T-Chart with disadvantages & Advantages of the Union and Rebels We will be working on a group activity tomorrow, reading the 1 page article & organizing the T-chart is essential to your success!!

Persuasive Write Pretend that you are living in a border state during the out break of the Civil War. Which side do you choose?