Causes of the Civil War

Compromise of 1850 Sectionalism—a devotion to the interest of one region rather than those of the entire country

Compromise of 1850 Lewis Cass

Compromise of 1850 =+

The Compromise of 1850 Step 1: = Free State!

The Compromise of 1850 Step 2: = Rest of Mexican Cession divided into two section and Popular Sovereignty!

The Compromise of 1850 Step 3: Stronger Fugitives Slave Laws

Harriet Beecher Stowe The passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 greatly angered Stowe, so she decided to write a book that would show northerners what slavery was really like. Sold 2 million copies Sparked outrage in the South, praise in the North

Divided the remainder of the Louisiana Purchase into two territories in which slavery would be determined by popular sovereignty

“Bleeding Kansas” Northerners were descending on Kansas, and Southerners poured over the line to vote for a proslavery congressional delegate. Violence erupted throughout the territory.

Raid on Harpers Ferry John Brown (1859)

Raid on Harpers Ferry

Election of 1860 April 1860: Democrats meet in Charleston, SC Northern & southern members could not agree on a candidate Party splits

Secession Fears Lincoln would abolish slavery Lincoln insisted otherwise Lincoln had stated slavery had to end at some point December 17, 1860: South Carolina holds secession convention South Carolina first state to secede

“In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail you. You can have no conflict, without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath registered in Heaven to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn oath to ‘preserve, protect and defend’ it.” —Abraham Lincoln First Inaugural Address Seven states had seceded prior to Lincoln’s inauguration

The Confederate States of America Jefferson Davis Feb 4, 1861: Confederate States of America was formed Jefferson Davis elected President of Confederacy