Causes of the Civil War

Growth of slavery States’ Rights Tariffs Multiple Compromises/ new laws

Growth of Slavery South used slaves to help farm Cotton- South’s most important crop Needed more and more slaves to grow it. Northerners did not agree with slavery

Tariffs: a tax on goods Different economies: South: mostly farms North: more cities and factories U.S. placed high taxes on goods made on outside the country: (steel & cloth) These helped the North (North made own steel) They hurt the South (South had to buy it, and with the high taxes, they were forced to buy it from the North.)

States’ Rights The idea that the states should have more power than the federal government Basically the federal government should not have all the power. I don’t like it when my parents tell me what to do all the time. I want to make my own choices and wear my sunglasses when I want!

What should Congress do to make both sides happy? Slave State? or Free State? What should Congress do to make both sides happy?

Missouri Compromise, 1820 Missouri wanted to be a slave state…but the North said that wouldn’t be fair Missouri- slave state Maine- free state It also create invisible line across U.S.

Solutions to the Problem North of the line = Free States South of the line = Slave states

Compromise of 1850 Government let some territories make their own decision….to be a slave state or to be a free state is the right of people to make political decisions for themselves Popular sovereignty

Kansas- Nebraska Act Nebraska Territory and Kansas Territory gained the right to choose whether they wanted to have slaves or not Now, even territories above the invisible line could have slaves!!

Besides handling which states are free and which are slave… Fugitive Slave Law Fugitive: runaway slave Law states that North must return any slaves that have run away from South You can’t catch me Get back here!

Dred Scott Decision Man named Dred Scott living in Missouri (slave state) Wanted freedom because he once lived in Illinois (free state) Court said Scott had “none of the rights and privileges” of American citizens Also said Congress had no right to outlaw slavery because the Constitution protects people’s right to own PROPERTY and slaves were PROPERTY!!!

John Brown’s Raid John Brown- an abolitionist Attacked US Army post at Harpes Ferry Northerners saw him as a hero. But he was hanged for treason

In short… Made South mad… John Brown’s raid Uncle Tom’s Cabin High tariffs on goods Made North mad… Kansas-Nebraska Act Dred Scott Decision Fugitive Slave Act The South wanted states’ rights… meaning they didn’t want to be told what to do by the federal government…

The South decided to seceed! In other words, they separated from the rest of the United States.