What are the key issues and events that led to the Civil War What are the key issues and events that led to the Civil War? Day 4 – Georgia 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

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

What about Georgia?

Backbone of Georgia’s Economy = Agriculture

By 1860 68,000 Farms Cotton was the Main Crop Farms Produced More than 700,000 bales of cotton. 115% increase from 1839.

Plantations Only 3,500 farms had 500 + acres and could be called plantations. Since the land itself did not cost much, a plantation owner’s worth was largely measured by the number of slaves he owned.

Only 236 Georgians owned more than 100 slaves, and 60% had no slaves at all.

Georgia’s Industry Cotton Mills Tanneries Shoe Factories Iron Grist Brick Pottery

1,890 Factories by 1860 Value = $11 million Georgia’s industrial base was no comparison for the northern industries.

A Discovery Before any surgery, patients were given several swallows of alcohol or opiates (pain-killing drugs). Physicians’ assistants stood over the patients holding down their legs and arms. Some patients were simply knocked unconscious. Dr. Crawford W. Long began trying sulfuric ether as an anesthetic.

Education Education was not an important element in the life of most antebellum Georgia. In 1850, about 20% of Georgia’s whites could not read or write. About 50% of Georgia’s children were black and did not go to school at all. In 1858, state legislature set aside $100,000 to begin free school...but the CIVIL WAR begins...

Religion Methodists Baptists During the 1850s, church membership grew in Georgia. By 1860, there were 2,393 churches in the state. Two largest denominations: Others: Episcopal, Catholic, Jews, and Presbyterians Methodists Baptists

Slaves There were few segregated churches. First African Baptist Church, Savannah, Georgia (1777- ) There were few segregated churches. Slaves usually attended the same churches as their masters.

Politics Two major Political Parties Democrats Whigs  Supported states’ rights Strong stand FOR slavery Leaders: Herschel V. Johnson Joseph E. Brown Howell Cobb Most Governors were democrats Whigs Mostly members of upper social classes Favored moderate protective tariff and federal help for the south. Leaders: Robert Toombs Alexander Stephens Most members of legislature were whigs

The Georgia Platform Many Georgians did not like the Compromise of 1850. They felt that the South’s rights were being trampled... However, Democrat Cobb and Whigs Stephens and Toombs asked the citizens of Georgia to accept it. The legislature met to discuss the issue.

They adopted a proclamation called GEORGIA PLATFORM. This act was instrumental in averting a national crisis. Stated that Georgia was willing to remain in the Union after the Compromise of 1850 as long as the North complied with the Fugitive Slave Act and would stop trying to ban slavery in new territories and states. If not, Georgia WARNED that it would secede!!!!