Causes of The American Civil War A Nation Divides Causes of The American Civil War

SECTIONALISM: Instead of looking at the nation as a whole, southerners, westerners and northerners began to identify themselves regionally and not as Americans. So, the people would put the needs of their region over the needs of the nation.

The North Economy based on industry Used cheap immigrant labor

The South Economy based on agriculture Used slave labor

States’ Rights Southern states felt state laws carried more weight than federal laws and therefore, state laws should be followed first. In addition, they argued that the federal government only has limited power under the 10th amendment.                                                         

Balance of Power in Congress Shifts As the population grew in the North, so did its political power The North now was able to pass laws that helped the North but hurt the South This made the South feel like their government was no longer working for them

Slavery Only a very small percentage of Southerners owned slaves. Its supporters felt that it was an economic issue, not a moral issue. Many of people who disagreed with it still felt that abolishing it would destroy the Southern economy. Many Southerners felt that the North had no right to claim the moral high ground because of how immigrant laborers were treated in Northern factories.

Protective Tariffs A Tariff is a tax placed on goods imported from foreign countries. Tariff of 1816 – placed a 20-25% tax on all foreign goods Tariff of 1824 - There was 35% duty on imported iron, wool, cotton, and hemp. Tariff of 1828 - Taxes increased to nearly 50%

Who benefitted from the protective tariffs? Who opposed them? Why? Think about this: The 1828 Tariff of Abominations was the third protective tariff implemented by the government. The protective tariffs taxed all foreign goods, to boost the sales of US products and protect Northern manufacturers from cheap British goods.

Compromise of 1850 California is admitted as a free-state. Washington DC abolishes slave trade Texas boundaries are established Fugitive Slave Act- Northern states had to enforce the return of run-away-slaves Popular Sovereignty- slavery in the Mexican Cession lands is decided by popular sovereignty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe0I0QVcW2o

Fugitive Slave Act Required Northerners to return runaway slaves to their masters. Made the Federal government responsible for catching slaves and trying them before “special commissioners”. The slaves could not speak and the commissioners were paid more if they returned the slave to the south.

Lincoln Wins! Lincoln won a majority of the votes, even though he did not appear on the ballot in most Southern states. He won every Northern state. He won 180 of 303 electoral votes, but only 40% of the popular vote.

After Lincoln was elected… South Carolina seceded (left the country) Within 6 weeks, 5 other states left the U.S. (Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi & Louisiana) to form the Confederate States of America Texas Legislature approved convention to vote on secession Northern leaders considered this an act of war against the United States

TEXAS VOTES: Texas voted to secede The Constitution of 1845 was changed to reflect secession, defending “States’ Rights” and slavery Texas is accepted into the Confederate States of America Secession convention required taking new oath Sam Houston refuses to take oath The office of governor was declared vacant.

STATES RIGHTS VS STRONG FEDERAL GOV’T. The Southern states felt that they had the right to leave the Union and choose its own government. The Northern states felt that all of the states had signed a contract when the US Constitution was agreed on, and that no state had the power to leave.

NORTH SOUTH More diverse population Higher population Larger cities Industry and business Small farms Groups of abolitionists trying to end slavery Agriculture as basis of economy Cash Crops: Cotton, tobacco, rice, and sugarcane Slave labor Few factories, little industry

Cotton is King! In 1790 (before the invention of the cotton gin) there were about 750, 000 slaves in the south and 3000 bales of cotton produced per year. By 1860, the number of slaves was over four million, who produced almost four million bales of cotton per year