What Caused the Civil War?

Cause # 1 Our Founding Fathers They could have condemned slavery at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 The South wouldn’t have agreed with that solution though Instead, you get the 3/5 Compromise which protects slavery Okay, this is the signing of the Declaration, not the Constitution – GOOD CATCH!

Cause # 2 Missouri Compromise of 1820

Cause # 2 Missouri Compromise of 1820 Supposed to settle issue of slavery in new western territories Compromise favored the Anti-Slave folks (Abolitionists) It was not strictly followed

Tariffs Cause # 3 + = These taxes on imports were causing sectionalism as early as Andrew Jackson’s Administration (1820s – 1830s) Southern states felt as though they were footing the bill to protect Northern industry

Cause # 4 Geography shapes the Economy The South’s longer growing seasons led to a mostly farming society The North’s poor soil and climate led to more factories The different economies led to different cultures and values

Cause # 5 The Compromise of 1850 California (acquired in the Mexican American War) wants to come into the Union as a FREE state. It would put the Southern SLAVE states in the minority in the Senate Henry Clay presents a plan with 4 parts

CA comes in Free Slave Trade is abolished in DC Congress would not pass any new laws regarding slavery in the newly acquired territory New Fugitive Slave Act passed The Act required ALL citizens to help catch runaway slaves – Northern Abolitionists refused to cooperate with the law’s enforcement Cause # 5 The Compromise of 1850

Cause # 6 Uncle Tom’s Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe’s book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was about the evils of slavery It was published in 1852 and sold over 300,000 copies in the first year alone Slaveholders denied the book’s legitimacy, but much of the material was taken from postings throughout the South

The Kansas Nebraska Act Cause # 7 It violated the Missouri Compromise Act was passed in 1854 popular sovereignty did not work due to “border ruffians”

Dred Scott v Sandford 1857 Cause # 8 This Supreme Court case ruled that slaves were property protected from the Federal Government It made the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional This meant that slavery should be allowed in the western territories Can you believe that the Supreme Court even said he had no right to bring a lawsuit before them?

In October 1859, abolitionist John Brown, led a raid on a Federal Arsenal in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. He hoped to start a slave uprising by arming slaves. John Brown at Harper’s Ferry Cause # 9 Harper’s Ferry, Virginia John Brown It didn’t go as expected!

After Lincoln is elected president in 1860, the idea of States’ Rights grows among the southern states. States’ Rights Cause # 10 Led by South Carolina, southern states feel they have a Constitutional right to leave the Union since they feel the new president will not protect their “property” rights.

Fort Sumter, South Carolina Cause # 11 Fort Sumter was a federal fort in the Charleson Harbor The State of South Carolina demanded the Fort’s surrender The Commander of the Fort refused so a 33-hour bombardment began on April 12, 1861 The Fort was finally surrendered, but at least no lives were lost

Lincoln calls for Union troops Cause # 12 Lincoln views the bombardment of Fort Sumter as an act of rebellion Lincoln calls up 75,000 Union Troops to crush the rebellion The call-up leads four more states to secede from the Union

Revolutionary Spirit Cause # 13 Southern States felt they were fighting against an oppressive government INDEPENDENCE The South was fighting for INDEPENDENCE They viewed their cause as similar to the American Revolution and guess who represented the 13 Colonies?