Causes of the Civil War

Background Information White settlers began moving west in the hopes of acquiring land, wealth, and religious freedom. White settlers began moving west in the hopes of acquiring land, wealth, and religious freedom. The movement of the settlers into these western territories created a sufficient population to warrant admission into the Union as a state. The movement of the settlers into these western territories created a sufficient population to warrant admission into the Union as a state.

Nation Divided The Nation is already divided on the issue of slavery. The Nation is already divided on the issue of slavery. The southern states said slavery was good for the slaves and the Nation. The southern states said slavery was good for the slaves and the Nation. Northerners against slavery, called abolitionists, pushed for laws that would end slavery. Northerners against slavery, called abolitionists, pushed for laws that would end slavery.

The Problem The South felt overpowered by the North, both politically and economically. The South felt overpowered by the North, both politically and economically. The South wanted to control the newly acquired western territories and make them slave territories. The South wanted to control the newly acquired western territories and make them slave territories. Should the new territories allow slavery, or should they be declared free? Or maybe the inhabitants should be allowed to choose for themselves? Should the new territories allow slavery, or should they be declared free? Or maybe the inhabitants should be allowed to choose for themselves?

Keeping the Peace In the past, various laws had been passed to maintain the balance between free and slave state. In the past, various laws had been passed to maintain the balance between free and slave state.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 had declared that the land north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi should be free. Kentucky and the territory south of the Ohio became slave states. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 had declared that the land north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi should be free. Kentucky and the territory south of the Ohio became slave states.

30 years later… A conflict arose over the admission of Missouri as a state. A conflict arose over the admission of Missouri as a state. Missouri extended far north of any slave state. But most of its citizens wanted slavery. Missouri extended far north of any slave state. But most of its citizens wanted slavery.

Missouri Compromise of 1820 Congress, trying to maintain an equal number of slave and free states, added Missouri as a slave state. However, Maine, which had been part of Massachusetts, was added as a free state. Congress, trying to maintain an equal number of slave and free states, added Missouri as a slave state. However, Maine, which had been part of Massachusetts, was added as a free state. In addition, the rest of the Louisiana Purchase was divided into free and slave territories. Land south of Missouri ’ s southern border was opened to slavery. Land north and west of Missouri was to be free. In addition, the rest of the Louisiana Purchase was divided into free and slave territories. Land south of Missouri ’ s southern border was opened to slavery. Land north and west of Missouri was to be free.

California: Free or Slave State? After the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo there was a decision to be made as to whether California should enter the Union as a free or slave state. After the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo there was a decision to be made as to whether California should enter the Union as a free or slave state. The gold miners in California did not want slavery because they were afraid that big mining companies would bring in large numbers of slaves to compete. The gold miners in California did not want slavery because they were afraid that big mining companies would bring in large numbers of slaves to compete.

The Compromise of 1850 California was admitted to the Union as a free state. California was admitted to the Union as a free state. New Mexico and Utah will become territories (They will decide the slavery issue for themselves- popular sovereignty) New Mexico and Utah will become territories (They will decide the slavery issue for themselves- popular sovereignty) A fugitive slave law is passed where runaway slaves who make it to free states must be returned to their owners. A fugitive slave law is passed where runaway slaves who make it to free states must be returned to their owners. Slaves could no longer be bought and sold in the nation ’ s capital. Slavery, however, will still be legal in the District of Columbia. Slaves could no longer be bought and sold in the nation ’ s capital. Slavery, however, will still be legal in the District of Columbia.

More Controversy The Compromise of 1850 did not put an end to slavery. The Compromise of 1850 did not put an end to slavery. The Fugitive Slave Law was very strict. Anyone caught helping a slave escape faced 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. The Fugitive Slave Law was very strict. Anyone caught helping a slave escape faced 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Northerners felt the Fugitive Slave law was a violation of their Constitutional Rights. Northerners felt the Fugitive Slave law was a violation of their Constitutional Rights. As soon as the law went into effect southerners began to try to reclaim slaves who had escaped. As soon as the law went into effect southerners began to try to reclaim slaves who had escaped. Persons accused of running away could not testify in their own defense. Persons accused of running away could not testify in their own defense. Many blacks, runaways or not, felt threatened by the new law. Many blacks, runaways or not, felt threatened by the new law.

Northern Public Opinion Even though many northerners were prejudice towards blacks, they still were sympathetic to the plight of runaway slaves. Even though many northerners were prejudice towards blacks, they still were sympathetic to the plight of runaway slaves. Runaways had risked their lives to win freedom. Runaways had risked their lives to win freedom. They were impressed that the runaways had become hard-working, law abiding citizens who went on to raise families and learn trades. They were impressed that the runaways had become hard-working, law abiding citizens who went on to raise families and learn trades. Northerners were outraged to see blacks dragged off without being given a chance to defend themselves in court. Northerners were outraged to see blacks dragged off without being given a chance to defend themselves in court.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote a novel about slavery in Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote a novel about slavery in The novel, title Uncle Tom ’ s Cabin, changed the North ’ s attitude toward slavery. The novel, title Uncle Tom ’ s Cabin, changed the North ’ s attitude toward slavery. As a result of reading the book, many people became abolitionists willing to speak out against slavery. As a result of reading the book, many people became abolitionists willing to speak out against slavery.

Kansas-Nebraska Act Senator Stephen Douglas introduced a new bill in Congress called the Kansas- Nebraska Act. Senator Stephen Douglas introduced a new bill in Congress called the Kansas- Nebraska Act. The bill allowed residents of the Kansas and Nebraska regions to decide for themselves the issue of slavery (popular sovereignty). The bill allowed residents of the Kansas and Nebraska regions to decide for themselves the issue of slavery (popular sovereignty). The bill was passed by Congress and repealed the ban on slavery in the region which had been imposed by the Missouri Compromise. The bill was passed by Congress and repealed the ban on slavery in the region which had been imposed by the Missouri Compromise.

Reaction in the North The Northerners were outraged. The new law created many conflicts between settlers in those regions who were both for and against slavery. The Northerners were outraged. The new law created many conflicts between settlers in those regions who were both for and against slavery. Because of many violent conflicts in Kansas, the region became known as “ Bleeding Kansas. ” Because of many violent conflicts in Kansas, the region became known as “ Bleeding Kansas. ”

The Dred Scott Case Dred Scott was a slave. He was living in Missouri--a slave state--but he ’ d spent several years in Wisconsin--a free territory. Did that make him free? Dred Scott was a slave. He was living in Missouri--a slave state--but he ’ d spent several years in Wisconsin--a free territory. Did that make him free?

The Court’s Decision The Supreme Court declared enslaved Africans property and denied Congress the right to legislate the spread of slavery into the territories. The Supreme Court declared enslaved Africans property and denied Congress the right to legislate the spread of slavery into the territories. The decision placed the solution for the slavery problem outside the jurisdiction of Congress or other courts. The decision placed the solution for the slavery problem outside the jurisdiction of Congress or other courts.

John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry John Brown, an abolitionist, organized a plan to march into the South, and seize land in some remote area. He expected slaves from all over the region to run away and join him, giving them guns stolen from a Virginia arsenal. With their help he would launch raids throughout the South aimed at rescuing more slaves. John Brown, an abolitionist, organized a plan to march into the South, and seize land in some remote area. He expected slaves from all over the region to run away and join him, giving them guns stolen from a Virginia arsenal. With their help he would launch raids throughout the South aimed at rescuing more slaves.

The Outcome The plan fails, he is tried and hung, but he becomes a martyr for slavery and a hero. The South resents this Northern stance. The plan fails, he is tried and hung, but he becomes a martyr for slavery and a hero. The South resents this Northern stance.

Secession Most Southerners believed in “ states rights ” and thought any state had the right to pull out of the Union. Most Southerners believed in “ states rights ” and thought any state had the right to pull out of the Union. Events like the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the printing of Uncle Tom ’ s Cabin, the Supreme Court ruling in the Dred Scott case, John Brown ’ s raid on Harpers Ferry, and the Fugitive Slave Act eventually led the Southern states to secede or leave the Union. Events like the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the printing of Uncle Tom ’ s Cabin, the Supreme Court ruling in the Dred Scott case, John Brown ’ s raid on Harpers Ferry, and the Fugitive Slave Act eventually led the Southern states to secede or leave the Union.