Civil War - Causes

Sectionalism: placing the interest of one’s region ahead of the nation

Economic Differences North –Tariff on British goods made the sale of Northern goods increase –North=rich! –Transportation links: mass canals, RRs = commerce South –Tariff on British goods bad! It reduced exports and the British bought less cotton –South=mad! –Transportation links: no canals, few RRs connecting to big cities

Cultural Differences North –Fast –paced lifestyle –Work outside the home South –Farming –Old fashioned –Self-sufficient –Land of chivalry

Political Differences North –Federal Power South –State Power Virginia

Range of Opinions Proslavery –Southern Plantation owners who believed in slavery and its necessity for daily life Popular Sovereignty –Belief that residents of a territory should be able to choose for themselves Free Soil –A political party formed to oppose the extension of slavery within the US Abolition –The ending of legalized slavery

Congressional Efforts at Settling the Issue Missouri Compromise Missouri Compromise –A series of laws enacted in 1820 to maintain the balance of power between slave states and free states –Maine = free –Missouri = slave

Congressional Efforts at Settling the Issue Compromise of 1850: Fugitive Slave Law California = free; Utah and New Mexico use popular sovereignty for slavery Slave trade in DC is illegal, but not slavery Stricter fugitive slave laws

Congressional Efforts at Settling the Issue Popular Sovereignty Intention to allow people to choose for themselves in their own territory Effect on Kansas – flooded with pro and anti slavery folks – led to riots John Brown – remember him?

Civil War Secession Map

cwmap.pdf

1. Abolition Movement, Garrison, Douglass A.Movement to outlaw slavery, Garrison - radical white abolitionist (The Liberator), Douglass - former slave, powerful writer and speaker B. Brought more attention to issue nationally and to whites

2. Nat Turner’s Rebellion A.Attacked 4 plantations, killed 60 whites B. Strengthened southern resolve to defend slavery

3. Fugitive Slave Act A.Harsh laws stripped fugitives of trial by jury, could not testify on own behalf, heavy fines for helping runaways B.Many northerners angered by laws, wanted to organize groups to get slaves to Canada, passed personal liberty laws for fugitives, southern slave owners enraged

4. Harriet Tubman and the Underground RR A.Network of people who helped slaves escape to north and then Can. Tubman helped 300, 19 trips B. Many arrived to freedom

5.H.B. Stowe and Uncle Tom’s Cabin A.Abolitionist publishes book in 1852 about the evils of slavery B. Book was in response to Fugitive Slave Law, bestseller that horrified many, south felt it was a criticism on way of life

6. Bleeding Kansas A.Violence in Kansas to decide slavery for the territory B. Violent battlefield, foreshadowing of Civil War

7. Dred Scott v. Sanford A.Filed lawsuit that he should be free because he lived in free territory many years, owner died B.Court ruled that Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional, Congress couldn’t forbid slavery in territories, it interfered w/ 5 th Amendment right to hold property South – cheered North – felt that Supreme Court cleared the way for the extension of slavery

8. Harper’s Ferry and John Brown A.John Brown lead a raid on a federal arsenal with plans to distribute weapons to slaves and start an uprising B.Uprising unsuccessful, Brown hoped to start a war abolition of slavery, but he’s executed, some see him as a martyr South – outraged, suspicious of north, many call for disunion or secession

Lincoln-Douglas Debates A.Lincoln (R) and Douglas (D) debate in race for Senate, Douglas reelected B.Douglas weakened in south, Lincoln gives famous speech “ A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this gov’t cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free…”

The Election of 1860 A.Lincoln elected to presidency, 1 st Rep. pres. Only wins 39% of pop. Vote B.Shows how divided the nation is

Southern Secession A.South Carolina leaves Union B.By Feb. 1861, 6 more states leave forming Confederate States of America  Civil War