1. What were the long term causes of the American Civil War? 1861-65
Learning Objectives:
To identify the long term causes of the American Civil War
To evaluate which of these causes was the main reason for war

2. Think, Pair, Share What is a Civil War?
What might cause Americans to fight against Americans in the 1800s?

3. What were the long term causes of the American Civil War?
As you watch the following clip note down as many reasons as you can why there was a Civil War in America in the 1860’s.
How many did you get?
What do you think was the key reason for this war?

4. ‘A divided nation’ Key differences between Northern and Southern States
The North
Rapid Industrialisation. 85 % all factories and 92% all iron and steel production in the North
Over 70% Railroad tracks
3 times the white population of the South
Strong Anti-slavery movement (Abolished slavery in all Northern states)
7 out of 10 immigrants from Europe stayed in the North
The South
Mostly rural with plantations and small farms growing rice, cotton and tobacco
Economy relied on cotton
Produced only 10% of nation’s manufactured goods
3 million slaves out of a population of 9 million
Slavery still legal

5. Key differences between the North and South: States versus the Federal Government
A big issue right before the Civil War was how much power the federal government really should have over its people. The people in the north believed in a strong federal government. The southern states believed that each state government should have more power, and should be able to make important decisions on its own. Southerners claimed that the federal government wasn't allowed to stop them for having slavery because of the 10th Amendment.

6. Task:
In groups you need to use the packs to research the key long term causes of the American Civil war
You need to complete the table ensuring you cover the key points
Do not forget to rate each cause/event out of 5.
(1 being least likely to cause a war and 5 being most likely)

7. 1. Key differences between the North and South
Rate this cause 1-5

8. Rate this cause
1-5
2. The issue of Slavery
The first African slaves were brought to North America in 1619 to work on sugar and tobacco farms
In 1808 the international slave trade was abolished.
Many thought it would end soon in America
BUT, over the next 50 years the South became more united in favour of keeping slavery.
Slavery was profitable for the South with the rise in production of cotton. It was a crop which needed cheap labour – slaves.
America was divided into states allowing slavery, (slave states), and states against it, (free states).

9. Free States
Against Slavery
(Abolitionists)
Slave States
Pro-Slavery

10. 3. The Missouri Compromise
Rate this cause
1-5
3. The Missouri Compromise
This compromise kept the balance between
free and slave states and ended the debate in Congress over slavery in the new states for a while.

11. 4. Westward Expansion The Compromise of 1850:
Rate
this cause
1-5
4. Westward Expansion
The Compromise of 1850:
Saw the admission of California as a free state
The organization of the new territories of New Mexico and Utah, with the slavery issue left to those citizens
Kansas Nebraska Act, 1854
Opened the door for slavery in Kansas and Nebraska.
Increased tensions and mistrust between the North and South

12. 5. Nat Turner’s rebellion, 1831
Rate this cause
1-5
5. Nat Turner’s rebellion, 1831
Nat Turner’s rebellion in southern Virginia saw about 60 white people killed . In the end Turner and 54 other slaves were executed for this revolt. Over 200 more were murdered by mobs. This rebellion was the bloodiest in slave uprisings.
It resulted in laws that restricted religious assembly for slaves (without the presence of a White minister) and for teaching slaves to read or write.

13. 6. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s, ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’
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1-5
6. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s, ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’
Published in 1852 this book showed slavery as a brutal, cruel system.
The book inspired strong feeling in the North and the South
‘So you’re the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war.’
Abraham Lincoln

14. 7. John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry
Rate this cause
1-5
7. John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry
In October 1859, anti-slavery campaigner John Brown led a raid on a weapons store at Harper’s ferry
The aim was to spark a slave uprising
Brown failed and was hung.
He became a martyr for the campaign against slavery
The South believed the Federal government was behind the attack

15. Which of these events was most important in causing the American Civil War?
You must remember to explain your reasons why.
Least important
More important

16. Level 1: Answer shows knowledge of the key features (1-2 marks)
Describe two differences between the Northern and Southern states in the 1840s (4 marks)
Level 1: Answer shows knowledge of the key features (1-2 marks)
Level 2 Answer shows clear knowledge and understanding of the key features (3-4)
The southern states used slave labour to grow crops like cotton, rice and tobacco on their plantations. In the North they did not have slavery and had more factories and railroad lines.
Can you improve on this?

17. Describe two differences between the Northern and Southern states in the 1840s. (4 marks)
In the Southern States farming was a key strength of their economy. Due to the climate and geography of the southern states they could grow crops such cotton, rice and tobacco on their plantations. It was cotton which made them wealthy as they supplied it to Britain and Europe. The plantation system relied on slave labour, unlike the Northern states which had banned slavery and had a growing anti-slavery movement working to end slavery throughout America. In the North, whilst farming was still important the states were much more industrialised, with 85% of all factories based in the North and 70% of all railroad lines. The South only produced 10% of the nation’s goods and had a limited railroad network. With 3 times the population of the South the North had more workers with a steady supply of immigrants coming from Europe. This was unlike the South which had to rely on slave labour to work on the plantations.