1. The Road to Civil War
American History 20G

2. What do we already know about the USA in the 19th Century (1800’s)
Cotton & Slavery
South vs. North
Underground Railroad

3. Five Causes of the Civil War
States’ Rights
Economic differences between the North and South
Westward expansion and slavery
Slaveholders vs. Abolitionists
Abraham Lincoln’s election
How did the USA get to that point?

4. Secession
To withdraw formally from an alliance or union.

5. The Road to Civil War
The rift between the southern and northern states grew stronger as new states wanted to be part of the Union.
There were 22 states in the Union: 11 Free & 11 Slave
In 1820 Missouri wants to be considered as a slave state.
The national government tried to ensure that the Union would stay together.

6. The Missouri Compromise (1820)
Would allow Missouri to join the Union as a slave state if Maine could join as a free state.
Established a “border” between slave and free states.
This compromise was effective for a number of years – almost thirty! However, after about 1850, problems began to occur and the compromise was less and less effective.

8. COMPROMISE OF 1850
COMPROMISE AGAIN! With the USA acquiring new territories, the balance between slave and free states was only temporary.
1.) California enters as a FREE state.
2.) Area from Mexican Cession divided into Utah and New Mexico. Slavery issue to be decided by local populations.
3.) ENDED slave trading in Washington D.C.
4.) Made the Fugitive Slave Law
Again, problems get better for a short period of time and then became worse

9. FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW (1850) This law was part of the compromise of 1850.
It was a law that REQUIRED citizens to catch runaway slaves.
If a person did not comply, they cold be fined up to $1000 or put in jail for SIX months.
MANY blacks who were free were captured and sent back into slavery.
Northerners HATED this law because it forced them to become a part of the system of slavery.

10. UNCLE TOM’S CABIN (1852)
This was a NOVEL written by Harriett Beecher Stowe.
It was written to show the EVILS of slavery by telling the story of an older slave who was whipped to death by his owner.
After reading it, MANY Northerners began to change their view of slavery.
Southerners said the book was full of LIES!

11. KANSAS-NEBRASKA ACT (1854)
Divides lands into Kansas and Nebraska territories.
Decided that SLAVERY issue would be decided by local populations.
Led to violence in the Senate.
Pro-slavery and Anti-slavery settlers in ONE AREA and this leads to conflict!
Northerners believe this REVERSES the Missouri Compromise.
Democratic senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois sponsored this bill.

12. DRED SCOTT DECISION (1857) Dred Scott was a slave.
He had lived in a free territory with his owner.
His owner moved back into a slave state.
While there, the owner died.
Scott had ABOLITIONIST attorneys file a law suit for him.
It went to the Supreme Court but he LOST.
The Court ruled he was NOT a citizen but RATHER property and therefore he could not file a lawsuit.
Southerners LOVED the ruling while Northerners HATED it.

13. Election of 1860
Stephen Douglas (Democrat) believed in deciding slavery by popular sovereignty.
Abraham Lincoln (Republican) believed that slavery should NOT be allowed to spread into the territories.
Lincoln wins!

15. Secession
After the 1860 election, Southerners believed that the election of a president who was against slavery threatened the survival of the South.
December 20, 1860: South Carolina was the first state to secede.
Six other states seceded in the following weeks
In February, 1861 the seceded states joined together to create the Confederate States of America (CSA).

16. Civil War begins…
The Confederacy attacked Fort Sumter (a federal army base in the newly formed Confederacy)
The Civil War began. (Fort Sumter – page 17)

17. The American Civil War Worksheet (Answer Key) North South
Population
22,000,000
9,000,000
# of States 24 11
Industrial Development
Industrial, commercial, financial, 92% of nation’s industries
Agricultural
Transportation facilities
Railroads
Limited transportation
Financial Resources
-Owned most of USA’s gold
- Had metals & supplies
Wealth was in slaves and agriculture
Naval Power
Had control of the Navy
Very limited (at least in the beginning

18. Northern Military Strategy:
Northern War Aims:
To restore the Union
After 1862 (freedom for slaves)
Southern War Aims:
A defensive war
Fight for independence
Northern Military Strategy:
Cripple the south by blockading confederate coastline
Split Confederacy in two
Seize Richmond, Virginia
Southern Military Strategy:
Defence! One exception though: attack Maryland & Pennsylvania to disrupt the Union lines of communication

19. Union
Confederate

20. 1) Was successful, over time it became increasingly successful
South had counted on exporting products to help pay for the war.
2) Wanted cheaper goods and wanted another country to sell their manufactured goods to.