1. Causes of the Civil War

2. Essay Question What was the true cause of the American Civil War? Why?
(Slavery, Popular Sovereignty/States’ Rights, or Sectionalism?)

3. Essay Structure (At least 5 sentences)
1. Introduction: Background of North and South, Definition of major topic, Thesis
(At least 5 sentences)
2. First Body Paragraph: Sub-topic to support your thesis (At least 8 sentences)
3. Second Body Paragraph: Sub-topic to support your thesis
(At least 8 sentences)
4. Third Body Paragraph: Sub-topic to support your thesis (At least 8 sentences)
5. Conclusion: Reworded Thesis, wrapping up your argument

4. Quotations that further your argument:
Primary Sources
Instructions: I would like you to go through the Primary Source documents that have been provided and summarize at least 6 sources. First give the name of that Primary Source. Then give the author. Next, summarize what the author is trying to say on their specific subject. Lastly, write down at least two quotes from each source to help your overall argument in ‘what was the true cause of the American Civil War?’ You must concentrate on six Primary Sources that could support your thesis.
Primary Source #1
Author: ________________________ Source: _______________________________ 
Summary: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Quotations that further your argument:
“________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________”

5. Primary Source Usage:
“One reason the Civil War should be considered the first modern war was that it was far more destructive than past wars, resulting in loss of life and property far greater than ever been see before. During the Civil War, casualty figures were even no longer measured in the thousands or the tens of thousands, but instead in the hundreds of thousands which was similar to the 20th century figures”.

6. Primary Source Usage:
“One reason the Civil War should be considered the first modern war was that it was far more destructive than past wars, resulting in loss of life and property far greater than ever been see before. During the Civil War, casualty figures were even no longer measured in the thousands or the tens of thousands, but instead in the hundreds of thousands which was similar to the 20th century figures. The story of Lt. Abner Small was typical; he joined the war at its start in 1861 with 200 other young men from his hometown. By the end of the war, 113 of them were dead, including Small. Similarly, Jennie Wade of Gettysburg learned firsthand that the nature of war had changed. Previously, civilians were left along during times of war. Jennie’s hometown was overrun by Union and Confederate soldiers. Farms were destroyed, and critical supplies were taken away. ‘My home!’ declared Wade, ‘It shall never recover from these depredations.’ Jennie Wade witnessed the true horror of war at her own home.

7. Body Paragraph (Description)
Nat Turner was a slave who a believed that he was chosen by God to free the slaves by any means necessary. Turner rallied several slaves on his plantation and attacked his plantation owner and his family in the dead of night. Turner and the slaves he rallied to start the rebellion killed all the members of his owner’s family and then moved from plantation to plantation, killing plantation owners and freeing slaves.
From his own words, Nat Turner says in his “Confessions of Nat Turner” that “it was my object to carry terror and devastations everywhere we went.” According to a news report from the Raleigh Register published September 1, 1831, 59 people were killed by the hands of Nat Turner and his accomplices including women and children. With the death of this many people, it appears that Turner met his goal.

8. Body Paragraph (Analysis)
Nat Turner’s rebellion caused Southern slave owners to fear that their slaves may rebel against them. There are many slaves who were killed by their owners for suspicion of planning a revolt. This proves that slavery was the cause of the Civil War because the harsh treatment of slaves would only lead to more slave revolts. According to statistical accounts there were 313 slave revolts across the South prior to the Civil War. These revolts caused paranoia across the South where many feared of future slave revolts.
This fear is shown by a news article published on September 15th, 1831 by the Raleigh Register where they report “We are all now quiet: the fright produced on the negroes of the different plantations is great indeed” This fear will tighten the hold slaveholders have on their slaves and continue the nation down a path toward Civil War

9. Listing of Popular Sovereignty Slavery Sectionalism topics 1. Slavery
5. Nullification Crisis
11. Compromise of 1850
13. Kansas- Nebraska Act
14. Lincoln/Douglas Debates
15. Bleeding Kansas/Border War
16. Dred Scott Case
Slavery
Sectionalism
2. 3/5 Compromise
3. Popular Sovereignty
4. Missouri Compromise
6. Mexican War
8. Abolitionists
9. Nat Turner
11. Compromise of 1850
12. Uncle Tom’s Cabin
13. Kansas-Nebraska Act
16. Dred Scott Case
17. John Brown’s Raid
18. Election of 1860
1. Slavery
3. Popular Sovereignty
2. 3/5 Compromise
4. Missouri Compromise
6. Mexican War
12. Uncle Tom’s Cabin
16. Dred Scott Case
17. John Brown’s Raid
The Election of 1860
7. Regional Economic Differences
Listing of
topics

10. Credits Pictures YouTube videos
YouTube videos