1. Unit 10, Lecture 1 Tensions Leading up to the Civil War
Mr. Smith
8th grade U.S. History
February 8th & 9th, 2012

2. Sectionalism
During Andrew Jackson’s presidential tenure, the country was being pulled apart by conflicts among the three main sections:
The Northeast, the South, and the West
Additionally, there were three main issues
The sale of public lands, internal improvements, and tariffs

3. Tariff of Abominations
Southerners were outraged
They had to sell cotton at low prices to be competitive, yet pay high prices for Northern manufactured goods.
South Carolina was experiencing a slumping economy
John C. Calhoun brought up the doctrine of nullification
A state has the right to nullify, or reject, a federal law that it considers unconstitutional
Nullification is a direct challenge to the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution

4. The States’ Rights Debate
Mixed attitudes
Some supported strong federal government
Others defended the rights of the states
1830, Webster-Hayne debate
Hayne = supported nullification
Webster = against nullification

5. Antislavery and Racism
Antislavery movement gained strength since the 1830s
Abolitionists believe slavery was immoral and it should be abolished immediately
Northern workers opposed slavery because it was an economic threat to them – cheaper labor
Some even felt that eventually they might be forced into slavery to find work
Make no mistake about it, Northerners were still racist.
They refused to go to school with, work with, or live near African Americans
Reason Southerners justified the institution of slavery.
White were superior to blacks (in their opinion)
Introduced them to Christianity
Provided food and shelter

6. The North
With the coming of the Industrial Revolution, the Northerners were industrialists.
Numerous factories  requiring labor (usually young women) and huge amount of raw materials  finished product = manufactured goods

7. The South The Southerners were agrarians.
The wealthy, elite Southerners had vast plantations that required in excess of over 100 laborers, in some cases almost 400 laborers.
Economical and efficient to adopt and run the slavery system.
Take away slavery – the South would be drastically different

8. The Cotton Boom Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin in 1793
Made cotton cleaning far more efficient
Changed Southern life by
Began a westward movement
Caused greater growth of cotton
Native Americans were pushed off Southern lands
Slaves in the east region were sold to the west and south regions

9. Slavery “_ _ _ _ _ _ _”
With Whitney’s invention, the South could now use less slaves and still get the same amount of cotton or even more, so they stopped…right?
Actually they did the opposite…
Slavery E X P A N D E D (fill in above) from 1793 to 1860
Cotton export earnings change:
$22 million
1830s - $200 million
Slave field hand price change
1790s - $300
1830s - $1000