1. Causes of the Civil War

2. Sectional Tensions
The US expanded west from 13 colonies across the continent.
New land gained would become federal territories before becoming states.
Federal – relates to the central gov’t of the USA
States had more freedom from federal control than territories.

3. The two main regions of the USA were the North and the South.
Three main differences between the regions:
Slavery
Economic differences
Cultural differences

4. Slavery and the Missouri Compromise
By 1820, all the Northern states had banned slavery.
Slavery was integral to the Southern economy.
More than 1/3 of the people in the South were slaves.
Would new states allow slavery?
USA needed a balance between “free” and “slave” states for political stability.

5. Missouri Compromise
In 1820, Missouri petitioned to be admitted as a slave state.
Would create more slave than free states.
By this time many Northerners were abolitionists.
Abolitionists – people who opposed slavery.

6. Congress created a compromise.
Missouri would join as a slave state.
Maine would join as a free state.
In the Louisiana Territory no slavery north of latitude 36˚ 30’

8. Economic Differences By 1860, 18 free states and 15 slave states.
Population:
North – million
South – 10.5 million

9. Northern economy
Industrial
Engineering and textiles

10. Southern economy Agrarian (farming-based)
By 1860, only 8% of US factories were in the South
Cotton, Rice, and tobacco

11. Impacts of Foreign Competition
Cotton prices dropped.
South supported free trade.
Free trade- Trade that is not restricted by regulations or tariffs.
North supported tariffs.
Tariffs – Taxes paid on certain imported and exported goods.

12. Cultural Differences Honor (or Honour for the British spelling)
Very important in the South. Would be defended to the death.
Southern nationalism based on:
Slavery
Chivalry
Strong Christian faith
Northern identity based on:
Free labor
Liberty
Puritanical Christianity

13. Political Issues Political Parties
Sources of disunity, especially on slavery issue
1840s, two parties – Democrats and Whigs

14. Democrats Whigs Focused on rural and agricultural America
Suspicious of federal gov’t
Southern Democrats opposed to growing power of the federal gov’t.
Northern Democrats less so.
Whigs
Focused on industrialization and cities
Bigger federal gov’t to grow economy

15. The war with Mexico 1845 - USA annexed Texas.
Mexico refused to accept.
James K. Polk elected president in 1844.
Expansionist
Believed in Manifest Destiny – America was ordained by God to control the continent.
Caused war by sending troops to Mexican border.

16. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Treaty ending war with Mexico.
USA won and gained Upper California and New Mexico. Rio Grande the border . Called Mexican Cession.
Issue arose due to slavery. Would new territories be free or slave? How would representation be divided?

18. Wilmot Proviso Gave money to buy more land from Mexico.
Called for all land from Mexico to outlaw slavery.
Not passed – Congress voted along sectional lines.

19. Redistribution of seats in the House of Representatives
Congressional seats redistributed every 10 years based on population.
South gradually losing seats caused fear the North would begin to control country.

20. Compromise of 1850 The Compromise of 1850
California admitted as a free state.
“Popular sovereignty” for territory gained in the Mexican-American War. People living in the territory could decide if they wanted slavery.
No slave trade in DC

22. Compromise of 1850 The Compromise of 1850 Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
Required free states to help return runaway slaves to their owners in the South.

23. Accusation that someone was a fugitive slave was enough to have the apprehended.
No legal option for accused slaves.

24. Uncle Tom’s Cabin Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe Anti-slavery novel
Best selling novel of the 19th century
Depicted the horrors of slavery and boosted the abolitionist cause.

25. Huge impact Lincoln called her the little woman who started this war.
Today criticized for its stereotypical portrayal of African-Americans.

26. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854
Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois wanted the unorganized territories in the Louisiana Purchase to be organized.
Settlers would move in
Gov’t to build transcontinental railroad

27. Douglas’s bill would create 2 new territories and allow popular sovereignty.
Kansas
Nebraska
Kansas-Nebraska Act split both the Democratic and Whig parties on sectional lines.

29. The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed.
Effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise – state choice over federal law
South loved but North hated

30. ‘Bleeding Kansas’ In 1854 – 1400 people lived in Kansas
People rushed into Kansas to effect the vote on if the state would be free or slave.
Pro-slave had the advantage – slave state Missouri bordered

31. Free-state and slave state supporters flooded into Kansas.
Border Ruffians attacked free-state town of Lawrence.
John Brown responded by killing pro-slave supporters.

32. The Dred Scott Decision, 1857
Major Supreme Court case.
Dred Scott sued for his freedom because he had lived in a free state.
Ruling:
Dred Scott was not a citizen and had no right to sue.
Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. Slaves were property and had no right to take property away, or limit property rights.