1. Reaching the Breaking Point
Unit 6, Lesson 4

2. Essential Idea
The United States broke apart after Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860, and his effort to preserve the Union started the Civil War.

3. Republican Party Platform
1860:
Election of 1860
Details:
Republicans did not want slavery to expand to the West
Lincoln was NOT an abolitionist, but also did NOT want slavery to expand

4. The Breaking Point: Election of 1860
Southerners saw Lincoln as an enemy and would not even put his name on the ballot
However, Lincoln won EVERY state in the North and West and won the election

5. The Union Begins to Break
Reactions:
The South felt it had no power left in the federal government
Southern states began seceding (breaking away) from the United States to form their own country

6. Secession 1861: Secession Begins Details:
South Carolina seceded from the United States first in late 1860
By the time Lincoln was sworn into office, the seven states in the “lower South,” had seceded
Confederate States of America—these states formed this new government (the Confederacy)
Jefferson Davis was president of the Confederacy

8. A Last Ditch Effort 1861: Crittenden Compromise Details:
Crittenden Compromise—this last ditch effort proposed bringing back the Missouri Compromise line and extending it to the West coast
It failed because Lincoln refused to violate his promise to keep slavery from spreading west

9. Lincoln becomes President
1861:
Fort Sumter Attacked
Details:
By Lincoln’s inauguration, the Confederacy claimed federal forts in the South
Lincoln Elected

10. Showdown at Fort Sumter
Lincoln decided to resupply Fort Sumter, located on an island off the coast of South Carolina
South Carolina claimed the fort belonged to the Confederacy

11. Fort Sumter Attacked
When Fort Sumter refused to surrender, South Carolina bombed the fort
Using violence and force, South Carolina captured Fort Sumter
Result:
The Civil War began
Fort Sumter

12. Losing the Upper South The Upper South Secedes:
After Fort Sumter fell, Lincoln called on all states to send him troops
This forced states to choose a side—the Union or the Confederacy
“Upper South” states, including Virginia and North Carolina, chose to secede and join the Confederacy
Richmond, Virginia became the capital of the Confederacy

13. Keeping the Border States
Border States—formed the border between the North and South that had slavery but had not seceded
Lincoln was desperate to keep the border states from seceding, especially Maryland
If Maryland seceded, Washington, D.C. would be surrounded by Confederate states (Maryland and Virginia)

14. Keeping the Border States
Violating the Constitution?
To keep Maryland, Lincoln imposed martial law and held supervised elections
Marylanders who spoke of secession were put in jail without a trial
Many felt Lincoln violated the Constitution to keep Maryland

16. Review of the Causes of the Civil War
1. Federal Power
Southerners felt the federal government had too much power over the states
Federal plans like Hamilton’s Financial Plan, the American System, BUS were hated by southern states
Southerners thought a strong federal government could take away the states’ “right” to slavery
Many southern states believed in “nullification”

17. Review of the Causes of the Civil War
2. Vision for Country
The North favored manufacturing and commerce but the South favored a cotton-based economy
Federal tariffs protected northern businesses but hurt southerners
The “Tariff of Abominations” caused the Nullification Crisis

18. Review of the Causes of the Civil War
3. Westward Expansion
As the country expanded, the North and South contended over making new states free or slave
The Louisiana Purchase, the Oregon Treaty, the Annexation of Texas, and the Mexican War brought in new land
Compromises like the Missouri Compromise and Compromise of 1850 ultimately failed

19. Legal Status of Slavery from 1776 to 1860
Analyze.

20. Review of the Causes of the Civil War
4. Slavery
Over time, the North and South grew more divided over slavery
The Second Great Awakening, abolitionist movement, Fugitive Slave Act, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Kansas-Nebraska Act, and Republican party contributed to this divide

21. Review of the Causes of the Civil War
5. Election of Lincoln
When Republican Lincoln was elected, the South saw him as a threat to slavery
Southern states “nullified” the election by seceding from the Union
Lincoln’s effort to stop secession led to violence, starting the Civil War

22. Purpose of the Civil War
Lincoln’s purpose of the Civil War was to PRESERVE THE UNION
Lincoln’s purpose was NOT to end slavery, at first