1. Civil War and Reconstruction Causes of the Civil War
SS8H6 The student will analyze the impact of the Civil War and Reconstruction on Georgia.
a. Explain the importance of key issues and events that led to the Civil War; include slavery, states’ rights, nullification, Missouri Compromise, Compromise of 1850 and the Georgia Platform, Kansas-Nebraska Act, Dred Scott case, election of 1860, the debate over secession in Georgia, and the role of Alexander Stephens.

2. Election of 1860 and Slavery
As the nation headed toward the election of 1860, the issue of slavery continued to divide the nation.
Political parties disagreed over the issue… even within the same political party.

3. Election of 1860- Democrats
Democratic Party Split Over the Issue of Slavery
Northern- Stephen A. Douglas
Party wanted popular sovereignty
Southern- John C. Breckinridge
Believed slavery should be allowed in all territories

4. Election of 1860-Constitutional Union Party
Candidate- John Bell
Platform- Preserve the Union... compromise
Recognize no political principle other than THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COUNTRY, THE UNION OF THE STATES, AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS.
They hoped that by failing to take a firm stand either for or against slavery or its expansion, the issue could be pushed aside.

5. Election of 1860- Republicans
Candidate- Abraham Lincoln
Republican Platform
Prevent expansion of slavery in new territories.
Said would not try to end it in the slave states.

6. Abraham Lincoln is Elected
Abraham Lincoln won election for President of the US.
For the first time, a party getting votes from only one section of the nation (North) won the election.
40% of Popular Vote
59% of Electoral Vote
His name was not on the ballot in the Southern States.

7. The Debate over Secession
Talk of secession grew after Lincoln was elected.
Southerners were for the most part, for the Union, but they were even more strongly for state’s rights.
They believed that Lincoln would lead the federal government to abolish slavery.

8. Debate in Georgia and Alexander Stephens
Alexander Stephens of Crawfordville was a member of the U.S. Congress.
While in congress he helped pass the Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

9. Debate in Georgia and Alexander Stephens
Stephens believed in the right to own slaves, but he argued against seceding.
He said that the election of a man who was selected by the people constitutionally is not cause to separate from the Union.
He also stated that the people of Georgia should uphold the Constitution.
Others that argued against seceding from the Union included representatives from Northern counties, small farmers, and non-slave owners.

10. Other Side of the Debate
Large farm and plantation owners, other slave owners, and powerful and influential men such as Georgia Governor Joseph E. Brown and Robert Toombs all argued to leave the Union.
Each had a social and economic interest in the continuation of slavery.

11. Secession
Georgia’s General Assembly voted 208 to 89 in favor of seceding from the Union.
On January 19, 1861, Georgia was the 5th state to secede from the Union and joined the Confederacy (South Carolina was the first to secede).
Official called the Confederate States of America.

12. Alexander Stephens
Stephens became the vice president of the Confederacy… Jefferson Davis was selected as president.
He was a brilliant politician, but due to his small size could not offer much once the focus turned to fighting the war.
After the war, he was jailed for 5 years. He was once again elected as a U.S. Senator. However, the Senate Republicans refused to allow him to serve so soon after the war.
He was later elected as U.S. Representative in
He was elected Governor of Georgia in 1882 and died in 1883.
Stephens County is named in his honor.