The Causes of the Civil War Essay

1. The Causes of the Civil War Essay U.S. History

2. Introduction: First Sentence • should establish the topic and/or grab the readers attention. • should establish the time period of the essay • If not in the first sentence, you must establish the topic of your writing somewhere in your introduction • Move towards your thesis

3. Introduction: First Sentence (ex.1) The United States witnessed a division of itself in 1861, when eleven southern states seceded from the Union and attempted to establish the Confederate States of America.

4. Introduction: First Sentence (ex.2) In 1861, a Civil War broke out in the United States when the South declared their independence from the Union.

5. Introduction: First Sentence (ex.3) In 1858, the Republican Senate candidate from Illinois paraphrased the (New Testament) when he remarked, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

6. Introduction: Background Details In 1858, the Republican Senate candidate from Illinois paraphrased the (New Testament) when he remarked, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” The candidate, referring to the widening political, social and economic division between the industrial, free North and agricultural, slave South, would lose that election, but subsequently win the presidency two years later.

7. Introduction: Background Details In 1858, the Republican Senate candidate from Illinois paraphrased the (New Testament) when he remarked, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” The candidate, referring to the widening political, social and economic division between the industrial, free North and agricultural, slave South, would lose that election, but subsequently win the presidency two years later. Following Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860, eleven southern states seceded from the United States.

8. Introduction: Transition to Thesis In 1858, the Republican Senate candidate from Illinois paraphrased the (New Testament) when he remarked, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” The candidate, referring to the widening political, social and economic division between the industrial, free North and agricultural, slave South, would lose that election, but subsequently win the presidency two years later. Following Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860, eleven southern states seceded from the United States. Their attempt to form an independent Confederate States did not result from one single event in time, but rather stemmed from divisive events going back at least a decade.

9. Introduction: Thesis • In 1858, the Republican Senate candidate from Illinois paraphrased the (New Testament) when he remarked, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” The candidate, referring to the widening political, social and economic division between the industrial, free North and agricultural, slave South, would lose that election, but subsequently win the presidency two years later. Following Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860, eleven southern states seceded from the United States. Their attempt to form an independent Confederate States did not result from one single event in time, but rather stemmed from divisive events going back at least a decade. The outbreak of the Civil War was rooted in the failed compromises and political upheaval of the 1850s.

10. Supporting Reasons A. The failure of the Compromise of 1850 and popular sovereignty B. The violence of Bleeding Kansas and John Browns raid C. The Southern fear that abolitionism would sweep the country

11. A. The failure of the Compromise of 1850 and popular sovereignty 1. The Compromise of 1850 did not fully satisfy each side, the North was upset over the Fugitive Slave Act, South upset over California as a free state and North outnumbering the South for votes 2. Popular sovereignty left open the possibility of slavery expanding westward, but did not solve the problem 3. No other compromise had worked before or after these events (Missouri Comp., Crittenden Comp)

12. B. The violence of Bleeding Kansas and John Browns raid 1. The Kansas-Nebraska Act led to undemocratic elections as voters from Missouri flooded the state 2. The act led to violence known as Bleeding Kansas 3. John Brown responded by murdering pro-slavery men

13. C. The Southern fear that abolitionism would sweep the country 1. John Brown’s raid made southerners believe that more abolitionists would invade the South 2. The North had more money and political influence than the South 3. Lincoln’s election was evidence that the country would soon abolish slavery

14. Conclusion • Re-state your thesis. Use different wording. • Give a preview of events that occur next • Explain the significance of your topic