Key Causes of US Civil War

1. Key Causes of US Civil War

3. Recap • North more urbanized and industrial than south • South more agricultural and rural than north • Northern politics dominated by Whigs • Southern politics dominated by Democrats • South and democrats dominated federal politics • Up to 1860: • 50/70 years of presidents been Southern • 23/36 Speakers of the House been Southern • Every supreme court had Southern majority

4. 1820 Missouri Compromise • 1819 = 22 states • 11 free (NJ, PA, CT, MA, NH, NY, RI, VT, OH, IN, IL) • 11 slave (DE, GA, MD, SC, VA, NC, KY, TN, LA, MS, AL) • Missouri (slave state) applies to join USA • Missouri Compromise: • Missouri join as a slave state • Maine get created as a free state • No new state in Louisiana Purchase (North of 36° 30’) to be slave state

6. 1828 Tariff of Abomination • Federal tariff designed to help Northern industry. Unpopular in South. • South Carolina – lead by VP Calhoun – claimed not every state had to follow federal law • “States rights” were greater than federal law • Eventually a compromise was reached • Showed potential split in USA

7. Up to 1850 • Only Arkansas (slave) and Michigan (free) had been admitted. 13 vs 13. • 1848 USA won US vs Mexico War • Gained California, New Mexico • Also gained Oregon from the UK • California, Utah, New Mexico, Kansas, Texas and Nebraksa all close to seeking admission to USA

9. 3 Options • Wilmot Proviso • Slavery outlawed in every state • The Proviso was defeated, but it proved a rallying cry in the North • Calhoun Doctrine • Slaves are property. People are free to take property anywhere in USA. Congress has no right to enforce Missouri Compromise. • Popular Sovereignty • Let each new state decide using popular voting

10. 1850 Compromise • California admitted as a free state • Utah & New Mexico can apply under popular sovereignty • Slave trade abolished in Washington DC But… • Slave Fugitive Act passed • Southern slave owners could go into the North to retrieve run-away slave

12. Harriet Beecher Stowe • 1851 Stowe published Uncle Tom’s Cabin • Highly influential, especially in the north • Summary of the book

13. 1854 Kansas-Nebraska • Law passed that both Kansas and Nebraska could apply for statehood under popular sovereignty. • This goes against Missouri Compromise. • Outcry in the north – seen as southern dominated congress pushing it through. • Nebraska too northern to be slave state • Kansas however becomes a battle ground • Bleeding Kansas • Brooks beats Sumner in Congress

14. 1857 Dred Scott Case • Scott was a Missouri owned slave who travelled to Illinois with his master. • Scott claimed he was now a free citizen, as Illinois was a free state • Main argument put forward here • Supreme court voted against 5:4 • 5 southerners vs 4 northerners • Outcry in North

15. Rise of Republican Party • Whigs became very unpopular • 2 died in office (Harrison & Taylor) • Last Whig Pres (Fillmore) passed Slave Fugitive Act • This ensured party was dead in the North • Republican Party created 1854 • Platform of progress and anti-slavery • Very popular in the North • Little-known Lincoln joins 1856. 1860 he is President.

16. Lincoln-Douglas debates • Lincoln (R) and Douglas (D) entered 7 debates for 1858 Senate race of Illinois • Legendary for debates on slavery • Made Lincoln (and Douglas) into national figures – debates heavily followed and read • Lincoln lost senate race • Had last laugh as in 1860 he was President • Video

17. 1858 Lecompton Constitution • Following fraudulent elections, Kansas voted for slave state • Despite obvious fraud, Pres Buchanan sided with vote • Republicans and North very anti Lecompton • Eventually House of Reps demanded revote • 1861 Kansas joined as free state • More info

18. 1859 John Brown’s Raid • John Brown raided Harpers’ Ferry arsenal • Attempt to arm slaves and encourage rioting • Large Northern financial backing • Took most of the weapons • Ultimately defeated by Robert E Lee • Concerned Southerners • YouTube video

19. 1860 Election of Lincoln • Lincoln was surprise nominee for Republicans • He was Northern and not a slave owner • Lincoln’s stated stance was that slavery shouldn’t be abolished but its growth halted. • Southerners didn’t trust him • Lincoln’s election was final straw

20. 1860 Election

21. Reasons why South should NOT secede • Lincoln stated he would not interfere with states who currently have slavery • ”I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.” (Lincoln’s first inaugural speech) • The South still controlled Supreme Court, and Senate • Secession would mean end of the Slave Fugitive Act – no more collecting slaves • If no other states seceded, you’d be on own.

22. Reasons to secede • South had enough • Relations between the North and South had deteriorated beyond repair. North was beginning to gain upper hand in politics – esp. Republicans. • Lincoln was an unknown and unpopular in South • No slave state voted for him • Lincoln was depicted as an abolitionist.

23. Secession • Lincoln elected Nov 6 but not inaugurated until March 4th

24. Confederacy • 4 Feb Confederacy created • Jefferson Davis made president • Robert E Lee Commander • Created flag, taxes and army

25. Lincoln’s reaction • Viewed it as slave-owner conspiracy • Only Texas had referendum, rest done by caucus of slave owners • Viewed secession as illegal “You have no oath registered in Heaven to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn one to preserve, protect and defend it.” • Abhorred war, but accepted it as the only means to save the Union • Called for states to send men for armies

26. Boarder States • Both sides realised these were highly important

27. Charm offensive from both sides. • Eventually Virginia, Arkansas, N Carolina and Tennessee all secede and join Confederacy • But Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, Kentucky and W Virginia become the only slave states in the Union. Large moral victory for North.

29. Start of Civil War • Attack at Fort Sumter • Federal fort in S Carolina • It needed supplies • South would not allow new supplies • Opened fire on Fort Sumter on April 12 1861.

30. Who had the upper hand at the start? • YouTube clip