Causesof the Civil WarTask

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Causesof the Civil WarTask

Cards

The Civil War was waged because 11 southern states seceded (broke away and started their own government) from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. The secession took place primarily because of a longstanding debate concerning states rights, and more specifically the issue of slavery. As new territories became states, opponents of slavery and advocates of slavery often clashed over whether or not that state should allow slavery. After violence broke out in Kansas over the issue, and after Kansas entered the Union as a free state, southerners began to believe that the new president, Abraham Lincoln would take away their rights to make local decisions and would abolish slavery. Henceforth, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas broke away from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. Richmond, Virginia was made its capital and Jefferson Davis was made president. Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware and Missouri were divided on the issue and were declared "border states". Congress, in an effort to preserve the United States, declared war on the Confederate States of America on April 14, 1861.

Thought Questions:

1. According to the text, what two reasons led to southern states seceding from the United States?

2. The south broke away from the Union and formed its own country. Describe in a paragraph the Confederate States of America. Be sure your paragraph answers the thought questions: who?, what?, why?, when, where?

. . . That on the first day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundredand sixty-three [1863], all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of aState, the people whereof [who] shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shallbe then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the UnitedStates, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom. . . .

Emancipation Proclamation Source: Library of Congress

Directions: Use the excerpt from the Emancipation proclamation, to answer the following thought questions.

Thought Questions:1. When was this document in effect?2. Based on this document, the Emancipation

Proclamation was intended to free slaves in which area?

3. Based on this document, did the Emancipation Proclamation free all of the slaves living in the United States or some? Explain your thoughts. Use text evidence to support your beliefs.

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This excerpt was first published in the abolitionist newspaper The North Star on April 3, 1851. It discusses the Fugitive Slave Law passed by Congress on September 18, 1850.

The following resolutions were adopted at the recent Convention of the Western New York Anti-Slavery Society, held in Corinthian Hall:

Resolved [Agreed], . . .That they who teach obedience to the Fugitive Slave Law, while they admit that the law is unjust, cruel and disgraceful, prove themselves destitute of moral principle, if not of moral sense, and they are to be ranked with the hardened and obdurate [heartless] creatures who, for a few paltry dollars, will perform the disgusting office of slave-catcher to the slaveholder. . . .

Resolved, That we regard the Fugitive Slave Law of the last Congress as a conspiracy against the liberties of our country, which ought to be resisted at all hazards of property and life, by all who love God and revere [honor] the memories of our revolutionary fathers.

Thought Questions: 1. When and why was this document written? 2. Based on this document, how did the writer feel about the

issue of slavery?3. How does the author feel about people who follow the

law? Use text evidence to support your opinion.

Directions: Examine the poster. In your own words describe what kind of event was happening. Who was having this event? What was their point of view? What were they hoping to accomplish? Use the words in the word bank provided to describe what this poster is about. Word Bank: abolitionists, slavery, women, against, freedom,

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Source: Deborah Bingham Van Broekhoven, The Devotion of These Women: Rhode Island in the Antislavery Network, University of Massachusetts Press, 2002 (adapted)

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Thought Questions: 1. Based on these documents, how did the use of the

cotton gin change the way cotton was processed?2. Compare the value of slaves and the amount of

cotton produced in 1800 and in 1860. What was the cost of a slave at an auction before the invention of the cotton gin and after? How much cotton was grown in 1800? How much cotton was grown in 1860?

3. Based on these documents, how did the invention of the cotton gin effect the number of slaves and the amount of cotton grown in the south?

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Directions: Carefully examine task card 5-6. Use the information you have learned to answer the thought questions below.

Historical Context:Eli Whitney invented the mechanical cotton gin in 1793. Before this invention, removing seeds from cotton was very time consuming.

The Story of Eliza Harris escape from slavery which was made famous in the book UncleTom’s Cabin.

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Thought Questions: 1. What caused Eliza to run away from her owners?2. Describe the dangers that Eliza faced on her journey

to freedom?

Copyright @D. Stone September 27, 2013 page 7

Economic and Historical Context:To fight a war and to win each side needs to have certain resources. Historians acknowledge that some of the resources needed to fight a war would be soldiers to fight, money to purchase supplies, food to feed troops, supplies like weapons, clothes, boots, and methods to transport soldiers to areas of battle quickly.

Directions: Carefully examine the graph provided on task card 9. Create a chart indicating the strengths and weaknesses of each side. Be sure to indicate the percentage below.

Economic Factors

NorthS- strength W-weakness

SouthS- strength W-weakness

Ex. Population S-71%More soldiers

W-29%Fewer soldiers

Money

Food

Transport

Supplies

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Look at your photograph carefully and answer as many of these questions as you can: The Setting: Where was the photograph taken — indoors, outdoors, in an urban area, or in the country? During what time of day was it taken? What time of year? How do you know? The People: Who are the people in the photograph — men, women, boys, girls? How old are they? What can you tell about them from the clothes they are wearing? The Moment: What activity or event is shown in the photograph? What are the people doing? Are they doing it as a group or individually? What relationship, if any, do they seem to have with one another? Other Clues: What other details can you see in the photograph? Are there any tools, vehicles, animals, buildings, or signs? What do these tell you about the people, time, or event shown?

Primary Source Documents: Examining

Photographs

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Thought Questions:1. Based on the President’s words what was his

goal?2. How does he feel about slavery? Provide

evidence to support your opinion.

Soon after Abraham Lincoln was elected to the presidency in November 1860, seven Southern states seceded from the Union. In March 1861, after he was inaugurated as the 16th President of the United States, four more followed. Directions: Read the words of President Lincoln.

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Historical Content:Differences between the North and South were evident in the beliefs of the people, economies, and goals. These differences developed during the first part of the 1800's as the North and the South developed different economies. In the North, cities were centers of wealth and manufacturing. There were many skilled workers. In the South there was not much manufacturing. There were not many skilled workers. Most of the people were farmers. Money came from plantation crops, like cotton, rice, sugar cane and tobacco. Slaves did most of the work on the plantations.

Thought Questions:1. Based on the documents provided, state

two differences between the North and South before the Civil War

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Historical Context: Before Lincoln became president, there was already much sectional tension between the North and the South, mostly over slavery and its expansion into the west. While slavery was illegal in most Northern states, it was still the basis of the South’s economy. With the presidential election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln, a self-taught Illinois lawyer and legislator, had a reputation as an eloquent opponent of slavery. His election to president shocked many when he overcame several more prominent contenders to win the presidency.

Thought Questions:1. Based on the map, which section of the

country supported the election of Abraham Lincoln? Which section was against the election of Abraham Lincoln?

2. Who did many southern states support for president?

3. Many historians have called President Lincoln a “sectional president.” Explain why he was called this.

Copyright @D. Stone September 27, 2013 page 12

Name ______________ Causes of the Civil War Investigation Record Sheet

Task Card # Primary / Secondary Source

Written Response:

1

Paragraph on separate paper

2

3

4 Write on separate paper

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Task Card # Primary / Secondary Source

Written Response:

8

9-10 Economic Factors North (s=strength w= weakness)

South (s=strength w= weakness)

Population

Money

Food

Transport

Supplies

11-12

13

14-16

17-18

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