The Causes of the Civil War

Assessment: Complete the escalation chart by explaining how each event caused more conflict

between the North and the South.

# 1: What is it and why did it cause problems?

The Mexican War• How did the

Mexican War cause problems?

• There were arguments over slavery in the new territory.

• Wilmot Proviso: outlaw slavery in new territory. Passed the House, rejected by Senate (slave and free states equal there).

• Free-Soil Party Candidate Martin Van Buren = 10% votes in 1848 election.

• Gold Rush to California (mostly from the North/West).

• California wanted to be a free state!

The Compromise of 1850

Much of the new territory was below the Missouri Compromise line. However, California, Utah, and New Mexico all wanted to be Free States! This enraged the South. They would have no power and the Wilmot Proviso could be passed outlawing slavery in all new territories!

What’s the problem?

The Compromise of 1850• What was the

problem? • How did California

make things worse?

• Southerners threatened to secede (leave the union) because they would be outnumbered in the Senate.

• Some threatened Civil War!

The Compromise of 1850• What was the

Compromise?• California would be free• New Mexico/Utah decided by

popular sovereignty.• Slave trade outlawed in

Washington DC.• Congress had no power to ban

slave trade between slave states• New Fugitive Slave Act –

required all citizens to help return “property.”

President Taylor (a southern plantation owner) wanted to stand up to the South and refused to Compromise!

The Compromise of 1850• What were the

results of the Compromise?

• Northerners were mad about the Fugitive Slave Act

• Many said the compromise was unconstitutional

• Protests and boycotts began

• South was outnumbered in the Senate!

• Neither side was happy.

Taylor died before the confrontation.

The new president Millard Fillmore gave his support.

The Compromise passed

# 3: What is it and why did it cause problems?

How did the Mexican War cause problems?

A. It led to war between the British and the Americans over Oregon.

B. Arguments over slavery in the new territory.

C. The “Free Soilers” planned to secedeD. The Americans brought slaves to

California.

Identify a part of the Compromise of 1850.

A. California was a slave stateB. Oregon was a free stateC. Popular sovereignty would be used

to decide slavery in New MexicoD. The Fugitive Slave Act was removed.

What was the Compromise of 1850?

A. An agreement that solved the problems between the North and the South.

B. A compromise to solve the issue of slavery in the territories won from Mexico.

C. An agreement to use popular sovereignty to solve the issue of slavery in all states.

D. All of the aboveE. None of the above

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

• How did Uncle Tom’s Cabin make things worse?

• Showed evils of slavery.• Changed the way many

northerners felt about slavery:–Many more became

abolitionists • Very unpopular in the

South – “unfair depiction.”

Kansas and Nebraska• Why/How did the

problems with Kansas and Nebraska begin?

• 1854 - Kansas-Nebraska Act: –Create two

territories. –Slavery decided by

popular sovereignty (most votes wins).•Stephen Douglas proposed a

law to set up a government for the Nebraska Territory. •Franklin Pierce thought it was a good idea!

How did it make things worse?

Kansas and Nebraska• How did people react

to the Kansas Nebraska Act?

• Slavery could spread north!

• More than 1000 abolitionist (anti-slavery) settlers moved from New England.

• Pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” came from Missouri to fight for slavery!

Kansas and Nebraska• How did the

Kansas Nebraska Act lead to violence?

• 1855 - Kansas had elections:– Pro-slavery candidates won

and set up a government.– Antislavery forces formed

their own government RESULT: Violence! More

than 200 settlers died (known as “Bleeding Kansas”)

• Popular sovereignty was a failure!

“Bleeding Kansas”The most famous incidents: destruction of Lawrence by proslavery forces and murder of 5 proslavery settlers by John Brown and his sons.

#6: What is happening? What do you think it means?

How did the Mexican War cause problems?

A. It led to war between the British and the Americans over Oregon.

B. Arguments over slavery in the new territory.

C. The “Free Soilers” planned to secedeD. The Americans brought slaves to

California.

Identify a part of the Compromise of 1850.

A. California was a slave stateB. Oregon was a free stateC. Popular sovereignty would be used

to decide slavery in New MexicoD. The Fugitive Slave Act was removed.

What was the Compromise of 1850?

A. An agreement that solved the problems between the North and the South.

B. A compromise to solve the issue of slavery in the territories won from Mexico.

C. An agreement to use popular sovereignty to solve the issue of slavery in all states.

D. All of the aboveE. None of the above

Why was Uncle Tom’s Cabin important?

A. It helped lead to the Civil WarB. It showed the evils of slaveryC. It convinced more people to

become Abolitionists.D. All of the aboveE. None of the above

What was the Kansas and Nebraska Act?

A. A decision that solved the arguments over slavery in all territories.

B. A law that said slavery would be decided by popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska

C. A law that created two governments for Kansas

D. All of the aboveE. None of the above

What did the Kansas Nebraska Act lead to?

A.Bleeding KansasB. The battle of Fort SumterC. Uncle Tom’s CabinD.Kansas was named a slave stateE. Kansas was named a free state

The beating of Charles Sumner

What happened to Charles Sumner?

• Sumner was an abolitionist in the Senate.

• Beaten almost to death by Congressman Preston Brooks.

Sumner had insulted South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler in a speech about the situation in Kansas. Butler’s nephew, Congressman Preston Brooks wanted revenge!

Why was the Sumner beating important?

• Many southerners supported Brooks.

• Northerners: more evidence of how slavery led to violence.

• Escalation chart

Dred Scott v. Sandford• What was the Dred

Scott case about? • 1857 – Scott was a slave

who had been moved to free territory.

• Argued he should be free!

Decision• What was the decision

made by the court in the Dred Scott case?

• Court ruled:– Scott could not file

a lawsuit (was a slave)

– He had no rights!– Slaves were

property– Congress did not

have the power to outlaw slavery in any territory.

• What were the results of the case? • South was happy: slavery could

spread anywhere.• Northerners: Very mad and even

more people joined the abolitionist movement.

Frederick Douglass: “All I ask of the American people is that they live up to the Constitution, adopt its principles, take in its spirit, and enforce its provisions. When this is done… liberty… will become the inheritance of all of the inhabitants of this highly favored country.” Prentice Hall, 472

What did the Supreme Court say in the Dred Scott decision?

A. Dred Scott would be freeB. Slaves had no rights and Congress could not

interfere with slaveryC. All slaves should be free after the Civil WarD. The Missouri Compromise should be

reinstated.

John Brown’s Raid• What scared Southerners and

made them fear the North? • 1859: John Brown (from

Bleeding Kansas) led a group of followers to Harper’s Ferry Virginia.

• Tried to take over the guns federal arsenal (gun warehouse)

• Planned to lead a slave revolt in the South

John Brown’s Raid• What was the result

of John Brown’s Raid?

• Brown: failed, was captured, and sentenced to death.

• North: Brown became a hero to many people.

• South: – Very angry about the

attack and the North’s support of it.

– Thought the North wanted to destroy slavery.

Hero or villain? – depends on where you were from!

The Election of 1860

What happened in the election? Why was it important?

The Election of 1860• What

happened in the election of 1860?

• Democrats split over slavery.• Constitutional Union Party chose

another candidate to keep the country together.

• Republicans chose Abraham Lincoln.

• Lincoln won the North and West and became the new president!

Lincoln said of slaves:

“There is no reason in the world why the negro is not entitled to all the natural rights in the Declaration of Independence, the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness… In the right to eat the bread, without the leave of anybody else, which his own hand earns, he is my equal and the equal of Judge Douglas, and the equal of every living man.” Prentice Hall, 474

The Election of 1860

The Election of 1860• What was the

result of the election of 1860?

• Republicans had control of Congress and the Presidency.

• South believed they no longer had any power!

• December 1860: South Carolina seceded. – Soon after, 6 more states

soon joined them.

The Confederate States of America• What did the

southern states do after secession?

• Early 1861: seven southern states held a convention and chose Jefferson Davis as their president.

• Formed the Confederate States of America (a loose union just like the Articles of Confederation)

Fort Sumter = Civil War Begins• How did the

Civil War begin?

• Lincoln promised to keep the US together.

• Confederates tried to seize all U.S. forts in the South.

• US troops at Fort Sumter (SC) refused to give up.

• April 13, 1861: the Confederates attacked.

• Union (North) troops surrendered and the war had begun.

The Battle of Fort Sumter wasn’t much of a battle compared to the bloody fights that would follow in the next 4 years!