The Causes of The Civil War – John Brown’s Raid, Election of 1860

John Brown’s Raid:• In 1859, John Brown and his followers seized a federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia.

(above) Interior view of the engine house at Harpers Ferry during the siege. Brown wanted to arm slaves and begin revolt against masters.

(left) John Brown in August, 1859.

Engine house at Harpers Ferry.

Marines storm the engine house. Commanding officer – Robert E. Lee

• Brown was caught and sentenced to death by hanging.

(below) Brown being carried from court to prison.

(above) Brown as a wounded prisoner after his capture.

(above) The hanging of John Brown. (below) Brown's grave in North Elba, New York

Last Moments of John Brown (painting by Thomas Hovenden)

Nat Turner’s Rebellion

• August 21, 1831• Nat Turner was a slave in Southampton County,

Virginia• Was a preacher• In 1831 he had a dream about leading a revolt against

plantation owners in Virginia• Over 70 enslaved and free blacks were involved• Killed between 55-65 Virginians, the highest number

of any slave uprising in the South• The rebellion was stopped within a few days, and Nat

Turner was captured 2 months later and hanged

Nat Turner’s Rebellion• In the aftermath there was widespread fear and

white militias were organized to retaliate• 56 slaves were executed• Across the South state legislatures passed new

laws prohibiting education of slaves and free blacks, restricting rights of assembly and other civil rights for free blacks

Gabriel Prosser’s Rebellion

• Enslaved blacksmith who planned a large rebellion in Richmond in the summer of 1800

• Information about the rebellion was leaked before it could take place, so he and 25 other followers were captured and killed

• In reaction, Virginia and other southern states passed restrictions on free blacks, such as prohibiting education, right to assemble, hiring out slaves, all to restrict their ability to plan other rebellions

• Would have possibly been the biggest rebellion in America

Election of 1860:

Main Candidates

Abraham Lincoln(Republican)

Stephen Douglas (Northern Democrat)

John Breckinridge(Southern Democrat)

‘Fire-eaters’

John Bell(Constitutional

Union)

* Lincoln won the election. South Carolina’s response – secession convention

Objective: To examine the immediate causes of the U.S. Civil War.

Do Now: Use the map below to answer the following questions.

Which party won nearly all of the northern states?__________________________ Which party won nearly all of the southern states?__________________________What percentage of the popular vote did the Republican party receive?__________What percentage of the electoral vote did the Republican party receive?_________ Who was the candidate for the Constitutional Union party?___________________ Which states did he win?

_______________________________________________

Southern Democrats

Republicans

40%59%

John BellVirginia, Kentucky, Tennessee

• In response to Lincoln’s victory, the southern states seceded from the Union in 1861, forming the Confederate States of America.

Secession:

Original Confederate flag Eventual Confederate flag

• Jefferson Davis was named the president of the Confederacy.