Transcript civil war _causes_of_the_civil_war

Causes of the
CIVIL WAR
Name: _______________
Period: _____________
September 2012
Social Studies
Topic: Causes of the Civil War
Aim: What events lead to the Civil War?
Homework: Choose one of the issues from today’s presentation. Pretend you
were there to witness that incident. Write a letter to a friend describing the event
in detail and giving your views of the event and the state of the Union. For a real
challenge…write from a southerner’s point of view. (at least 10 sentences)
Do Now: Answer in one paragraph
Explain how the Missouri Compromise was just a temporary solution to the issue
of slavery. Give examples.
Missouri Compromise of 1820
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Missouri and Maine both apply for statehood in 1820.
The North and the South want to maintain the balance of power
between free states and slave states.
A compromise is reached making Maine a free state and Missouri a
slave state.
An imaginary line set at 36 30’ was drawn across the Louisiana
purchase.
North of that line, slavery was to be banned forever, except in
Missouri.
South of that line, slaveholding was permitted.
Nat Turner’s Rebellion
• In 1831 a slave named Nat
Turner and six fellow
slaves launched a slave
rebellion.
• They killed 57 whites
before Turner was
captured and executed.
• As a result of this
rebellion:
• Southerners tightened
restrictions on slaves.
• Southerners lashed out at
abolitionists, blaming
them for Turner’s actions.
Compromise of 1850
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When California applied for statehood, the balance between free states
and slave states was once again threatened.
Henry Clay proposed the Compromise of 1850 which stated:
California would enter the Union as a free state.
Slavery would be decided by popular sovereignty in the Utah and New
Mexico Territories.
The slave trade would be banned in Washington D.C. but slavery was
still permitted.
A more strict fugitive slave law was put into effect.
Fugitive Slave Law of 1850
• Required all citizens to
aid (help) in the capture
of runaway slaves.
• Any person caught
helping a fugitive slave
could be fined a $1,000
dollars and put in jail
for 6 months.
• Northerners, especially
abolitionists strongly
opposed (against) the
Fugitive Slave Law of
1850.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
• In 1852, Harriet
Beecher Stowe
published a novel
called Uncle Tom’s
Cabin
• The book showed
Americans the evils of
slavery.
• Many join the
abolitionist cause as a
result of the book.
Kansas Nebraska Act/
BLEEDING KANSAS
• This plan by Stephen Douglas was to split the rest of the
Louisiana Purchase into 2 territories: Kansas and Nebraska.
• These territories would decide the question of slavery by
popular sovereignty.
• Many slave owners from Missouri and other slave states
crossed into Kansas to vote illegally.
• Pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups clash in what becomes
known as bleeding Kansas.
The Dred Scott Decision
• Dred Scott, a slave from
Missouri, traveled with his
owner to Illinois (a free state)
• In 1846 he sued for his
freedom claiming that living
in Illinois for a time had
made him a free man.
• Supreme Court ruled that:
• Blacks were not citizens and
could not sue in court.
• Scott was someone’s
property and could not be
freed.
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates
• Newcomer Abraham Lincoln
runs for Senate against
incumbent Stephen Douglas.
• Lincoln challenged him to a
number of debates, most of
which focused on slavery.
• Lincoln argued that slavery
was wrong and should not be
allowed to expand.
• Douglas accused Lincoln of
trying to abolish slavery. “Mr.
Lincoln thinks the negro is
his brother.”
• Lincoln lost this election but
gained much popularity.
Abolitionist John Brown planned to start a slave uprising.
Brown’s group of 20 men took over the Federal Arsenal at Harper’s
Ferry, Virginia.
Brown sent some of his men to recruit slaves to join the raid…
No one came.
Federal troops arrived and took back the arsenal, killing or capturing
John Brown’s gang.
John Brown was found guilty of treason (betrayal) and was
executed.
Many northerners considered him a hero who died for the freedom
of the slaves.
Lincoln’s Election
• Abraham Lincoln ran for president in 1860 against Northern
Democrat Douglas and Southern Democrat Breckinridge.
• Lincoln won without carrying a single Southern state.
• The south was afraid that once in power, Lincoln would try to
abolish slavery.
• Lincoln insisted he would not change slavery in the south though
he did say that slavery would have to end at some point.
• 4 days after the election, South Carolina’s legislature met to
discuss and carry out their secession.
• By February 1, 1861, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia,
Louisiana, and Texas had also seceded from the Union.
CIVIL WAR