Transcript Events that led to the American Civil Warx

EVENTS THAT LED TO THE AMERICAN
CIVIL WAR
Eliseo Lugo III
BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF EVENTS
LEADING TO THE CIVIL WAR
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The economies of the North and South were developing differently
Northern economy was based on manufacturing. (Factories)
Southern economy was based on agriculture (Farming, plantations)
Economic differences created political tension between North &
South
As the regions moved apart, politicians attempted to keep nation
together
The institute of slavery would play a vital role in the growing tensions
between the North and South
THE 11 TOPICS AND EVENTS THAT WILL BE
ANALYZED IN THIS POWERPOINT
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1. Manifest Destiny
2. Mexican American War
3. Missouri Compromise of 1820
4. California Gold Rush of 1849
5. Compromise of 1850
6. Fugitive Slave Act
7. Uncle Tom’s Cabin
8. The Kansas-Nebraska Act
9.The Bleeding of Kansas
10. Dred Scott Case
11.Election of 1860
MANIFEST DESTINY
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First coined by newspaper editor, John
O’Sullivan in 1845.
".... the right of our manifest destiny to over
spread and to possess the whole of the
continent which providence has given us
for the development of the great
experiment of liberty and federaltive
development of self-government entrusted
to us."
Manifest Destiny came to be known as the
expectation by all Americans that it was
their “Destiny” to spread the nation from
the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
Sense of mission or national destiny.
Believed US had mission to extend
boundaries of freedom to others by sharing
idealism and democratic institutions—to
those capable of self-government (not
Native Americans or Mexicans)
Based on the idea that God had
determined America should stretch from
the East Coast to the Pacific Ocean.
THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR
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It all started with Americans living in Texas
which at the time was a part of Mexico.
At first Mexicans encourage American
settlement.
The settlers and Mexican government
began to have conflicts over cultural
issues, including slavery
Americans who live there a rebellious
bunch—start to clamor for
independence.
Texas declares itself independent.
Conflicts continue with Mexico over
American claims and boundary disputes.
In 1846: President Polk orders troops to
march from the Nueces to the Rio
Grande, thus starting the Mexican
American War
The American Army provoked the
Mexican Army into firing first
THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR ENDS
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Not all Americans are in favor of a War with Mexico
Southerners want the war because they believe it will
expand slavery
Northerners oppose it for exact same reason
Future U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant who fought in the war
called it one of the most unjust wars he was ever a part of.
The United States would win the majority of the battles of the
war and force Mexico into a treaty
The Treaty that ended the Mexican American war was the
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalo in 1848.
Mexico gave up claims to Texas above the Rio Grande River.
Mexico gave the U. S. California and New Mexico.
U. S. gave Mexico $15,000,000 and agreed to pay the claims
of American citizens against Mexico (over $3,500,000).
The United Stated would gain a ton of land (increased size of
US by 1/3)
Prepared military and soldiers for Civil War
Led to Mexican resentment
Re-aroused issue of slavery
RESULTS FROM THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR
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The 17-month war cost $100,000,000 and 13,000+
American lives (mostly of disease).
New territories were brought into the Union
which forced the explosive issue of SLAVERY to
the center of national politics. Brought in 1 million
sq. mi. of land (incl. TX)
These new territories would upset the balance of
power between North and South.
Created two popular Whig generals who ran for
President.
Manifest Destiny partially realized.
THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE OF 1820
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Missouri had applied for statehood at a time when there were 11
free and 11 slave states
The Missouri Compromise concerned the territory acquired from
the Louisiana Purchase, which both expanded America's land
holdings, while also posing a threat to the delicate balance
achieved in Congress.
The dilemma began with the application of Missouri as a slavestate.
If admitted, Missouri would upset the even proportion of slave
states and free states within the U.S. Senate since at the time their
were 11 free states and 11 slave states.
The Compromise to this problem would become known as the
Missouri Compromise of 1820
The following would be the components of the Compromise
which was put together by Henry Clay
Clay would later become known as the Great Compromiser for his
various solutions to American problems during this time in history
THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE OF 1820
Missouri became a slave state
 Maine became a free state
 Louisiana Territory was divided at the 36
degree, 30 minute parallel; north of the
line must be free territory; south of the
line could be slave territory
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Entry of states into the Union have to be
balanced – For every one free state there
would be one slave state
THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE OF 1820
GOLD FOUND AT SUTTER’S MILL, 1848
THE GOLD RUSH OF 1849
POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE GOLD
RUSH
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Positive Effects
Towns and cities were
charted
Roads, schools, and
churches were formed
Improved transportation
between California and
the east coast
These developments led
to the statehood of
California on September
9th, 1850 as the 31st
state.
Negative Effects
•Native Americans became
the victims of disease,
starvation, and genocidal
attacks.
•Many people that journeyed
to California from around the
world never made it.
•The Donner party- A total of
87 people from various
families set out for California
and became snowbound in
the Sierra Nevada.
• Only 48 of the original 87
pioneers survived.
BACKGROUND OF THE COMPROMISE OF 1850
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The U.S. had acquired vast territory as aresult of
war with Mexico
The question that now faced the nation was:
Should slavery be allowed?
California, as a result of the gold rush in 1849 had
petitioned for statehood. The problem with their
application would be the imbalance that would
be created in the states if another free state is
added to the Union
Washington, D.C. not only allowed slavery, it ran
the largest slave market in North America
THE COMPROMISE OF 1850
Henry Clay would once again come to the rescue of
the nation and create the Compromise of 1850
The key points of the Compromise of 1850 were:
 California would become a free state
 There would be a stronger fugitive slave law
 The slave trade would be abolished in the nation’s
capital, Washington, DC but not slavery itself.
 It Created the Utah and New Mexico territories
without mentioning slavery
 Many Americans had hoped that the Compromise
of 1850 had settled the issue of slavery.
 We now know that that would not be the case.
Slave and Free Territories Under the Compromise of 1850
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT
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Required citizens in the entire nation to
assist in recovery of runaway slaves
Anyone caught harboring fugitive slaves
could be punished by fines and/or
imprisonment
Runaway slaves would now have to travel to
Canada to ensure their freedom and safety
Denied fugitive a right to a jury trial.
Increased the number of federal officials
needed to enforce the act
Estimated 20,000 blacks move to Canada
Underground RR becomes more active
HARRIET BEECHER STOWE AND UNCLE TOM’S
CABIN
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Abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe
wrote a novel entitled “Uncle Tom’s
Cabin” that led many Northerners
to further despise the institute of
slavery
While Uncle Tom’s Cabin was a
fictional story, its depiction of
slavery and slave owners fueled
Abolitionist hatred towards the
South
Uncle Tom’s Cabin tells the story of
a fictional slave named Tom and
his experieinces as a slave in the
South.
THE KANSAS-NEBRASKA ACT OF 1854
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Created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska
Said popular sovereignty would decide slavery in
both Kansas and Nebraska
Popular sovereignty is defined as: The people of
a territory would decide whether or not they
wanted slavery
Since both Kansas and Nebraska were north of
the Missouri Compromise line, the KansasNebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise
The Republican Party was formed in opposition
to the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
THE “BLEEDING” OF KANSAS
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The “Bleeding” of Kansas was a term used to describe Kansas in the
1850’s
With the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, thousands of pro- and
anti-slavery supporters flooded into the state.
Violent clashes soon occurred, especially once "border ruffians"
crossed over from the South to sway the vote to the pro-slavery side.
A border ruffian was a Pro-South sympathizer who went into Kansas
to force the locals into selecting slavery.
Only a few of the Border Ruffians actually owned slaves; most were
too poor. What motivated them was hatred of Northeners and
abolitionists
They also despised the idea of free blacks living in neighboring areas
Border Ruffians crossed into Kansas and affected the outcomes of
several of these key elections by claiming to be settlers and
intimidating valid voters
Many historians argue that the Civil War actually started in Kansas.
THE DRED SCOTT CASE
( ALSO KNOWN AS SCOTT V. SANDFORD)
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Dred Scott was a slave
whose owner at one point
had moved with him into a
free territory.
Scott sued for his freedom
on the basis that since his
owner had travelled with
him to a free territory, he
himself was in fact free.
His case made it all the
way to the United States
Supreme Court. (Scott v.
Sandford)
The Supreme Court ruled
against Dred Scott.
THE DRED SCOTT CASE
( ALSO KNOWN AS SCOTT V. SANDFORD)
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It argued that since Dred Scott
was a slave, he could not sue in
federal court as he was not a
citizen of the United States
The Supreme Court also
declared that AfricanAmericans were not citizens of
the United States
The Supreme Court also ruled
that since slaves were
considered property and not
human beings, their owners
could travel wherever they
wanted with their property
THE DRED SCOTT CASE
( ALSO KNOWN AS SCOTT V. SANDFORD)
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Since Congress had no power
to prohibit slavery in the
territories, the Missouri
Compromise was
unconstitutional, thus opening
up slavery to the entire nation.
The Dred Scott decision was a
major victory for the South
and a tremendous loss for the
North.
What power did the Supreme Court
use in Dred Scott v. Sandford?
 Judicial Review!!
THE ELECTION OF 1860
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Republicans nominated Abraham
Lincoln
Democrats split
Northern Democrats – Stephen
Douglas
Southern Democrats – John
Breckenridge
New party named Constitutional
Union Party chose John Bell
(moderate who wanted to keep the
Union)
Lincoln was elected as President.
ELECTION OF 1860
The Election of 1860
ELECTION OF 1860 REACTION
Southerners believed that the election of Lincoln
meant the South no longer had a voice in
government
 In Dec. of 1860, South Carolina became the first
state to secede (break away from Union)
 In 1861- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Texas also seceded.
 Formed the nation the Confederate States of
America
 Jefferson Davis became their president.
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The Confederate States of America
THE ELECTION OF 1860 AND THE END OF
PEACE IN THE UNITED STATES
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When Lincoln took office he said, “In YOUR hands, my dissatisfied fellowcountrymen, and not in MINE, is the momentous issue of civil war…We are not
enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have
strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.” – Lincoln, First Inaugural
Address
Unfortunately for Lincoln, these bonds of affection would not be enough to keep
the nation out of war.
Soon after, the South would attack Ft. Sumter and the official start of the
American Civil War would commence.
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". . . it presents the question whether discontented individuals too few in
numbers to control administration according to organic law in any case, can
always upon the pretenses made in this case, or on any other pretense, break up
their government, and thus practically put an end to free government upon the
earth. It forces us to ask: Is there, in all republics, this inherent and fatal
weakness? Must a government, of necessity be too strong for the liberties of its
own people or too weak to maintain its own existence?"
Lincoln - July 4, 1861
following Ft. Sumter
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