Causes of the American Civil War

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Questions and Answers

Match the causes of the Civil War with their descriptions:

Disputes over Slavery = Abolitionist movement condemned slavery as morally wrong Sectional Differences = Economic disparity between North and South Political Representation = North's growing population threatened Southern interests The Dred Scott Decision = Ruled enslaved people could not sue for freedom

Match the key figures or events to their significance in the Civil War:

Harriet Beecher Stowe = Author of Uncle Tom's Cabin John Brown = Led a raid on Harpers Ferry to inspire abolition Abraham Lincoln = Elected President and challenged Southern values Fugitive Slave Laws = Heightened tensions by enforcing return of escaped slaves

Match the perspectives or assessments on the Civil War's causes:

James Ford Rhodes = Asserted slavery was the single cause of the war Kenneth Stampp = Agreed that slavery was the primary cause Tulloch = Viewed the conflict as a Second American Revolution James McPherson = Argued the South felt abandoned by the North

Match the historical events to their impact on the Civil War:

<p>The Abolitionist Movement = Condemned slavery and shaped public opinion The Election of 1860 = Intensified fears of losing political power Tariffs = Benefited North's industry but hurt Southern economy The Fugitive Slave Act = Provoked resistance from the North</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the societal divisions to their descriptions:

<p>Agrarian Society = Predominant in the South, relied on agriculture Industrial Society = Emerging in the North, focused on manufacturing Political Tensions = Rooted in differing economic priorities Secession Threats = Response to perceived challenges to Southern values</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the notable publications or decisions to their effects:

<p>Uncle Tom's Cabin = Influenced Northern opinion against slavery Dred Scott v. Sandford = Consolidated Southern power in slavery discussions The Missouri Compromise = Attempted to balance slave and free states The Wilmot Proviso = Proposed banning slavery in territories gained from Mexico</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the concepts or terms with their relevance to the Civil War:

<p>Moral Imperative = Abolitionists viewed slavery as ethically wrong Economic Interests = Conflicting priorities between North and South Fear of Aggression = Southern paranoia stemming from Northern abolitionism Political Power = Increasing Northern influence threatened Southern autonomy</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the forces at play during the pre-war period:

<p>Slavery = Central factor leading to sectional conflict Industry vs. Agriculture = Economic disparity driving tensions Abolitionism = Movement provoking Southern fears and resistance Political Secession = Response to perceived threats from Lincoln's election</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the historical figures with their contributions related to the Civil War:

<p>James Buchanan = Supported the Lecompton Constitution, escalating sectional tensions Stephen Douglas = Proposed popular sovereignty which led to 'Bleeding Kansas' Abraham Lincoln = Elected as president, triggering fears of Southern secession Frederick Douglass = Abolitionist who galvanized Northern opposition to slavery</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the events with their outcomes:

<p>Kansas-Nebraska Act = Ignited violent conflicts over slavery in the territories Lincoln's election = Triggered secession movements in the Southern states Dred Scott decision = Declared Congress had no authority to regulate slavery in territories Collapse of the Whig Party = Enabled the rise of the Republican Party as an anti-slavery force</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the historians with their views on the Civil War causes:

<p>Beard = Highlighted economic clashes as fundamental to sectional tensions McPherson = Argued that slavery was the primary cause of the Civil War Tulloch = Claimed slavery was the single cause of the war Risjord = Suggested that capable leaders might have prevented the war</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the documents or speeches with their significance:

<p>Texas secession document = Mentioned tariffs briefly but focused on slavery Lincoln's speeches = Painted him as a radical threatening Southern interests The Lecompton Constitution = Sought to establish Kansas as a slave state Douglas's speeches = Attempted to promote popular sovereignty amid rising tensions</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the concepts with their explanations:

<p>Irrepressible conflict = Seward's idea emphasizing the moral divide between North and South Free labor ideals = Northern economic model opposing agrarian traditions in the South Abolitionism = Movement aimed at ending slavery and galvanizing Northern sentiment Sectional tensions = Heightened by differing economic interests and political actions</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the regions with their characteristics:

<p>North = Embraced urbanization and free labor South = Clung to agrarian traditions and supported slavery Kansas = Site of violent conflicts known as 'Bleeding Kansas' Republican Party = Unified force against the extension of slavery</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the reactions to the election of Lincoln:

<p>Southern press = Portrayed Lincoln as a radical threat to their lifestyle Southern states = Believed secession was necessary to protect their interests Republican Party = Presented a platform limiting slavery's expansion Abolitionists = Used Lincoln's election to galvanize anti-slavery sentiment</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the arguments with their proponents:

<p>Economic conflict = Beard Political blundering = James Randall Main cause of the war = McPherson Systemic issues = Risjord</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the societal views with their impacts:

<p>Southern fears = Solidified determination to protect slavery Northern ideals = Led to greater calls for abolition and reform Political fragmentation = Increased tensions leading to war Abolitionist movement = Intensified conflict through moral arguments against slavery</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Economic Disparities

The idea that the economic differences between the North and South, particularly the industrialization of the North and the agrarian economy of the South, played a crucial role in fueling sectional tensions and eventually leading to the Civil War. This argument puts emphasis on the clash between industrial capitalism and agrarian interests.

Slavery as the Main Cause

The argument that slavery was the primary and most significant factor leading to the Civil War. Supporters of this view point to the South's unwavering commitment to the institution of slavery and how it created deep moral and political divides between the North and South, ultimately leading to secession and conflict.

The Blundering Generation

The theory that the Civil War was caused by the mistakes and poor decisions of political leaders, particularly in the years leading up to the conflict. This perspective argues that the inability of politicians to find compromise and the divisive actions they took contributed significantly to the war's outbreak.

Collapse of the Two-Party System

The breakdown of the two-party system in the 1850s, with the rise of the Republican Party as a unified anti-slavery force, led to increased sectional tensions. The South viewed the Republican Party's platform as a threat to their way of life, and the election of Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, was perceived as a direct threat to their interests, leading to secession.

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The Irrepressible Conflict

The idea that the conflict between the North and South was inevitable due to fundamental differences in their values and beliefs, particularly concerning slavery. The moral divide over slavery intensified the sectional tensions and created an environment where conflict seemed destined to occur.

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Fugitive Slave Laws of 1850

A set of laws passed in 1850 designed to enforce the return of escaped slaves to their owners, triggering strong opposition in the North.

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Uncle Tom's Cabin

Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, published in 1852, depicting the harsh realities of slavery and galvanizing public opinion against it.

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Abolitionism

The belief that slavery was morally wrong, gaining momentum in the North and creating a divide with the South.

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John Brown's Raid

An event in 1859 where John Brown, an abolitionist, led an unsuccessful attempt to seize the federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia. It heightened fears of a violent abolitionist uprising.

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Dred Scott Decision

The Supreme Court's controversial 1857 ruling, which denied slaves the right to sue for their freedom and affirmed that Congress had no authority over slavery in territories, deepening the North-South divide.

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Economic Disparity

A major difference between the North and South focused on economic interests—the North's industrialized economy requiring tariffs to protect its manufacturing, while the South's agricultural economy relied on cotton exports and saw tariffs as harmful.

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Political Representation

The North, with its growing population and economic power, gained more political influence, which threatened Southern interests and led to fears of losing power, especially with the election of Abraham Lincoln.

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Election of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln's election as President in 1860, seen by the South as a threat to their way of life, intensified fears of losing political power and prompted calls for secession.

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Study Notes

Causes of the American Civil War

  • The American Civil War began on April 12, 1861, at Fort Sumter, with the Confederacy firing on the North. The conflict stemmed from deep-seated ideological differences between the North and South.

Slavery as a Primary Cause

  • Historians like Rhodes, Stampp, and McPherson attribute the war primarily to slavery.
  • Northern abolitionists viewed slavery as morally wrong, with Uncle Tom's Cabin influencing public opinion.
  • Southern states viewed abolitionism as a threat. John Brown's raid intensified fears of Northern aggression.
  • The Dred Scott decision supported Southern power, increasing Northern anxieties.
  • Fugitive Slave Acts further heightened sectional tensions.

Sectional Differences: Economic and Political

  • Marxist perspectives view the conflict as a second American Revolution, a clash between agrarian and industrial societies.
  • Economic disparity: the North's industrial economy favored tariffs, while the South, a cotton-based agricultural economy, opposed them.
  • Political power: the North's growing population and economy granted it more political influence, threatening Southern interests.
  • Cultural differences: the North embraced urbanisation, reform, and free labor; the South upheld agrarian traditions.
  • The election of Abraham Lincoln, perceived as a threat to Southern values, amplified fears and triggered secession.
  • While economic factors played a part, slavery was a more significant driver of the conflict.

Political Blunders and the "Blundering Generation"

  • James Randall's argument points to political missteps by leaders as a cause of the war.
  • Examples include the Kansas-Nebraska Act's handling of slavery in territories, leading to Bleeding Kansas.
  • President Buchanan's support for the Lecompton Constitution and the Dred Scott decision further inflamed tensions.
  • While political miscalculations certainly contributed to sectional division, deeper-rooted issues like economic differences and slavery were more crucial.

Political Breakdown and the Rise of the Republican Party

  • The collapse of the two-party system over slavery contributed to the rise of the Republican Party, a unified anti-slavery force.
  • This shift intensified sectional divisions.
  • Lincoln's election further fueled Southern fears of losing power and prompted secession.
  • The Southern press portrayed Lincoln as an enemy to their way of life.
  • The underlying issue remains slavery, not just the breakdown of the two-party system. Slaveholders felt directly threatened by the election.

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