14 Questions
What was the primary objective of the Union at the outset of the Civil War?
To preserve the Union and prevent the Southern states from seceding
What was Abraham Lincoln's foremost goal?
To preserve the Union
What did Lincoln aim to achieve through his containment of slavery policy?
The eventual extinction of slavery
What did Lincoln issue in 1862, which declared that enslaved people in Confederate-held territory would be freed?
The Emancipation Proclamation
According to Lincoln's inaugural address in 1861, what did he have no intention of doing?
Interfering with slavery where it already existed
What was the Southern states' perception of Lincoln's election?
A direct threat to the institution of slavery
What was the primary issue that sparked the Civil War?
Slavery and its expansion into new territories
What was the main reason the Southern economy relied heavily on agriculture?
Because cotton was a labor-intensive crop that required enslaved labor
What did the Southern states advocate for?
States' rights and the right to govern themselves
What was the main concern of the South regarding the balance of power?
The South would lose political power in the federal government
What was Abraham Lincoln's stance on slavery?
He opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories and states
What was the original goal of the Union during the Civil War?
To preserve the Union and maintain the balance of power
What was the main reason the North supported tariffs?
To protect the growing industries in the North
What was the final trigger for secession?
The election of Abraham Lincoln as President
Study Notes
Causes of the Civil War
- The Civil War was primarily sparked by deep-seated disagreements over slavery, states' rights, and economic and political differences between the Northern and Southern states.
- Slavery was the most significant and contentious issue, with the Southern economy relying heavily on agriculture and enslaved African Americans.
- The North, on the other hand, was more industrialized and had a growing abolitionist movement that opposed slavery on moral and economic grounds.
- Southern states advocated for states' rights, arguing that they had the right to govern themselves and make their own decisions, including the decision to maintain the institution of slavery.
- Economic differences between the industrialized North and the agrarian South contributed to the tension, particularly with regards to tariffs and trade policies.
- The balance of power between slave and free states was a constant source of tension, with the South fearing losing political power in the federal government.
The Union's Original Goal
- The Union's original goal at the outset of the Civil War was to preserve the Union.
- The primary objective was to prevent the Southern states from seceding and to maintain the United States as a single, undivided nation.
Abraham Lincoln's Goals
- Abraham Lincoln's foremost goal was to preserve the Union.
- He believed that the United States must remain united for its survival and prosperity.
- Lincoln was personally opposed to slavery and aimed to prevent its expansion into new territories and states.
- He believed that containing slavery would lead to its eventual extinction.
- As the war progressed, Lincoln's position evolved, and he issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, declaring that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory would be freed as of January 1, 1863.
Explore the reasons behind the American Civil War, including disagreements over slavery, states' rights, and economic differences between the Northern and Southern states.
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