Causes Of The Civil War (AKS 35a) PDF

AKS 35 a  Moving Towards Civil War Tensions between North and South were building for decades before the Civil War actually began (in 1861). The North and South were developing very differently. The concept of sectionalism grew. This was a loyalty to your region of the country...

AKS 35 a  Moving Towards Civil War Tensions between North and South were building for decades before the Civil War actually began (in 1861). The North and South were developing very differently. The concept of sectionalism grew. This was a loyalty to your region of the country over the nation as a whole. The time in the South before the Civil War is known as the Antebellum (before the War) Period. There were multiple causes for the Civil War (Video). However, many of these causes can be tied back to one© issue… Brain Wrinkles Examine the maps below. What happened to slavery? Why?  1. Slavery Although the trustees who founded the colony of Georgia banned slavery, during the Royal Period slavery was allowed. With a growing agriculture-based economy, slavery increased. With the invention of the cotton gin, the demand for slaves grew exponentially. Opposing views on slavery could be heard across the nation. While many felt slavery was wrong. Others justified slavery due to personal gain- The Southern economy was very much dependent on slavery. With new territories being gained in the U.S., the issue of slavery became more important. Southern states Watch a video by clicking on the wished to see slavery expanded into the new image to learn more about territories. Northern states hoped new opposing views of slavery in Georgia. territories could remain free of slavery.  SLAVERY THROUGH DIFFERENT EYES Thomas R. R. Cobb John Brown  William Lloyd Garrison “Wherever there is a human being, I see God-given rights inherent in that being, whatever may be the sex or complexion.” o n i st o l it i Ab  Joseph E. Brown “What effect will the abolition of slavery have upon the interest and social position of the large class of non-slaveholders and poor white laborers in the South? Here would be the scene of the most misery and ruin. Probably no one is so unjust as to say that it would be right to take from the slaveholder his property without paying for it.”  Harriet Beecher Stowe “It’s a matter of taking the side of the weak against the strong, something the best people have always done.” o n i st o l it i A b  2. States’ Rights States’ rights involves the amount of power a state has in relation to the power of the federal government. Under the Articles of Confederation, states were given too much power leaving a weak federal government. The Constitution was written to resolve the problem allowing the country to run more smoothly. But how far did states’ rights go? Situations would occur, after the writing of the Constitution, that caused the issue of states’ rights to be controversial. The issue of slavery was a major topic that pressed Watch a video by clicking on the the issue of states’ rights. Other issues image to learn more about causes included the Worcester vs. Georgia case, the of the Civil War. nullification crisis in the 1830’s, and finally succession.  Robert Toombs “The basis, the cornerstone of this government, was the perfect equality of the free, sovereign , and independent states which made it.”  3. Nullification Nullification is the belief that an individual state can nullify (cancel) a federal law (basically refuse to follow it) if they see it as unconstitutional/unjust. What could be main consequences of following such a belief? In the early 1830s a crisis involving nullification erupted involving South Carolina, which “nullified” the Tariff of 1832 (which Southerners called the “Tariff of Abominations”). © Brain Wrinkles  Tariff/Nullification Crisis A tariff is a tax on imports into a country. Tariffs protect products made in your country by making imported good (made in other countries) more expensive. The North generally supported tariffs because industry/factories were growing there and this would increase sales of American-made goods. The South generally opposed tariffs because they had few factories and many of the manufactured goods they bought were from Europe. The South exported cotton and did not want retaliatory tariffs placed on it by the European nations. President Jackson took strong action against South Carolina’s act of nullification, threatening to send in military troops to the state. South Carolina threatened secession (leaving the nation) but eventually backed down and a compromise was reached to gradually lower the tariff. © Brain Wrinkles  4. The Compromise of 1850 A series of compromises (such as the Missouri Compromise) attempted to preserved the balance between free and slave states (the South was being outpaced in population and wanted to retain balance in the Senate) and deal with the issue of slavery expanding into the territories. Despite the work of Henry Clay and others, the compromises all ultimately failed to prevent the Civil War. This included the Compromise of 1850, but it did succeed in delaying the war for another 11 years. Georgia would, encouraged by leaders such as Alexander Stephens and Robert Toombs, issue the Georgia Platform. The document advocated states’ rights, but also staying in the Union. It encouraged Georgians to support the Compromise of 1850. © Brain Wrinkles  Provisions of the Compromise of 1850 California would be admitted into the USA as a free state. The New Mexico Territory would vote if they wanted to allow slavery or not (popular sovereignty). The Fugitive Slave Act would require slaves that escaped to the North to be forced to return to slavery in the South. The slave trade (but not slavery itself) would be banned in Washington, D.C. © Brain Wrinkles 5. Dred Scott Click on the image to learn more. 2:16 Another video on Dred Scott (3 min)  Dred Scott Another controversial event that sparked anger was the Dred Scott v. Sanford case in 1857. Dred Scott, a Missouri slave, sued for his freedom because he had lived for a period of time with his master in Illinois and Wisconsin (both free). When he returned to Missouri, Scott sued the state based on his belief that his time in the free states made him a free man. © Brain Wrinkles  Issue Many slaves who had lived in free territory had gone to court and gained their freedom, and Dred Scott believed he should be able to do the same. When Scott sued for his freedom, the U.S. Supreme Court had to decide if slaves could gain freedom just by living in a free territory. This case gave the Supreme Court the opportunity to make a national statement either for or against slavery. © Brain Wrinkles  Ruling The Supreme Court ruled against Dred Scott, declaring that slaves and freed blacks were not citizens of the U.S. and did not have the right to sue in the first place. It went on to state that banning slavery in U.S. territories was unconstitutional. The Court declared that the national government (Congress) had no right to stop the expansion of slavery into western territories. Since the court considered slaves property, they could be taken anywhere by their owners. © Brain Wrinkles  Outcome The Supreme Court sided with the southern view on slavery, so Southern slaveholders were pleased with the decision. The outcome of the Dred Scott case made Northern abolitionists furious because it meant that slave owners could keep their slaves in any state. The court’s decision further divided the nation. Who benefitted from the Dred Scott Case? © Brain Wrinkles © Brain Wrinkles  6. Election of 1860 © Brain Wrinkles  New Party In 1854, those opposing the spread of slavery united and formed the Republican Party. Initially, the party only sought to restrict slavery in new states and territories, not outlaw it where it already existed. In 1860, the Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln of Illinois as their candidate for president of the United States. © Brain Wrinkles  Abraham Lincoln in 1864 © Brain Wrinkles  Split The Democratic party was split between two candidates. Northern democrats supported Senator Stephen Douglas, who had proposed the idea of popular sovereignty in the territories (idea that power would be given to citizens). Southern Democrats opposed Douglas and nominated Kentucky’s John Breckinridge. A third group, the Constitutional Union Party, nominated Tennessee’s John Bell. © Brain Wrinkles Remember: Democrat votes went to Douglas and Breckenridge and Bell was a completely different party. All these votes were divided among the three where Lincoln was the only Republican. We keep saying you’re stronger united. The democrats weakened their chances by dividing their votes. You can see the impact of “sectionalism” in the way the states voted.  1860 Election Abraham Lincoln won the election on November 6, 1860. Southern states were concerned because they felt Lincoln wanted to end slavery, which they saw as a threat to their way of life. The election of Lincoln as President was the “last straw” for many Southern states and they began to move toward leaving the Union. Lincoln’s main goal was to keep the Union together not to end slavery. He only wanted to keep it from spreading (at that time). However, South Carolina decided to secede from the Union on December 20, 1860. To leave, separate © Brain Wrinkles Click on the image to learn more. 4:34  President Lincoln’s Inauguration © Brain Wrinkles  7. Secession © Brain Wrinkles  Debate When South Carolina seceded from the Union, Georgians were divided into pro (“fire eaters”) and anti secession factions. One group, including Governor Joseph Brown, wanted to leave the Union right away. Alexander Stephens disagreed and said that Lincoln was not the South’s enemy. He also warned of the economic ruin that would occur from a civil war. Georgia could also face invasion and damage from such an invasion if the joined the Confederacy. Georgians who opposed secession (leaving the Union) were often found in the northern counties and owned small farms without slaves. Those who owned larger farms and the wealthy/powerful plantation owners usually supported secession.  -Alexander Stephens (1812-1882) was a sickly man who never weighed over 100 pounds. Still, one northern politician called him “the strongest man in the South”. -He would serve as U.S. Congressmen, Senator, and governor of Georgia. -Although he initially opposed secession, he would support it after Georgia left the Union and become Vice President of the Confederacy. -After the Civil War, he was imprisoned in the North for 5 months. He was elected governor in 1882, but died shortly after. -Stephens County in Northeast Georgia is named in his honor. © Brain Wrinkles  What is Alexander Stephen’s stance on secession? Cite evidence from the text to support your response. What does Stephens mean when he says, “This step [the secession of Georgia] once taken can never be recalled; and all the baleful and withering consequences that must follow, (as you will see) will rest on the convention for all coming time”? Why do you think Stephens uses the phrase “suicidal act”? What does this imply about his faith in the South’s ability to defend itself against the Union. How do you think Stephens would characterize Georgia’s and other southern state’ decisions to secede from the union. Cite evidence from the text to support your response. Do you agree with Stephens’ stance? Why or why not?  GA Secession Georgia’s legislature called a special secession convention in order to vote on the issue. Delegates voted 166 to 130 in favor of secession. In January of 1861, Georgians left the Union. What happened just prior to Georgia leaving the union? – 1860? © Brain Wrinkles © Brain Wrinkles © Brain Wrinkles. Click on the image to test your knowledge. © Brain Wrinkles  Status of the States 1861 © Brain Wrinkles