Causes of the Civil War

1. Causes of the Civil War

2. I. Growing Sectionalism • Sectionalism - loyalty to your own region instead of to the nation as a whole. • During the 1800’s the United States was divided into 3 regions. • North– Northern states, Free States, against slavery, economic base was industry and manufacturing • South – Southern states, Slave States, supported slavery, economic base was production of cotton on plantations • West – Western States, Primarily Free states but some slave states, economic base was farming.

3. II. 3 Main Causes • The main issues dividing the North and the South were differing views regarding states’ rights, the expansion of slavery and the existence of slavery • States’ Rights – Powers reserved for the individual states and state governments rather than the federal (nation) government • 10th Amendment in the Bill of Rights • Each state has power and authority to choose its own course. • Belief in self governance. • Nullification – do states have the right to reject federal laws – Y or N • Slavery – Force servitude, based on race. Morally wrong based on our core beliefs in freedom and self governance. • Slavery’s Expansion – Should slavery expand into new territories? • Loss of governmental power if slavery is not allowed to expand.

5. Fugitive Slave Laws • 1850 • It was a law that required all citizen in the United States to help in the recovery of runaway slaves. Captured persons did not get a jury trial. • Slavery becomes a national topic of conversation and more people start standing up against slavery.

6. Uncle Tom’s Cabin • 1852 • Was a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe that depicted slavery and the life of a slave in the South • Brought the evils of slavery to the attention of many Americans who were once neutral. Southern’s denied the validity of the book.

7. Kansas-Nebraska Act“Bleeding Kansas” • 1854 • Congress passed a law that allowed the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery. The Act repealed the Missouri Compromise • Pro-slavery and Anti-slavery people rushed to the territories and a bloody mini civil war started in the two territories

8. Court Case: Dred Scott v. Sandford • 1857 • A court case where a slave was suing for his freedom after his owner had died. • Widened the political gap between the North and the South by encouraging the growth of slavery by not giving people rights.

9. John Brown & Harper’s Ferry • 1859 • John Brown and 21 others attempted to capture a store of weapons that would be used to destroy slavery by attacking slaveholders and helping runaway slaves • Northern Abolitionist hailed Brown a martyr while the South labeled Brown villan.