Causes of the Civil War

1. Causes of the Civil War Unit 4

2. I. Slavery • There were many differences between the north and south • Slavery was a BIG difference • North wanted to end slavery • Did not understand what the need was for (immoral) • South wanted to keep slavery • Only way of life the south knew • Would destroy way of life if there were no slaves

3. II. Cultural Issues • North had an URBAN society • City life • Held jobs in shops and factories • Life revolved around cities • South had a RURAL society • Country life • Agriculture was primary way of making money • Life revolved around plantations • Northerners and Southerners could not agree on political issues because their lives were so different!!

4. III. Economic • North was a manufacturing region • Favored tariffs because wanted South to buy from the North • South was an agricultural region • DID NOT favor tariffs because traded with Great Britain (cotton, tobacco)

5. IV. Constitutional • States’ Rights vs. National Rights • South wanted states’ rights • Let each state decide issue of slavery and tariffs • North wanted more powerful federal government • Let the government decide issue of slavery and tariffs • This issue ultimately divided the nation • South believed could declare any national law illegal

6. How did the government try to hold the states together? • Compromises tried to resolve the issue of slavery • Missouri Compromise (1820) • Maine entered US as a free state • Missouri entered US as a slave state • All about everyone being equal in Congress!! • Compromise of 1850 • California was a free state • Southwest territories would decide if slave or free • Kansas-Nebraska Act • People would decide whether free or slave • Popular sovereignty V. Compromises