Causes that led to the Civil War (1820-1861)

1. Causes that led to the Civil War (1820-1861)

2. Missouri Compromise The Compromise of 1850 Kansas-Nebraska Act Wilmot Proviso Uncle Tom’s Cabin John Brown’s Raid Dred Scott Decision Differences between North and South Election of 1860 Secession of Southern states Fort Sumter attacked Causes of the Civil War

3. The Expansion of Slavery • Following the victory in the Mexican War in 1848 the U.S. adds 500,000 square miles. • These new territories sparked a bitter debate over the expansion of slavery and how to determine if a state should allow slaves or be free.

4. New Territories • California and Texas • Debate over whether or not new states would allow slavery. • Missouri Compromise(1820)- Proposed by Henry Clay to keep the number of free states and slave states equal.

5. New Territories • As a result an imaginary line was drawn across the southern border of Missouri at latitude 36 30 N. and it only applied to the Louisiana Purchase.

7. Wilmot Proviso- Proposed by David Wilmot to ban slavery in the West. The House (Northern majority) passed it in 1846, but soon after the Senate (Southern majority) defeated it. New Territories

8. New Territories • Even though the Wilmot Proviso never becomes law the heated debate over the topic shows the growing sectionalism in the United States. • Sectionalism- When people favor the interests of their region over the interests of the country.

9. Tempers Flair • California applied for admission to the Union in 1850 to be a free state. • The issue was so heated that Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri had a gun pulled on him by Senator Henry Foote of Mississippi while in the Senate.

10. Admission of California as a State • In 1849, the number of free states equaled the number of slave states at 15/15. • Tempers flaired with the admission of California because the balance between free and slave states would be off set.

11. Clay vs. Calhoun Henry Clay John Calhoun Senator of South Carolina Refused a compromise Demands that fugitive or runaway slaves be returned to their owners Last reported words 1850: “The Poor South! God knows what will become of her now!” • “the Great Compromiser” • Pleads for an agreement between the North and South • Fear of a nation that will break apart • His plan “The Compromise of 1850”

12. Compromise of 1850 • Composed of FIVE parts: • Allowed California to enter Union as free state. • Formed territories of New Mexico and Utah and decision of slavery based on popular sovereignty • Ended slave trade in Washington, D.C. • Created a strict slave law • Settled a border dispute between Texas and New Mexico

13. Fugitive Slave Act: An Act that Outraged • All citizens required to report runaway slaves • Caught helping fugitive slaves would result in a $1000 fine and jail • Judges given rewards for sending runaway slaves back to south • Antislavery advocates in north outraged • Forced them to be a part of the slavery system

14. Author: Harriet Beecher Stowe • Antislavery Bestseller • Published in 1852 • Showed the evils of slavery and Fugitive Slave Act • Popular in North and hated in the South • Southern complaint: did not give a true picture of slave life • Made more northerners see slavery as immoral

15. Kansas • Many Americans hoped that the Compromise of 1850 would end the debate over slavery in the West. • However, shortly after the Compromise of 1850 proslavery and antislavery forces struggled to attain Kansas.

16. Abraham Lincoln • After hearing about the events taking place in Kansas, Abraham Lincoln predicted that bloodshed would occur. • At this time, he was a young lawyer from Illinois.

17. Kansas-Nebraska Act • Proposed by Stephen Douglas. • Established territories of Kansas and Nebraska. • Gave settlers popular sovereignty to decide on slavery issue.

19. Northern Outrage Many northerners were unhappy with the Kansas-Nebraska Act because it went against the Missouri Compromise.

20. Tensions build in Kansas Proslavery and antislavery settlers moved into the Kansas territory. Many farmers from neighboring states moved to the territory in hopes of gaining cheap land.

21. Two Governments in Kansas • Proslavery: • Elections in 1855, established a proslavery legislature. • New laws were passed that made helping slaves escape punishable by death • Antislavery: • Refused to abide by laws of the proslavery government. • Established their own governor and legislature.

22. Bleeding Kansas • Kansas had become a place of violence as pro- and anti-slavery forces fought over the state's future. • By 1856, more than 200 people had been killed giving it the nickname “Bleeding Kansas” • This was a small taste of the violence to come with the Civil War.

23. Dred Scott • Slave that was from Missouri and had lived in Wisconsin and Illinois. (two free states) • After Scott returned to Missouri his owner died. • This issue led to the Supreme Court case known as Dred Scott v. Sandford.

24. Dred Scott • Scott’s lawyers argued that he had lived in a free territory, so he was a free man. • Court ruled that Scott could not file a lawsuit because he was not a citizen. • Court decision also stated that slaves were considered to be property. • The Supreme Court also ruled that Congress could not outlaw slavery, which made the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.

26. Violence in the Senate…Again!!! • Abolitionist leader Charles Sumner of Massachusetts criticized Andrew Butler of South Carolina for proslavery views. • Butler’s nephew, Congressman Preston Brooks, responded a few days later by marching into the Senate chamber and beating Sumner with a cane.

28. The Republican Party • Formed to give a voice against slavery. • Supporters of the new party fed up with Whigs and Democrats. • Main goal was to keep slavery out of western territories.

29. Lincoln v. Douglas for Senate in 1858 Lincoln’s views Douglas’s views Western territories should decide slavery issue by popular sovereignty. Personally disliked slavery. • Slavery was morally wrong. • Wanted to prevent the spread of slavery. • Douglas won the election by a slim margin.

30. John Brown’s Raid • Abolitionist that led a raid to the town of Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. • Planned to raid a federal arsenal and lead African Americans in a revolt. • After gaining control of the arsenal Brown’s plans failed because Robert E. Lee’s men killed ten raiders and captured Brown.

31. Election of 1860 • Democratic party split in two: • Southern democrats -supported slavery in the territories. Represented by John Breckinridge. • Northern democrats- refused to support slavery in the territories. Represented by Stephen Douglas.

32. Election of 1860 • Constitutional Union party- established to try and heal the split between the North and South. Represented by John Bell of Tennessee. • Republican party- Represented by Abraham Lincoln. • Abraham Lincoln won the northern states which sealed the election. • However, Lincoln’s name was not even on the ballot in 10 southern states.

34. Southern Reaction • Abraham Lincoln’s election left the South feeling like they had no representation in the federal government. • As a result South Carolina seceded on December 20, 1860 and Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas followed by 1861.

35. The Confederacy • Southerners felt they could secede because Declaration said people could abolish government. • Confederate States of America was formed and Jefferson Davis of Mississippi was the first president.

36. The Civil War Begins • Lincoln stated that there would be no war unless South started it. • As a result, Confederate forces began taking over forts in the South.

37. Fort Sumter • Located in South Carolina • Important to the Confederacy because it guarded Charleston Harbor • Confederate forces demanded the fort to surrender, but the commander refused to. • As a result, Confederate forces fired on the fort until it surrendered. • This event marked the start of the Civil War.