Causes of Civil War by Paris McClellan

Missouri Compromise (1820)

parismcclellan — 2023-12-07 17:16:22 UTC

Missouri applied for statehood which would upset slave/free state balance in the Senate. Southerners learned the importance of maintaining the balance of free and slave states.

It could eventually lead to war by raising tensions as some do not want Missouri. Also Missouri could have more representation.

Protective Tariff (1828)

parismcclellan — 2023-12-07 17:23:15 UTC

Andrew Jackson was elected president. He supported the Tariff of 1828. The North wanted protective tariffs because they wanted to make more money off of exports. But the South didn't because it would raise prices of manufactured goods.

This could lead to war by the North and South being mad at each other. They would be mad at each other because the south did not want protective tariffs to pass.

Nullification Crisis (1828-1832)

parismcclellan — 2023-12-08 16:41:57 UTC

Vice president, John C. Calhoun claimed it was a right to declare a law unconstitutional and nullify through a special convention. Causing a conflict with him and unify of U.S. and supreme court. Another tariff was passed in 1833. South Carolina repeals their nullification then declares congressional acts unconstitutional.

This leads to war because later on South Carolina lead in support of state rights over federal government.

Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

parismcclellan — 2023-12-08 16:47:44 UTC

The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo gave the land in the west to the U.S. This was the belief that the U.S. was destined to move to another ocean. The debate of the slave and free status of the people started with the discovery of gold in California.

This could eventually lead to war by the debate of slave trade becoming to intense.

Compromise of 1850

parismcclellan — 2023-12-08 16:56:03 UTC

Henry Clay persuaded congress to pass this compromise. This compromise has 5 parts. California got to enter as a free state, slave trade outlawed in D.C., organizing the land from Mexico into two large territories, pay Texas 10 million, and strengthen the existing Fugitive Slave Act.

There are many reasons why this could lead to war. One reason is that when California entering as a free state because this could cause tension between the north and the south.

Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852)

parismcclellan — 2023-12-08 17:04:23 UTC

This book was written in response to the Fugitive Slave Law. This increased sympathy for fugitive slaves. Southerners were very shocked by the exaggerations about slavery.

This could eventually lead to war by the southerners taking the comments about slavery in the book very serious and the tensions could potentially rise. Due to them thinking they are offensive.

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

parismcclellan — 2023-12-08 17:19:48 UTC

There were urgent demands to organize the western territories after the Gold Rush. The government wanted to create a railroad connecting the East and West. Northerners and Southerners wanted the route through different places. Due to Kansas being in the northern part of Louisiana it could not be a slave state. The 36 30' Law of the Missouri Compromise was repealed and relaced with popular sovereignty.

This could eventually lead to war because it could impact the opinion if the states should be free or slave states.

Bleeding Kansas (1856)

parismcclellan — 2023-12-08 17:25:38 UTC

Northern abolitionists and southern slaveholders moved to Kansas. They started to fight with each other over popular sovereignty. The republican party was formed.

This could eventually lead to war by there fight over popular sovereignty.

Dred Scott Decision (1857)

parismcclellan — 2023-12-08 20:16:15 UTC

Dred Scott was a slave who was took into to free territory. He felt he was free since he lived in free territory and sued to maintain freedom. The Supreme Court makes it so that African Americans are not citizens. Also this made it so that Scott was property and could be taken anywhere. The Supreme Court stated that the Missouri Compromise and the Kansas-Nebraska Act were unconstitutional because they stopped owners from taking "property" where they wanted.

This could have eventually led to war by the tension being rose by the owners not being able to take their property wherever they wanted.

John Brown's Raid (1859)

parismcclellan — 2023-12-08 20:20:14 UTC

John Brown wanted to arm slaves for a slave rebellion. His raid failed a lot because he failed at getting weapons. Also he heightened sectionalism.

This could eventually lead to war by North being mad at the South because they made it so Sectionalism was heightened because they were scared of abolitionists and freed slaves.

Theory of Secession (1860)

parismcclellan — 2023-12-08 20:23:30 UTC

This came from the states rights. Also the USA had a confederation of states. It says that states have more power than the federal government.

This could eventually lead to war by the tensions potentially rising due to the argument over the amount of power.

Election of 1860

parismcclellan — 2023-12-08 21:17:24 UTC

This prompted South Carolina to leave from the union. During this time Lincoln was not an abolitionist he was an free-soiler. Lincoln won the election with electoral votes from the North. After Lincoln's election South Carolina called a convention and signed the Articles of Secession. Their were plenty of South Carolinians who strongly discouraged secession.

This could have eventually led to war by lots of people disagreeing during Lincolns election. This could cause the tensions to rise and there to be a big fight.