Causes of the Civil War by Reegan Shaffer

New Land Renews Slavery Disputes

shaffree — 2025-04-15 16:04:48 UTC

The United States added more than 500,000 square miles

of land as a result of winning the Mexican-American War in

1848. The additional land caused bitter debate about slavery.

Compromise of 1850

shaffree — 2025-04-16 15:52:40 UTC

Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky had helped to settle the Missouri crisis of

1819–20 and the nullification crisis of 1832–33 by proposing compromises.

He now had another plan to help the nation maintain peace. His ideas were

designed to give both sides things that they wanted

Slavery

shaffree — 2025-04-16 15:54:45 UTC

At the heart of the divide was the institution of slavery, which was deeply ingrained in the Southern economy and way of life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUfJCh7Rd_Q

States' Rights

shaffree — 2025-04-16 15:55:50 UTC

The debate over the balance of power between individual states and the federal government played a crucial role. Southern states believed they had the right to secede from the Union and protect their interests, including slavery.

Expansion of the United States

shaffree — 2025-04-16 15:57:05 UTC

As the nation expanded westward, the question of whether new territories would be slave or free became a major point of contention, exacerbating sectional tensions.

Industry vs. Agriculture

shaffree — 2025-04-16 15:59:06 UTC

The North's industrial economy clashed with the South's agrarian, slave-based economy, leading to economic and political conflicts.

Bleeding Kansas

shaffree — 2025-04-16 16:00:06 UTC

A violent period of conflict over slavery in the Kansas territory highlighted the deep divisions within the nation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqZJc7B8xsc

Secession

shaffree — 2025-04-16 16:01:31 UTC

Following Lincoln's election, Southern states seceded from the Union, forming the Confederate States of America.

Antislavery Literature

shaffree — 2025-04-16 16:03:00 UTC

Abolitionists in the North used the stories of fugitive slaves like James

Hamlet and Anthony Burns to gain sympathy for their cause.

Election of 1852

shaffree — 2025-04-16 16:04:48 UTC

Four leading candidates for the Demo-

cratic presidential nomination emerged

in 1852. It became clear that none of

them would win a majority of votes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ft5AUiiyF0

The Kansas-Nebraska Act

shaffree — 2025-04-16 16:09:19 UTC

In his inaugural address, President Pierce expressed his hope that the

slavery issue had been put to rest “and that no sectional . . . excitement

may again threaten the durability [stability] of our institutions.” Less

than a year later, however, a proposal to build a railroad to the West

coast helped revive the slavery controversy and opened a new period

of sectional conflict.

Political Parties Undergo Change

shaffree — 2025-04-16 16:10:24 UTC

Democrat Stephen Douglas had predicted that the Kansas-

Nebraska Act would “raise a . . . storm.” He was right. The

Kansas-Nebraska Act brought the slavery issue back into the

national spotlight.

Dred Scott Decision

shaffree — 2025-04-16 16:11:13 UTC

Just two days after Buchanan became president, the Supreme Court issued

a historic ruling about slavery.