CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR by Mazie Schramm

New Land Renews Slavery Disputes

schramaz — 2024-04-23 17:15:56 UTC

The US added a lot of land which was a result of the Mexican-American war. But, the land caused debate about slavery. It prohibited slavery almost everywhere but let Missouri became a slave state.

Compromise of 1850

schramaz — 2024-04-23 17:16:14 UTC

The south, led by Caihoun, rejected the plan and threatened to secede (formally withdraw from union). Northerners like the Webster from mass favored the plan. Additions to the compromise, California would enter as a free state, New Mexico and Utah territory would be decided on popular sovereignty.

Fugitive Slave Act

schramaz — 2024-04-23 17:16:37 UTC

The fugitive Act made it illegal to help runaway slaves and allowed officials to arrest slaves in free areas. Slaveholders were permitted to take suspected fugitives to U.S commissioners, who decided their fate.

Antislavery Literature

schramaz — 2024-04-23 17:16:56 UTC

Abolitionist in the north used fugitive slave's stories to get sympathy. Fiction also informed people about the evils of slavery. An antislavery novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, which was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, spoke out against slavery.

Election of 1852

schramaz — 2024-04-23 17:17:50 UTC

For the people running, it became clear that none of them were gonna win with a majority. Frustrated delegates turned to Franklin Pierce who was a little-known politician from New Hampshire. He promised to honor the compromise of 1850 and the fugitive slave act. Franklin Pierce ended up winning the election but a lot of people were not happy about it, they thought it was a painful defeat but not just for the candidates, for their party too.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act

schramaz — 2024-04-23 17:18:10 UTC

The president was hoping that slavery had been put to rest, but less than a year later a proposal to build a railroad to the West coast helped revive the slavery controversy and opened a new period of sectional conflict. Then the Kansas-Nebraska Act was a plan that divided Louisiana Purchase into two territories. This act would eliminate the Missouri Compromise's restriction on slavery north of the 36 degree 30' line.

Bleeding Kansas

schramaz — 2024-04-23 17:18:27 UTC

Kansas had two apposing governments, people were angry. Settlers had originally moved there for peace but the controversy over slavery started to affect everyone around. In may 1856 a pro-slavery grand jury in Kansas charged leaders of the antislavery government with treason. About 800 men rode into Lawrence to arrest the leaders but they had all fled. The posse took his anger out by setting fires, looting buildings, and destroying presses that were used to print antislavery newspapers in Lawrence.

Political Parties Undergo Change

schramaz — 2024-04-23 17:18:40 UTC

In 1854 was the creation of republican party. Republicans were seen as a 1 issue party (abolishing slavery). The republican party had very few supporters and most in the north.

Dred Scott Decision

schramaz — 2024-04-23 17:19:07 UTC

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

schramaz — 2024-04-23 17:19:35 UTC

In 1858 Lincoln was nominated as president, but is opponent was Stephen Douglas. So Lincoln challenged Douglas. Lincoln was saying that Douglas was trying to spread slavery across the nation. Lincoln went on to give speeches about fairness when in reality, he believed that African Americans were not necessarily the social or political equals of whites. Douglas was criticizing Lincoln for saying that the nation could not remain half slave and half free. They went back and forth about slavery until it ended when Douglas won the Senate seat and Lincoln became a strong leader.

Raid on Harpers Ferry

schramaz — 2024-04-23 17:20:17 UTC

John Brown wanted to cause an uproar, he planned to kill or take hostage white southerners that got in his way of attacking the federal arsenal. He ended up getting caught and got sentenced to be hung by the judge.

Election of 1860

schramaz — 2024-04-23 17:20:31 UTC

In 1860 everyone expected a normal election but Douglas, Breckenridge, and Bell all wanted to make sure that Lincoln didn't win the election. In the end Lincoln ended up winning with majority votes.

The South Secedes

schramaz — 2024-04-23 17:20:50 UTC

After Lincoln promised he wouldn't change slavery, it did change. People believed that their economy would be ruined without slavery.