Causes of the American Civil War

The South• Economy was based on Plantations, but only ¼ of the

population were plantation owners• Supplied the world ¾ of its cotton, which also benefited

the north as they were exporting the cotton.• Old customs & Traditions

The South• The cotton gin was invented in 1793 by Eli Whitney. The machine

made it easier to pick the seeds out of the cotton.

• This increased the demand for slaves, as they needed more cotton to be picked to keep up with the machine.

• Slave revolts put harsher and stricter rules on slaves

The North• Industrial Revolution: Factories, cities,

visiting Europeans brought over new products

• Large population moving to the future

• Large abolition movement

The North• The Amistad Case and the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin

opened their eyes to what slavery was really like.

• They were outraged by the Fugitive Slave Act, which allowed southerners to go into the north and recapture runaway slaves.

• Washington, D.C. (the capital) had the largest slave market in North America.

• Time of Patriotism: campaigns, debates, songs, banners etc..

The 10th Amendment = State’s Rights

– This gave states the right to make their own laws as long as they do not go against federal laws

– There were disagreements about how strong should the federal laws be.

The Nullification Crisis– In 1832, South Carolina almost seceded over state

vs. federal laws.– They wanted to cancel a federal tariff that was hurting

it’s economy– Tariffs are taxes on trade. They favoured northern

industry and hurt southern farmers

The Missouri Compromise– 1803, the USA purchased the territory of Louisiana from

France. This was known as the Louisiana Purchase– The north did not want any more new slave states– 1820, there were 11 slaves states and 11 free states– Missouri joined as a slave state and Maine was made a free

state in order to keep the balance. This was called the Missouri Compromise

The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

– This removed the ban on slavery on some northern states for a railroad. The new states of Kansas and Nebraska could determine whether they were going to be a slave or a free state.

– Pro-slavery and anti-slavery supporters rushed to Kansas to influence the vote. Violence broke out and Kansas was known as Bleeding Kansas as the death toll rose.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)– Henry Ward Beecher supplied weapons to anyone that was

opposed to slavery in these territories. These rifles became known as Beecher’s Bibles. John Brown and his 5 sons also went to Kansas to fight. Frederick Douglass spoke out against the act.

– Pro-slavery supporters were illegally crossing the border and participating in the vote.

– It was not until 1861 that the dispute was settled and Kansas joined the Union as a free state.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)• In this editorial cartoon from the

1856 presidential election, James Buchanan—in the light suit—helps hold down the head of a "Free Soiler" while Illinois Senator Stephen A. Douglas and President Franklin Pierce shove an African-American slave down his throat. The freesoiler's head rests on a platform marked "Kansas," "Cuba," and "Central America," probably referring to Democratic ambitions for the extension of slavery. In the background left is a scene of burning and pillage; on the right a dead man hangs from a tree. In 1860, Douglas, who wrote the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, would carry Pennsylvania, but lose the presidential election to Abraham Lincoln.

The Dred Scott Decision 1847-57

• Slave who was first owned by Peter Blow, who died and was then sold to a doctor, Mr. Emerson

• The doctor travelled to free states• He lived a total of 7 years in areas that were closed off to

slavery• Slaves were set free when they entered the free states• The doctor passed away and Scott became the property

of the doctor’s wife who was extremely cruel• Scott attempted to buy his freedom for $300 but was

refused. Scott then sought freedom through the courts

The Dred Scott Decision 1847-57

• He went to trial in June of 1847, but lost on a technicality – he could not prove that he was owned by Emerson’s widow

• His 2nd trial was held in the Missouri Supreme Court.

• The judge had an old Southern viewpoint and he was defeated again in 1852

• Scott appealed his case to the United States Supreme Court

• The 9 justices of the Supreme Court of 1856 had biases regarding slavery

• 7 had been appointed by pro-slavery presidents from the South and 5 of these were from slave-holding families

• The Supreme Court stated that because Scott was black, he was NOT a citizen and had no right to sue

The Dred Scott Decision 1847-57• The Supreme Court stated that because Scott was

black, he was NOT a citizen and had no right to sue• The decision also declared the Missouri Compromise of

1820, legislation which restricted slavery in certain territories, unconstitutional

• Peter Blow’s sons, childhood friends of Scott, had helped pay Scott’s legal fees throughout the years. After the Supreme Courts decision, the former master’s sons purchased Scott and his wife and set them free

• Dred Scott died 9 months later• His death caused more heated debates on slavery and

also helped Lincoln become leader of the Republican Party