The Civil WarU.S. History

•What is a “civil war?”•Any war in which two or more sides from the same country are fighting one another.

America in the mid-1800’s• In the North- busy cities, factories, paid workers.

▫ Most abolitionists were Northerners.▫ Many Northerners viewed blacks as inferior and had no

strong opinion about slavery.• In the South- agriculture (farming), cotton, slave labor.

▫ Southerners needed slavery to maintain their way of life.▫ Viewed slavery as good, intended by God.

• America was expanding westward beyond the Mississippi river…would slavery spread into these new territories?

• This question would come to the forefront of American politics.

Events Leading Up to the Civil War• Missouri Compromise (1820)

▫ Missouri enters as a slave state, Maine as a free state…no slavery above 3630’N in Louisiana terr.

• Compromise of 1850▫ Cali. Is free, popular sovereignty applied to Mex. terr.

• Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)▫ Kansas is slave state, Nebraska is free…what about the MC?

• “Bleeding Kansas” (1854-56)▫ Pro and anti-slavery settlers (John Brown) moved to new territory to

sway the balance….eventually violence broke out.• Dred Scott Decision (1857)

▫ Supreme court rules that slaves are property, not citizens.• John Brown at Harper’s Ferry (1859)

▫ Abolitionist John Brown attempts to lead a revolt to end slavery…Brown was captured and hanged. Fears deepened.

The Election of 1860• Four way race for President:• Abe Lincoln, Republican, Illinois

▫No slavery in new territories (doesn’t promise to end it though)

• Steven Douglas, Northern Democrat, Illinois▫Popular Sovereignty

• John Bell, Cons, Unionist, Tennessee▫Federal govt. must defend slavery and Union

• John Breckenridge, Southern Democrat, Kentucky▫Federal govt. must defend and expand slavery

Results of Election of 1860

Causes of the Civil War• After the election of Lincoln in 1860, Southerners no

longer felt they had a voice.• Led by South Carolina, Southern states began to secede

from the Union.• In Feb. of 1861, the Confederate States of America was

established.▫ Constitution is written (protects slavery, states rights)▫ Jefferson Davis elected President of CSA

• When Lincoln was inaugurated on March 4th, 1861, he made two things clear…▫ No intent to interfere with slavery where it already existed.▫ He would not allow any state to leave the Union.

1861

Civil War Basics•Lasted from 1861-1865•North had huge advantages in men,

factories, transportation, strong central govt.

•South had better generals (Lee, Jackson) but fewer resources and a weak central govt.

•The war began with major victories for the C.S.A. but Gettysburg (1863) was a turning point for the North.

•Lee surrendered at Appomattox in April of 1865.

The Emancipation Proclamation•In late 1862, Lincoln issued the

Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in all states “in rebellion”▫This included the states of LA, AL, MS,

GA, NC, SC, FL, & VA.•It did not apply to loyal border states.•Not a slave was actually freed at this

time, but it did shift the focus of the war to ending slavery.

Outcomes of the Civil War•The North and South are reunited into

one Union.•Slavery ends throughout the country.•Union deaths-360,000•Confederate deaths- 260,000