Towards Civil War Reading Review

What events caused the Civil War?

Warm Up• Review the Primary Source on top of page 460.

• Was the raid on Harpers Ferry a success for abolitionists? Why or Why not?

• Abolitionists would have considered it a failure because it did not start a slave uprisings in Virginia.

• Additionally, the revolt was crushed by local citizens and federal troops commanded by R.E. Lee

Compromise of 1850• The Fugitive Slave Act• Devised by Henry Clay• Required all citizens to aid in capture of runaway slaves• Those who aided runaways could be fined or imprisoned • The act further divided the nation

Slavery brings Sectionalism• The Kansas Nebraska Act• Devised by Stephen A. Douglas• territories settlers vote to decide to have slavery or not• Act repealed the Missouri Compromise

Dred Scott I Presume• Dred Scott• Enslaved African American• Owned by Army doctor

from Missouri• Lived in Illinois and

Wisconsin for a time, both were free

• Sued for his freedom and went to the supreme court

• Allowed Supreme Court rule on issue of slavery in territories

The Decision Mr. Taney• The Dred Scott Case• Chief Justice Roger B. Taney presided (Maryland Native)• Dred Scott was not a CITIZEN thus he had no rights• Dred Scott was STILL a slave• A slave who is not a citizen can not bring LAWSUIT • The Fifth AMENDMENT prohibits the government from taking

peoples personal PROPERTY including slaves.• Banning slavery anywhere in the U.S. was UNCONSTITUTIONAL• In other words the constitution PROTECTED slavery!• The Nation was on path to WAR

John Brown: Martyr or Murder

• Raid on Harpers Ferry• John Brown (abolitionists) led the event• Plan was to raid an arsenal or weapons storage• Arm slaves in the south to begin a revolt against slave

holders• Raid funded by northern abolitionists • Brown’s attempt was defeated by local citizens• Brown was convicted of treason and murder• Sentenced to hang

The Confederacy• Abraham Lincoln was elected

president in 1860• Southern states seceded or

left the United States• Many rejected the North's

ability to outvote the South• Southerners justified

succession with states rights • They had willing joined so

they could leave when they wanted

• The Congress was making laws that favored the North

Fort Sumter• Confederate forces

attacked the Union fort on 4-12-61• Located in Charleston

Harbor S.C.• Lincoln had sent

supplies• Abner Doubleday

commanding the fort. • The event signaled the

beginning of the Civil War