I. Pre-Civil War--Causes

1. Western Lands

Treaty of Paris of 1783

A. Louisiana Purchase

1. Purchased by Jefferson2. More than doubled the size of the U.S.

3. Lewis & Clark sent to explore and to find a Northwest Passage

4. Their expedition opened the way for

settlement

5. How to organize all this land?

B. Northwest Territory & Land Ordinance of 1787

Divided the new lands into territoriesProvided a democratic model for national expansion

Announced that the U.S. would not only be settling west of the original 13 colonies but that it would eventually become states. (Treaty of Paris; 1763 & 1783)Accelerated westward expansion (Manifest Destiny)

2. Industrial Revolution

A. Interchangeable Parts & Mass Production

1. Interchangeable parts & Mass production2. Jefferson’s “Damn-bargo” (1807) and then the War of 1812 brought about a halt in trade3. They needed goods that didn’t need to be imported; the Industrial Revolution began in the U.S.

Slater’s Mill on the Blackwater River

4. Samuel Slater started the First successful mechanizedTextile factory in America.

B. Cotton Engine or ‘Gin’

Developed by Eli Whitney in 1793

FYI: Rosetta Stone found in 1799

C. Cotton Productioni. Short-staple cotton vs. long-staple(piedmont vs. tidewater farmers)

“Cotton is King”

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pregin

postgin

bales ofcottonprice ofcottondemand forcotton

ii. Production increased 500% per worker

iii. The need for slave labor increased

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11.5

22.5

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44.5

1790 1810 1840 1860

FreeSlaveTotal

Cotton is labor intensive—even with the cotton gin.As demand increased, labor had to increase to meet demand.The more cotton you could produce the more money you could make.

iv. The need for land increased

As the demand for cotton increased more and more farmers started to grow it and cotton farms steadily spread

Farmers would grow cotton until their field gave out and then move to another field. Because of this, A LOT of land was needed

v. Westward ExpansionFarmers can’t go eastward, so they go west. They run into the frontier and the Northwest Land OrdinancePreviously semi-deserted territories quickly become populated and some are soon ready to apply for statehood.

3. Missouri Compromise of 1820

A. Missouri applies for statehood as a slave stateB. Threatens the balance in congress—11 free states and 11 slave states already existC. Henry clay proposes:

i. Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free stateii. Louisiana Territory split: above the 36 30’ north latitude slavery is illegal; below slavery is legal—except Missouri

4. Addition of Texas

5. Comp. Of 1850

a. backgroundI. By 1849 California’s population exceeds 100,000 peopleII. Applies as a free stateIII. Disruption erupts again (most of

California is below the 36 30’ line)IV. Henry Clay thinks he has solved the issue forever this time with the 1850 compromise—but it isn’t passed

b. CompromiseI. Proposed by Stephen A. DouglasII. California as a free stateIII. Utah and New Mexico to decide themselves (popular sovereignty)IV. Trading of slaves—but not slavery—banned in D.C.V. Stricter fugitive slave law

6. Fugitive Slave Laws/Personal Liberty Laws

I. Fugitive Slave Lawsa. Slaveholders or their agents could seize a slave in the North for return b. Slaves were not entitled to a trial by jury or to testify on their own behalfc. Federal marshals had to help in the recapture of slavesd. Anyone found helping an escaped slave was fined $1,000 and/or imprisoned for 6 months.e. Effect: increased abolitionist feelings in the North.

II. Personal Liberty Laws

A. Passed in the North to combat the Fugitive slave lawsB. Forbid state officials from assisting in capturesC. Activated Abolistionists in the North.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin written by Harriet Beecher Stowe

7. Influential People

I. William Lloyd GarrisonA. Published an abolitionist paper in the NorthWanted slaves freed—thought they were entitled to the same rights as all other Americans

II. Harriet TubmanOne of the lead “conductors” on the Underground RailroadShe later became an ardent speaker for the abolitionist movement