CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

Causes of the ACW• Main Idea – Growing tensions about the

spread of slavery in the mid 1800’s leads to strong sectionalism in America

• Key Terms & People –– Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Abolitionist, Missouri

Compromise 1820, Wilmot Proviso 1846, Popular Sovereignty, Compromise of 1850, Henry Clay, Stephen Douglas, Fugitive Slave Law, Frederick Douglas, Underground Railroad

MexAm War’s impact on slavery

Texas annexed in 1845 led to MexAm War

Wilmot ProvisoPenn Democrat David

WilmotNO slavery in territories gain

in war Popular Sovereignty

Let the citizens decideNo national responsibility “State’s Rights”

Political considerations 1848

• Political parties in turmoil over slavery• Anti-slavery Whigs and Democrats join with

Abolitionists = Free Soil Party• Zachary Taylor (Whig) wins presidency – slave

owner, Pro State’s Rights, maintain the Union• 1849 – Gold in CA – applies for statehood

Compromise of 1850• The “Slavery Question”

– Dominating politics– Many feared that violence

would soon break out• KY Senator Clay / IL

Senator Douglas – California a free state– The Slave Trade abolished

in Washington D.C.– Fugitive Slave Law– Slavery in the new

territories gained from Mexico, would be left up to popular sovereignty

Uncle Tom’s Cabin 1852

• Harriet Beecher Stowe – author

• First view of slavery for many Northerners

• South want to ban the book

Fugitive Slave Act• African American accused of

being a runaway was arrested and brought to a federal commissioner

• A sworn statement saying the captive was an escaped slave, or testimony by a white witness, was all a court needed to send the person south

• A person who refused to help capture a fugitive slave could be jailed

• Whites and free African Americans helped runaway slaves through the Underground Railroad.

Underground RR stop in St Charles, IL

Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854• Abandon Missouri Compromise• Popular Sovereignty – Stephen

Douglas• Bleeding Kansas

– Free Soilers vs Ruffians– Caning of Charles Sumner

• Abolitionist Sumner (MA)• Senator Butler’s cousin

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWww0YIf-JE – 6min KS-NB Act– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uCtxQ4Ulvc – 3 min JB Rap– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN_PYuQGrxg – 4 min JB NPS video– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWa-

4X4qg50&list=PLC7F49816FDF8A0E3&index=18 – 2 min Smithsonian JB Raid

Slavery’s future• The Missouri Compromise of 1820

– Maintain a balance of Slave vs Free States

• Should slavery expand into new territories and new states?

• South controls the Senate – – wanted to see slavery expand into the new states– ensuring its survival

• North controls the House– wanted to contain slavery to its preexisting boundaries

• Slave states wanted an “equilibrium;” – Equal number of slave states and free states

• Wilmot Proviso of 1846: – Representative Wilmot (Northern Democrat)

• Constitutional Amendment• Forbid the spreading of slavery into new territories in the West• House of Reps voted yes, but Senate voted no

Frederick Douglass

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j0jvj4e4XU&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdno2YLm4Ms&feature=relmfu

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tTkHJWxfP0