Causes of the Civil WarCauses of the Civil War

The issues that tore The issues that tore our nation apart.our nation apart.

Cause #1Cause #1

SectionalismSectionalism

NorthNorth

SouthSouth

Prior to the Civil War, the United States Prior to the Civil War, the United States was not really united.was not really united.

Our country was more like two separate Our country was more like two separate countries sharing the same land.countries sharing the same land.

NorthNorth

SouthSouth

The North had industry, large cities, a The North had industry, large cities, a diverse population, and favored the diverse population, and favored the politics of the Republican party which politics of the Republican party which supported the supported the abolitionabolition of slavery. of slavery.

The South had an economy based on The South had an economy based on agriculture, a plantation lifestyle, the agriculture, a plantation lifestyle, the views of the Democratic party, and views of the Democratic party, and the institution of slavery.the institution of slavery.

Southerners were especially loyal to Southerners were especially loyal to their section. They thought of their section. They thought of themselves...themselves...

•as citizens of their own as citizens of their own state first,state first,

•as Southerners second,as Southerners second,

•and as U.S. citizens third.and as U.S. citizens third.

This loyalty to your state or section This loyalty to your state or section of the country first and the nation of the country first and the nation second is called...second is called...

The intense feelings of sectionalism The intense feelings of sectionalism further divided the country into two further divided the country into two separate sections- North and South.separate sections- North and South.

Cause #2Cause #2

SlaverySlavery

Slavery was a cause of the Civil War Slavery was a cause of the Civil War for two reasons.for two reasons.

#1. The South #1. The South viewed slavery viewed slavery as a necessity to as a necessity to maintaining maintaining economic wealth. economic wealth.

However, many However, many people in the North people in the North viewed slavery as viewed slavery as evil and evil and unconstitutional.unconstitutional.

#2. Slavery was not just a moral #2. Slavery was not just a moral issue but a political issue as well.issue but a political issue as well.

If there were more If there were more slave states in the slave states in the U.S., then the U.S., then the South would have South would have more power in more power in Congress.Congress.

If there were If there were more free states more free states in the U.S., then in the U.S., then the North would the North would have more power have more power in Congress.in Congress.

Both Northerners and Southerners Both Northerners and Southerners fought fiercely over the moral and fought fiercely over the moral and political issue of slavery.political issue of slavery.

If the U.S. had been founded without If the U.S. had been founded without slavery, then the following causes of the slavery, then the following causes of the Civil War may have never been issues.Civil War may have never been issues.

Cause #3Cause #3

States’ RightsStates’ Rights

States’ rightsStates’ rights is the idea that each is the idea that each state had the right to determine state had the right to determine whether or not to follow federal laws.whether or not to follow federal laws.

Southerners Southerners supported states’ rightssupported states’ rights. . They believed that they had the right They believed that they had the right to own slaves and even to own slaves and even secedesecede, or , or leave the Union, if they desired.leave the Union, if they desired.

United States Law

Southerners were also angry at Southerners were also angry at Congress using its power to impose Congress using its power to impose taxes on the South’s agricultural taxes on the South’s agricultural products.products.

They felt that any federal tax restricted They felt that any federal tax restricted the rights of the individual states.the rights of the individual states.

Northerners Northerners did not support states’did not support states’ rightsrights. They believed the national . They believed the national government had final power.government had final power.

The federal government had the power to The federal government had the power to make laws that applied to all states, make laws that applied to all states, including imposing taxes.including imposing taxes.

Cause #4Cause #4

Election of 1860Election of 1860

When Republican Abraham Lincoln When Republican Abraham Lincoln won the Election of 1860, Southerners won the Election of 1860, Southerners believed that their rights would no believed that their rights would no longer be respected. longer be respected.

Many southerners believed it was Many southerners believed it was time to leave the Union.time to leave the Union.

Cause #5Cause #5

SecessionSecession

After Lincoln’s After Lincoln’s election, eleven election, eleven southern states southern states eventually seceded eventually seceded from the Union from the Union and formed the and formed the Confederate States Confederate States of America.of America.

Texas’s lawmakers Texas’s lawmakers voted to secede by voted to secede by a vote of 166 to 8, a vote of 166 to 8, and the people of and the people of Texas voted for Texas voted for secession by a secession by a margin of more margin of more than 3 to 1.than 3 to 1.

Abraham Lincoln and other Northerners Abraham Lincoln and other Northerners viewed Southern secession as an viewed Southern secession as an unconstitutional act.unconstitutional act.

On April 12, 1861 Southern troops On April 12, 1861 Southern troops attacked Ft. Sumter, a Union garrison off attacked Ft. Sumter, a Union garrison off the coast of South Carolina.the coast of South Carolina.

No one was killed on either side during No one was killed on either side during this first battle of the Civil War. this first battle of the Civil War.

It was a “bloodless opening to the It was a “bloodless opening to the bloodiest war in American history”.bloodiest war in American history”.

Let’s review the main causes of the Civil War:Let’s review the main causes of the Civil War:

3. States’ rights3. States’ rights

4. Election of 18604. Election of 1860

5. Secession5. Secession

United States Law

2. Sectionalism2. SectionalismSouthSouth

NorthNorth1. Slavery1. Slavery