How It All Began
While many people today believe that the Civil War only started because the North and South hated each other there are many more reasons why the North and South started their dispute with one another. The top 5 (most known) reasons for the Civil War to begin are listed below. The bottom of the page contain many other impacts that started the Civil War or helped the North or South during the war.
- Economic and Social Differences Between the Sides: The south (before the war) was known for all the cotton that they produced, which helped them so much economically. With the invention of the cotton gin, the south made more money than ever because the gin was making it easier to separate the seed from the fiber, which in the end was a faster process. But, with so much cotton being produced, the south became known as a "one crop economy". Southerners wanted nothing but slavery, but more importantly wanting and needing slavery to keep the economy flourishing and to keep their land healthy and ready for more cotton to be grown. The north's economy was only doing well because of all of the factories. Their economy was based on the industry income which brought in a lot more money than the south's agriculture. Since the north gave women more rights than the south, the north could make more money with more citizens working. Both the north and the south had two totally different economic structures which was one of the causes to the civil war. (They, north and south, had different views economically.) Southerners hired/ made black work for them while the north tried to involve people of different cultures, places, classes, and sexes to work.
- States v. Federal Rights: When the constitution was written, many citizens and states felt as if it ignored or did classify the rights of states to continue the act of independence. Because of all the miscommunication, a lot of people believed that states would continue to have a right to decide if they wanted to accept all of, or some of, the federal laws. In the end the government denied states this right. After the government denied them rights, many stated decided to secede form the the union, or to just look at secession as an option in the long run.
- Problems rise between Slave and Non-Slave States: A big problem starting in America was deciding if states should be admitted as slave states or free states. When the Missouri Compromise was passes in 1820, it made a "rule" that prohibited slavery in states from the old Louisiana Territory. The latitude was 36 degrees 30 minutes north except in Missouri. (The ones/ states north of this line were free states, while the states south of this line were to be considered slave states.) The tension started to occur during the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854. The act created two territories that allowed popular sovereignty to determine whether the state would be seen as a slave state or free state. But, the issue rose in Kansas where pro-slavery Missouri citizens began to go into the state to help make people want to choose slavery. Fighting started to occur because they needed to determine if Kansas and Nebraska would be a free state or a slave state. This flight/ battle was called "Bleeding Kansas". After the battle was over, Kansas was seen as a free state while Nebraska was seen as a slave state.
- Making of the Abolition Movement: As time went on, northerners became more upset and disturbed about slavery and how much it was hurting African Americans. Many people (northerners) began to feel sympathetic towards abolitionists but were totally against slavery and the slaveholders. One thing that made northerners act this way towards slavery was because of the publishing of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. Some people believe that this book was written to show how slaves were being treated, while other believe that it was written to show how slaves were going to be treated if slavery was going to continue. The most important thing that made northerners feel so hostile toward slavery was the fugitive slave law which held citizens/ individuals responsible for homing and laboring fugitive slaves even if they lived in a non- slave state.
- Making Republican, Abraham Lincoln, President: When Abraham Lincoln finally won presidency in the election of 1860, most southerners were very disturbed and disappointed because they knew that slavery would soon be coming to an end, which was the largest way of bringing in money for a bright economy. South Carolina issued its very own "Declaration of the Causes of Secession". They believed that with Lincoln as president of the United States that he would end their way of income and partially their survival: slavery. They also believed that with Lincoln, he would only be in favor of Northern interests rather than all of America's interests. The surprising revelation was that before Lincoln even became president, seven states seceded from the nation because they wanted to keep practicing the same rules and morals that they had been before he has president. These states included South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.
The Mexican and Wilmot Proviso: The start off, the Mexican American War, was the first war the American armed battle/conflict that was actually fought on foreign ground. The war started because America believed that Texas was part of the Union, while Mexico believed that Texas was part of their territory (border disputes). After the Mexican American War (American won its territory/ownership of Texas) the Wilmot Proviso was attached to many bills about Texas, but it was never actually passed by the federal government. If it would have ever been actually looked at and then later passed, it would have made Northerners very happy because it would have outlawed slavery in ANY territory/land that was gained from the Mexican American War. This would have helped to calm down the dispute between the North and South about free states or slave states, which would have helped maybe not produce the Civil War or to not make it a huge battle.
The Compromise of 1850: The Compromise of 1850 was not just one compromise, but instead a series of bills that were used to resolve territory and slavery battles/controversies. There were five laws that helped balance the North and South (slave or free state). In the end California would be a free state, Texas received financial help and claimed the lands west of the Rio Grande in now New Mexico, in New Mexico (present day Arizona and parts of Nevada) was organized or made without any specific prohibition of slavery, the slave trade was terminated (not literally slavery) in the District of Columbia, and the Fugitive Slave Law was passed which required all United States citizens to return all runaway slaves no matter of the legal rights of slavery in that specific state that they were found.
Dred Scott Decision: Dred Scott, a slave who had lived in Illinois (a free state) tried to receive his freedom before moving back to Missouri (a slave state). Chief Justice Roger B. Taney ruled that all black, plus all free slaves, could never be able to become a citizen of the United States. This decision made southerners happy because it made them think that their slaves would always be their property. This mad Northerners very disappointed because they didn't think that they would ever be able to help blacks and slaves receive their own rights nor freedom. The Dred Scoot Decision was a big part of the Civil War to begin.
Dred Scott Decision: Dred Scott, a slave who had lived in Illinois (a free state) tried to receive his freedom before moving back to Missouri (a slave state). Chief Justice Roger B. Taney ruled that all black, plus all free slaves, could never be able to become a citizen of the United States. This decision made southerners happy because it made them think that their slaves would always be their property. This mad Northerners very disappointed because they didn't think that they would ever be able to help blacks and slaves receive their own rights nor freedom. The Dred Scoot Decision was a big part of the Civil War to begin.
The Liberator: The Liberator was a newspaper, published by William Lloyd Garrison in 1832 to show his views on the abolition of slavery. Garrison believed that the United States could get rid of slavery in a peaceful way instead of having fights over it. William Lloyd Garrison continued to publish the Liberator until 1865, when he believed that there was no need for this paper anymore (the 13th amendment was passed which destroyed slavery).
Harpers Ferry: Harpers Ferry was created by John Brown to be a place where run away slaves could be assisted. It was also made to help slaves rebel against their slaveholders/attack the slaveholders. John Brown thought that this place would soon be created but her was surely wrong. His plans were turned around when he was asked to stop his plans and wait until later. He was told that many of his followers were going to tell others about the plan (reveal it).
Free Soil Party: This party started in a small area in New York. It was a rivalry between people who wanted slavery or were 100% against slavery. The Democratic party that was in New York included Barnburners (didn't like slavery) and Hunkers (were neutral or supported slavery). Liberty Party: The Liberty Party was the first known antislavery party ever formed. The party was formed to achieve goals towards not having slavery in any state. Most of the people that were part of the Liberty Party were northerners that were not in favor of slavery in any or the southern, northern, or western states.
Republican Party: The Republican Party was formed by Northern states that were against Slavery and Democrats. The Republican party was afraid of secession and slavery. The Party was formed in 1854 after many northerners that wanted to abolish slavery and slaveholders. They believed that with Abraham Lincoln becoming President (himself being a Republican) would help them to get rid of slavery and to help them with
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