American Civil War
Causes &
Effects
Missouri Compromise (1820)

Slave & Free States are even in number

Missouri enters as slave state, Maine as free


Creates a line prohibiting slavery south of the
36 ' 30 line
Results:
- Creates divide
between N. & S.
- National govt. has
jurisdiction over
expansion of slavery
Northwest Ordinance (1785)




Created a method of achieving statehood in the
Northwest territory
Law created under A.O.C.
Prohibited slavery in Northwest Territory and all
states created from it
Results: Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Michigan, Ohio, Indiana are free states
Slave Trade Compromise (1787)

Raised the taxes/tariffs on Southern exports

Attempt by north to end slave trade

Compromise :
1. Agreed to reduce
the tariffs on exports
2. Fugitive Slave
Clause
3. Slave trade would
end in 20 years
3/5 Compromise (1787)

Southern states wanted more Representatives
in Congress

Wanted to count slaves as population

Counted 3/5 of each slave for representation

Paid 3/5 taxes on each slave

Result: Raises questions
about the morality/legality
of slavery
Eli Whitney & the Cotton Gin (1793)

Cotton gin invented, quickly produces cotton

Mass produces cotton shirts, sales soar


South argues they need slaves more than ever
to support new demand for cotton
North argues most work
should now be done in
factories, not by slaves
Missouri Compromise (1820)

Slave & Free States are even in number

Missouri enters as slave state, Maine as free


Creates a line prohibiting slavery south of the
36 ' 30 line
Results:
- Creates divide
between N. & S.
- National govt. has
jurisdiction over
expansion of slavery
Jackson & Nullification (1832)



Nullification: states can refuse to enforce or
comply to laws that they view as unconstitutional
S. Carolina refuses to pay tariffs imposed by
Jackson, claims they are unconstitutional
(targets Southern states)
Result:
- Compromise Tariff of 1833
Jackson & Nullification (1832)



Nullification: states can refuse to enforce or
comply to laws that they view as unconstitutional
S. Carolina refuses to pay tariffs imposed by
Jackson, claims they are unconstitutional
(targets Southern states)
Result:
- Compromise Tariff of 1833
Compromise Tariff of 1833




Southern states agree to pay higher tariffs
Jackson declares nullification as an act
of rebellion
National govt. gets authority
to use military to force
compliance with national laws
“Martial Law”
Annexation of Texas (1836)

Texas becomes a “Lone Star Republic”

Tries to achieve statehood

Denied (too many slave states)

Accepted as a new state via joint resolution


N. views this as sneaky,
unfair, “barely legal”
Leads to increased
tension between N. & S.
(S. now has more power
in Senate)
Mexican War & Treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)




US wins lands in southwest part of continent
(present states of N. Mexico, Arizona, Utah,
Colorado)
Increases chances that there will be more slave
states in US
Expansion of slavery? Who controls this?
States or national govt?
Can you deny statehood based on whether or
not it is a free or slave state?
Fugitive Slave Act (1850)


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


Slaves can not become free by escaping to free
states or territories
All runaway slaves must be returned to the
state in which they escape
Reinforces “State Extradition” requirement in
Article 4, Section 3 of Constitution
Increases tensions between N. & S.
Leads to creation of several Underground
Railroad networks
Many free blacks in N. captured and sold in S.
“King Cotton” Argument (1850)



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Cotton is “crowned” as the supreme industry in
the South & the US
Southern states and US depend on cotton
industry for economic survival
Emancipation of slaves would
severely hurt US economy and
weaken military
Issue of national security?
Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)


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Raises the line of the Missouri Compromise to
increase areas of slave states
Slavery (again): state or national issue?
Same questions arise as Missouri Compromise,
but debate increases because it favors South
Leads to “Bleeding Kansas”
“Bleeding Kansas” (1854-1860)



Fight over Kansas as a free state
Use of violence and voter fraud to achieve
goals
Kansas eventually becomes a free state
Results:
- Who is a state resident?
- Should popular sovereignty
be the deciding factor on the
issue of slavery?
Ostend Manifesto (1854)
•
A document describing the US reasons for
taking over Cuba (become 34th state)
•
Should either purchase from Spain or take
over by force
•
S. argues this is an issue
of national security
•
N. argues S. just wants to
expand slavery
Slave Power Conspiracy (1854)
•
Slavery was economically inefficient
•
Created a powerful slaveholding class in S.
•
These S. plantation owners used their power,
slaves, and property to get political power and
control the govt.
•
Examples:
- Annexation of Texas
- Ostend Manifesto
- Kansas/Nebraska
Slave Power Conspiracy (1854)
•
Slavery was economically inefficient
•
Created a powerful slaveholding class in S.
•
These S. plantation owners used their power,
slaves, and property to get political power and
control the govt.
•
Examples:
- Annexation of Texas
- Ostend Manifesto
- “Bleeding Kansas”
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
•
Supreme Court case over freedom of African
slaves in free territories
•
Scott sues for his freedom
•
Court denies Scott's request
•
Landmark ruling declares
Scott can not obtain
freedom because “African
Americans are not citizens”
and thus not entitled to
citizen's rights
Lincoln/Douglas Debates (1858)
•
Debates cover topics such as popular
sovereignty, Kansas-Nebraska Act, slavery,
and nullification
•
Lincoln and Douglas are both pro-Union
•
Lincoln is more aggressive (use force to make
S. remain part of Union)
•
Douglas is more passive, allowing expansion
of slavery so long as Union remains
John Brown & Harper's Ferry (1859)
•
John Brown: abolitionist who believes in using
force to obtain freedom of slaves
•
Believes God spoke to him
•
Seizes federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry, VA to
arm slaves for rebellion
•
Captured and hanged; becomes a martyr
•
S. states view Brown as a “violent” threat by
N. towards S. states
Election of Abraham Lincoln (1860)
•
Lincoln represents Northern ideals and politics
•
S. states outraged, slowly begin to declare
secession
•
S. views secession as a constitutional right
•
N. (Lincoln) views
secession as an act
of treason; free slaves
as military measure
•
Lowest % of popular
vote EVER to become
president (37%)