The Causes of the Civil War
Essay
U.S. History
Introduction: First Sentence
• should establish the topic and/or grab the
readers attention.
• should establish the time period of the essay
• If not in the first sentence, you must establish
the topic of your writing somewhere in your
introduction
• Move towards your thesis
Introduction: First Sentence (ex.1)
The United States witnessed a division of itself
in 1861, when eleven southern states seceded
from the Union and attempted to establish the
Confederate States of America.
Introduction: First Sentence (ex.2)
In 1861, a Civil War broke out in the United
States when the South declared their
independence from the Union.
Introduction: First Sentence (ex.3)
In 1858, the Republican Senate candidate from
Illinois paraphrased the (New Testament) when
he remarked, “A house divided against itself
cannot stand.”
Introduction: Background Details
In 1858, the Republican Senate candidate from
Illinois paraphrased the (New Testament) when
he remarked, “A house divided against itself
cannot stand.” The candidate, referring to the
widening political, social and economic
division between the industrial, free North and
agricultural, slave South, would lose that
election, but subsequently win the presidency
two years later.
Introduction: Background Details
In 1858, the Republican Senate candidate from
Illinois paraphrased the (New Testament) when he
remarked, “A house divided against itself cannot
stand.” The candidate, referring to the widening
political, social and economic division between
the industrial, free North and agricultural, slave
South, would lose that election, but subsequently
win the presidency two years later. Following
Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860, eleven
southern states seceded from the United States.
Introduction: Transition to Thesis
In 1858, the Republican Senate candidate from Illinois
paraphrased the (New Testament) when he remarked,
“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” The
candidate, referring to the widening political, social and
economic division between the industrial, free North
and agricultural, slave South, would lose that election,
but subsequently win the presidency two years later.
Following Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860, eleven
southern states seceded from the United States. Their
attempt to form an independent Confederate States did
not result from one single event in time, but rather
stemmed from divisive events going back at least a
decade.
Introduction: Thesis
• In 1858, the Republican Senate candidate from Illinois
paraphrased the (New Testament) when he remarked, “A
house divided against itself cannot stand.” The candidate,
referring to the widening political, social and economic
division between the industrial, free North and agricultural,
slave South, would lose that election, but subsequently win
the presidency two years later. Following Abraham
Lincoln’s election in 1860, eleven southern states seceded
from the United States. Their attempt to form an
independent Confederate States did not result from one
single event in time, but rather stemmed from divisive
events going back at least a decade. The outbreak of the
Civil War was rooted in the failed compromises and
political upheaval of the 1850s.
Supporting Reasons
A. The failure of the Compromise of 1850 and
popular sovereignty
B. The violence of Bleeding Kansas and John
Browns raid
C. The Southern fear that abolitionism would
sweep the country
A. The failure of the Compromise of
1850 and popular sovereignty
1. The Compromise of 1850 did not fully satisfy
each side, the North was upset over the Fugitive
Slave Act, South upset over California as a free
state and North outnumbering the South for votes
2. Popular sovereignty left open the possibility of
slavery expanding westward, but did not solve the
problem
3. No other compromise had worked before or after
these events (Missouri Comp., Crittenden Comp)
B. The violence of Bleeding Kansas
and John Browns raid
1. The Kansas-Nebraska Act led to undemocratic
elections as voters from Missouri flooded the
state
2. The act led to violence known as Bleeding
Kansas
3. John Brown responded by murdering proslavery men
C. The Southern fear that abolitionism
would sweep the country
1. John Brown’s raid made southerners believe
that more abolitionists would invade the South
2. The North had more money and political
influence than the South
3. Lincoln’s election was evidence that the
country would soon abolish slavery
Conclusion
• Re-state your thesis. Use different wording.
• Give a preview of events that occur next
• Explain the significance of your topic