The Causes & The Civil War:

The Nation at a Turning Point.

The Seeds of Division
Jamestown:
Economic: established for the purpose of making $; plantation economy-Cash Crop-tobacco
Social: entrenched social hierarchy [Planters at the top, Yeomen in the middle, slaves at the bottom]
Political: Govt. was centered around the planter class, need land to vote
Plymouth:
Economic: mercantileindustrial economy
Social: established as a religious experiment; [Merchants, Industrialists, & Skilled Craftsmen at the top and non-
skilled laborers at the bottom]
Political: Govt. centered around church, later it was changed to the Industrials and merchants that control the govt.
(Elite-Govt. officials)
*NOTE: The Govt. reflects the social and political society that they have
North- 2% Africans South- 34% Africans
Sectional Divisions over Tariffs.
*Note: Rivers played a big role in sectionalizing the North and South
Protective tariffs: first introduced from Hamilton; must get out of national debt from Revolution; make national bank- Lend
$ to Industries or internal improvements
Northerners: Supported. Made their industries more attractive, tax on imported goods make their stuff cheaper,
improvements would help them sell their goods in new markets
Southerners: Opposed. They produced more cash crop than North can consume, so they had to import a lot of
thangs, which makes them pay a lot of the tariffs that werent even benefiting them.
Tariffs were a less explosive issue because:
Industrial interests were quite isolated in Northeast
West is less developed
Jefferson, a southerner, becomes president and allows the tariff taxes to expire
The American System:
Northern Interests: Tariff protected their manufacturing from foreign competition and the infrastructure
improvements gave them access to Western markets and resources
Western Interest: Internal improvements allowed them to trade their resources for the manufactured goods they need
Southern Interests: becomes almost isolated economically; provided all of the goods (tobacco, rice, cotton, and
indigo) that the northern colonies can consume.
60% of what south produced had to be exported
60% of imports are imported by the South
60% of the tariffs were paid by the South
Did not benefit from the American System at all.
SIG: -North and West become economically united and therefore politically united
-South becomes politically isolated
The Formula for Conflict
Southern isolation due to The American System. So they find a way to be favored in Politics
3/5th Compromise vs. Industrialization: Allows you to count slaves for population so they can get more representatives in
House of Representatives, industrialization overwhelms the 3/5 Compromise. Industrialization draws immigrants
South needs a way to fight politically so they try:
Filibustering in the Senate: senator has the right to debate any bill, takes 2/3 majority to stop the filibuster
Hope to block the tariffs from every being increased (b/c at this point they cant get rid of the tariff)
Westward expansion: new territories coming into the Union, South tries to make new states into slave states
The Northern oppose slaves states entering the Union, b/c they fear the ending of the tariffs and slave power
Slave Power:-idea that the entire nation will become a slave nation
The Missouri Compromise
By 1818 Missouris population was large enough for it to seek admission into the Union.
When Alabama enters statehood as a slave state, the balance b/w slave and free states in Congress is even
The Tallmadge Amendment: allows Missouri to remain a slave state but they cant in bring anymore slaves, and people born
of slavery in that state are born free
Problem: If Missouri becomes a slave state it would upset the balance; If one side gets the advantage they are going
to press it, and the other side is going to bitch, so it is a dilemma
Missouri Compromise: Henry Clay; Missouri becomes a slave state; Maine becomes a free state; those that want to abolish
slavery get the Missouri Compromise line
36 degrees 30 minutes latitude line is drawn, anything below the line is allowed to have slavery, anything above line
is abolished
 Significance: maintained the balance b/w the slave and free states till the 1850s
Nullification Crisis
John C. Calhoun: proposes solution to the Tariff of Abominations (this put a tax on imported goods to help the Norths
industries) protest: states can declare a tariff null and void (D. of Nullification)
Jacksons counter proposal: (Being President of US, he stands to defend federal authority) He didnt want the tariff at all, So,
he makes tariffs lower, but it is still too high for Southern, he wanted to test the D. of Nullification
*NOTE: During all of this, Calhoun resigns as Jacksons VP and goes back to South Carolina
Calhoun: In South Carolina he leads the nullification of the tariff
Jackson: Oh! No you didnt! Im gonna send troops down there and force collect those taxes!
Calhoun: Then Im going to threaten to succeed South Carolina from the Union!
Jackson: Yeah, you go ahead and do that and I will lead the army down there and well hang yo ass!
Henry Clay The Great Compromiser: Proposes the tariff will be lowered gradually over a 10 year period.
Compromise Tariff of 1833 is passed and South Carolina stays in the Union
Texas Annexation
Texas broke from Mexico in 1836.
Andrew Jackson: favored Texas Annexation, b/c he was an expansionist; Although he was a slave owner he didnt want the
slavery issue rising up again
Annexation: TX is annexed, because of the fear of TX becoming a colony of Britain or France; Problem: fear of TX upsetting
the balance b/w free and slave states
Solution: Iowa (a free state): applies to be a state, so TX becomes a slave state, Iowa becomes a free state
Mexican War: Solves the Rio Grande border issue
Mexican Cession {New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and Cali}
Slave Power: The Wilmot Proviso: proposed of David Wilmot, abolitionists, actually cares about the Africans, stated that
slavery would be barred from any territory they acquire from Mexico
Free Soil Party: supporters of the Wilmot Proviso, the Liberty Party, Abolitionists, anti-slavery members of the Whig and Democratic Party
Wilmot Proviso stated extension of slavery will be barred from any territory acquired from Mexico. No New Slave
States {The Bill never passes, but it gives rise to a new political party: the Free Soil Party}
Wanted a homestead law, (gives away Govt. land at little or no cost) because they want the Irish to move into West
and make Free states!
Wanted a tariff for revenue only, and hope it would ease tension with the South
The Whig party: They dont like Jackson, but he is not in office anymore, so they start chipping away
Free Soil Party campaign slogan: Free Soil, Free Speech, Free labor and Free Man
Compromise of 1850
Henry Clay, Stephen Douglas, & Daniel Webster and Calhoun
5 laws that attempted to maintain the balance between free and slave states in Congress:
California becomes a Free State after/during the Gold Rush
The whole Texas Dealio- TX gives up New Mexico for $10 MIL to pay back its debt to Mexico
Popular sovereignty used to decide whether the state will become a free or slave state from the Mexican Cession
Slave trade was prohibited in Washington DC
Fugitive Slave Law
Zachary Taylor: he is a slave owner, is not pro-slavery; president at the time, and dies a few months later
Millard Fillmore: Taylors VP, he is FOR the Compromise of 1850 so he passed the law after he comes into office
Significance: This did solve the problem, it just dodged it. There were two flaws:
Failed to define when popular sovereignty would take place.
Fugitive slave law was impossible to enforce
The Fugitive Slave Law
Slaves that runway must be returned to their master even in FREE territory- Slave owners go into court in their own states
and present evidence [Bill of Sale & say: My Slave be gone] {Thats all they needs to do as evidence}
Jurisdiction: legal authorities only decide if the slave caught actually fits the description
Fees and penalties : encouraged Govt. officials to catch the fugitives
Slaves denied due process: denied a trial by jury and could not testify on their own behalf
Abolitionist newspapers : attacked the fugitive slave laws and called it a violation to the Bill of Rights
Free blacks: could/were intentionally sent into slavery This made Blacks non-citizens
Uncle Toms Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe: abolitionist, writes Uncle Toms Cabin which opened peoples eyes to slavery and other
consequences of it
Serialized in 1851 and published in 1852.
The books impact: The argument between pro-slavery and anti-slavery elements become radicalized
Northerners see Slavery as an evil force that is dividing the nation; Southerners feared the slaves would
revolt and that abolition would become Popular
Southerner response: >:O & They get all defensive about it; They say they have claims of territorial and state rights
Phrenology: Feeling the bumps on head to tell future {Southerners use it as some kind of defense to justify slavery}
 Northern response: began to see slavery as a moral outrage
The 3 most common pro-slavery arguments were:
Racism-Africans were inherently inferior & it was their natural state to be in servitude
Religion- Biblical accounts of slavery; it was never said to be wrong
Economic Necessity- Cheap Laborrrrr
Election of 1852
Franklin Pierce: Democrat; wins because Scott was a weak candidate.
Since Pierce was in full support of the Compromise of 1850 and he almost wins by default this shows that this the
election is seen as confirmation that the nation supports the Bill
Winfield Scott : Runs on his war record
Sectionalism: Whatever Pierce did, it was always casted or looked through sectional lenses so it limited his accomplishments
because each side was always worried about their interests
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Stephen A. Douglas: hoping to help his state but trying to get the Transcontinental railroad through Illinois
Southerners are like, Hell Nah, we need it to go through our states.
Kansas and Nebraska Act: {To get the Southerners to Compromise} Open up Kansas and Nebraska territory to slavery based
upon popular sovereignty
Probs: had the effect of repealing the Missouri Compromise; there was immediate opposition from Free Soilers
After an incredible four month battle, the bill became law in May 1854.
This fueled Northerners' fears of Slave Power.
EFFECT: Whig Party: Disintegrates and splits with the North and South, & gives rise to the Republican Party (FREE SOIL!)
Republican Party (1854): Absorbs strength from the Know Nothing party
Lincoln: represents the Republican Party; he sets the tone for the party; they dont condemn the Southerners for holding
slaves
Bleeding Kansas {Outcome of Kansas-Nebraska Act}
Kansas: people rush to Kansas to try to make it a non-slave state for the outcome of the vote
Open warfare breaks out between both sides (Less people on one side means more votes on your side)
John Brown: {SPARK!} financed by prominent abolitionist (Lyman Beecher) he murders several people with swords;
Lyman Beecher: collecting money from his church to sponsor Brown
Future members Jesse James Gang murdered and pillaged people in the name of slavery
Result: from Browns excessive killing James Gang burn Lawrence, Kansas

Election of 1856
Republicans: First presidential campaign makes a good impression and gets most of the Northerners votes in H.O.R. They
mute
They campaign against slave power and Kansas-Nebraska Act
Candidate: Fremont, ardent abolitionist; he talked about abolishing slavery rather than blocking the extension of
slavery (bad move choosing him as a candidate) NOTE: To win next election they just need to win Penn. & Illinois
Slogan: Free soil, Free Speech, free press, free men, and Fremont and Victory! {Copied Free Soil Campaign}
Democrats: Candidate: Buchanan. Counter this. Warn the republicans were extremists, whose victory would lead to civil war
Said Slavery was a state to state decision. FOR the Homestead Law
The American Party (Know-Nothings): Ignored the issue of Slavery; no support from south
Democrats wins.
Dred Scott Decision of 1857
Dred Scott vs. Sanford: {Test Case} Scott sues his master for freedom,
Scotts argument: since he has been in territories where slavery was illegal he should be free
Supreme Court decision: Does moving a slave from slave state to Free State make the slave a free person?
Supreme Court, filled with Southerners, led by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, ruled 7 2 that:
People of African ancestry are not citizens and cannot sue
Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional b/c congress had no authority to limit slavery in new Territories
Significance: Confirmed for many that the presence of aggressive slave power; the Judge totally went out of bounds on his ruling
Lincoln Douglas Debates 1858.
Telegraph helps debates be nationwide
Douglas: running for senate seat, supports the popular sovereignty idea,
Lincoln: promotes republican idea. FREE SOIL
Critical Moment: Lincoln makes Douglas admit that popular sovereignty could work against the South; as a consequence,
South turns against Douglas and popular sovereignty
SIG: South starts to realize they have no hope left for winning or getting more votes to expand slavery
John Browns Raid on Harpers Ferry
October 16, 1859: Slaves captures arms from an Industry, fight a guerrilla war with plantation owners, trying to free slaves
Local resistance. Robert E. Lees Army comes. Raid fails & Brown is hanged.
The South is outraged: fear slave uprisings Many in North: hailed Brown as a hero
 Significance: National Unity is Imperial, everything is hanging on the election of 1860
Election of 1860
The Democratic Party :
[Northern]Douglas-Popular Sovereignty {No one cares}
[Southern]John C. Breckinridge-slavery should be protected in all territories (Only popular in South)
The Republican Party: Lincoln; Homestead Law, FreeSoil (Absorbed the Know-Nothings and Free Soilers)
The Constitutional Union Party: John Bell- wants to do a compromise
Lincoln wins: wins 60% of Northern vote and 0% from Southern. He gets a plurality NOT Majority (MOST votes wins)
Aftermath: Lincoln stands firm in against the extension of slavery in the new territory; Southerners are threatening to succeed
if Lincoln becomes president
Lincolns 1st Inaugural Address
Lincoln is basically speaking to the Southerners that want to succeed. President doesnt have the authority to abolish
slavery. Addresses the issue of Fugitive Slave Law. Hes basically saying, Im the president of the US and its my
authority to enforce the law and what the law says. & the law says I cant touch slavery. Succession is not legal.
People and groups that try to stray and rebel from the law will not be bothered with if they are warned the first time;
they will just be punished by the govt. Hes settling the dispute with the Southerners without violence. If you dont
like the govt. dont break up the system and leave, use the system to your advantage and DO something about IT.
Propose an amendment. & As president he must enforce the constitution and he wont fight it. Basically, he doesnt
want to fight with the citizens, its not worth it. Says if civil war starts the South is going to have start it.
SIG: He tries to diffuse the whole situation and find a way the coming conflict to be avoided.
Secession
Southern States begin to secede from the Union before Lincoln is inaugurated:
South Carolina began to leave Union 1860, following them was a total of 11 states which seceded and they created the
Confederate States of America
States have more power than Central Govt. {Local Governor has more power than the President}
Slavery is protected
Jefferson Davis is chosen as President
He partially contributes to the Souths loss of the Civil war
Lincolns dilemma: How to maintain the authority of the federal govt.
Texas, AL, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Virginia, Tennessee State that were secede
The Civil War:
The War Between the States
North vs. South
[Note]: Border States- Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware, & 7 Counties in West Virginia- Slave States that did not secede
from the Union b/c the war was not all about the slavery issue but much more than that
Population.
North: 22 MIL; 71% of Nations Population; they can raise an army of 2.2 MIL men; 10% were armed.
Robert E. Lee lead the army of Northern Virginia
South: 9MIL; 29% of Nations Population; 5.5 MIL are Free & 3.5 MIL are Slaves-They raised an army of over 1
MIL men.
NOTE: The South does not have the power to create an army, so they just called all men and slapped
together an army
Industry.
Factories: North: 86% of factories; South: 14% of Factories
Railroad Mileage: same as the above
Industrial Workers: 92% of factory workers in the North
PROBLEM: The Navy sides with the North; and the South needs the ports to get their weapons and shtuff D:
South had only 3 advantages:
Rock Fields?
South has the best generals
Rebs are Rural {used to using firearms} ; and Yanks are Urban {Noobs that dont even know how to use guns}
Fort Sumter
The Southern states seized many Federal forts within the South.
On March 4, 1861 Lincoln was inaugurated and he stated that: If Southerners attack forts that are part of the Govt.
they will be forced to use violence to protect the federal property.
Lincoln sent supplies to Fort Sumter which is located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina-center of
secessionism and slave power
Jefferson Davis be obsessed over dis fort dawg so when President James Buchanan sent for supplies but
Davis attacked the ships and they were forced to turn back, the dumbass shoulda told them to fight back to
show the South whos Boss, Buchanan didnt, so South is more aggressive
 Confederate forces fired upon the fort on April 12, 1861. Davis commands PTG. Beauregard to attack ships sent by Lincoln
in response they start attacking the Fort, BANG! Bombardment for 12 Hours. The Fort surrenders.
Significance: It gives Lincoln purpose/cause because now the South attacked the North
Less chances for south to win
Strategy
The South:
Goal: gain independency from the confederacy
Prolong the war: fight as long so North gets tired; they need foreign assistance
King Cotton: How south THINKS they can get aid. South thinks France and Britains textiles Mills are dependent on
the Southern cotton so if that cotton is withheld, the countries will come and help them.
This ultimately fails because they are actually tied with the North, and they already have cotton in Indian
Northern:
Goal: Conquer the whole South
Anaconda Plan: Winfield Scotts Great Snake- Going to use the Navy to and surround the South and keep them in
there, so they are going to move in more and more and eventually capture all the forts and move and capture the
Confederate Govt.
Total War: instead of attacking just the army they are going to attack anything that contributes to the war effort of
the South.
Technological Changes
Railroads: Extensive use to transport troops and supplies
Telegraph: Extensive use to communicate on the battlefield
Rapid fire weapons: accurate, very reliable
Long range rifled cannons that were heavier than ever before: can hit targets several miles away
Ironclad warships: used for the first time
First submarine to sink an enemy ship.
Early Battles
First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas Junction) - July 21, 1861: Union marches into Virginia, heading for the capital; goal is to
capture the Confederate Govt. They run into the Thomas Jacksons confederate army (Stone Wall Jackson) & Union is defeated
SIG: North comes to understand its not going to be an easy and short war
The Battle of Hampton Roads (March 9, 1862): {A Draw} Its a Strategic b/c The Virginia does not leave port again they
dont try to stop Unions supply ship again
Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg).
Jefferson Davis and Robert E Lee plan to invade Maryland. Lincoln tries to prevent Maryland from succeeding
2 goals: resupply Lees army and try to get Maryland to join the war because then Washington will be surrounded by
Confederate territory
McClellan pursues Lees army. Union forces: 87,000 Confederate forces: 45,000
McClellans reluctance: becomes all blah and doesnt really call an attack against the south, Lincoln orders him to
Union soldiers find a copy of Lees battle plans.
Casualties: Union: 12,000+ Confed: 10,000+
Significance: It is a pyrrhic victory{If you keep winning battles like that, youre going to lose the war}; Lincoln can now
claim a victory, created the political environment that would allow Lincoln to issue the E. proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation :
It didnt free any slaves b/c it only freed slaves in territories that were in rebellion
It did give farmers slaves the chance to fight in the union Army and Navy
Any rebellion that comes back into a union they had to keep their slaves

September 22, 1862- Day Lincoln issues the Proclamation
January 1, 1863- Day it is actually put into action, and that slaves will be free forever!
Names all the places the slave will be officially free; he is listing the places in rebellion. He wants to punish the South for rebellion,
hurt their economy, and boost Norths war effort. If they let the slaves free in the Border states, they lose people and slaves will leave
The Executive Govt. and army will recognize a slaves freedom, and never do anything to take away their rights. They are free
citizens, so no more laws can be made against them. The Secretary of War needs to sign this. Seward signs because he is in charge of
foreign affairs and the Souths only chance of winning is getting foreign assistance
It didnt free a single slave
To South: After the war is over and you keep rebelling after 100 days, we are going to free your slaves as punishment
Gives the slaves a chance to fight for their freedom by joining Union forces (European support)
-Causes the slaves to just walk off their plantation because it was rumored Lincoln freed the slaves; which causes it to slow down the
economic activity of the south and causes south to divert forces away from the fight
-One step toward the 13th Amendment
-Political turning point of the war
The Soldiers
The majority of soldiers, Yankee & Rebel, were farm boys that had never ventured more than 10 miles from home.
 Most were unexposed to diseases, poor and uneducated. The majority of Rebels did not own slaves, and those that did owned
less than 20 slaves.
Some Yankees (like Grant) owned slaves.
Disease was the biggest killer in the Civil War.
Age range: 18- 45; some were 12-65
Equipment:
Yanks: well equipped all around
Rebs: Likes Hicks on the battlefield. Homemade Uniforms, No shoes, OLD muskets
Women: some disguised as men to fight, Laura Williams fought for TX; Sarah B. fought for Union and then joined south;
Hispanics: 25,000 severed on both sides; vast majority help the South
African American Soldiers
North: Hundreds of Thousands Africans fought for the North [In Union the African units were segregated]
South: small numbers fought for the south
The Military Turning Points
Gettysburg (July 1 3, 1863)
Lee once again invades the North.
His goal:
Union forces: 93,921
Confederate forces: 71,699
After 3 days of fighting 1/3 of Lees army is destroyed
Significance: Lee seizes to be a threat to Washington DC & is on the retreat for the rest of the war.
Casualties: Union: 23,000 Confed: 22,000+
Vicksburg (May 18 July 4, 1863)
Ulysses S Grant surrounds Confederate forces inside the city of Vicksburg.
After six weeks the Confederate forces surrender.
Significance: Gives the Union control of the Mississippi River and divides the confederacy in half

The Gettysburg Address 1863

Biggest Turning Point
To dedicate the battlefield as a cemetery for those that died in the battle. No solider died in vain.
Civil war tests if a free nation can strive- democracy. Unfinished Work-keeping the South inside the Union. Greatest test is to
preserve the Union and putting an end to slavery
Made reference to the declaration of independence and the idea of unalienable rights
SIG: ever growing liberty. Changed the purpose of war: not just a conflict of preserving the Union, but also getting rid of slavery

Final Battles
Battle of the Wilderness
May 5 6 1864
Result: Grant continues to pursue Lees army
Grant knows how to defeat Robert E. Lee- Just keep fighting
Cold Harbor
June 3, 1864
Result: Lee crushes Grant
Siege of Petersburg-Trenches!
June 9, 1864 April 2, 1865
Result: Grant captures Richmond, the Confederate Govt.
Siege of Atlanta- Union defeats Confed.
July 20 September 2, 1864
Result: Union captures the major railroads and helps Lincoln win the Election
Shermans March to the Sea- destroys anything that will help with Souths was effort. Tennessee all the way to Georgia up to
Carolina
Late 1864 the end of the war.
The Election of 1864
The first democratic election in world history that took place during war time.
Republicans (sometimes called the National Union Party during just this election) re-nominated Lincoln. Dont change
horses in the middle of the stream - Slogan
Democrats - Union General George B. McClellan. Peace platform, recognizes the South
70% of soldiers vote toward Lincoln (continuing the war) 212 to 21

Lincolns Second Inaugural Address

Lincoln says the cause of the war was slave power. Lincoln states that the prayers of both sides cannot answered by God. It
foreshadows how Lincoln will treat the South after the war Without revenge, to care for the south and not punish them.
 Lincoln 2nd Inaugural class prayer of both side had been answer war is coming to an end
Malice toward none, and charity for all - he has no intension of being harsh to the south

The War Ends.

Lee surrenders his army to Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. Grant refuses to accept it.
Grants terms: Confederate soldiers were allowed to go home, and can keep their horse(so it can help them farm); Grant
supplied food to all confed. soldiers from his own supplies train
For the rest of his life Lee refused to hear any negative comments directed toward Grant.
Upon hearing of Lees surrender Lincoln requested that band play Dixie. Afterward the band played Yankee Doodle as an
encore. Because we are all one nation now
April 14, 1865 Lincoln is shot by John Wilkes Booth {He was part of a conspiracy}, and Lincoln dies the next day
Consequences.
Union wins.
Slavery ended.
13th Amendment: abolished slavery
14th Amendment: gives slaves citizenship
15th Amendment: gave them the right to vote
620,000 Americans killed (most from disease):
Increased industry. South is destroyed.
Expanded the Federal (National) government.
Changed the way Americans thought about their nation. They thought of themselves as official Americans
360 = north and 260 = south ppl died