The American Civil War 1861-1865 Part I The Prelude to War

The American Civil War1861-1865

Part I The Prelude to War

Is presented to you by

Kathleen M. Pricein association with

Bishop Hafey Jr/Sr High School

Background and Causes

Economic issues

Political issues

Social/moral issues

“You might as well try to put out the burning flames of a house with a squirt gun, I think it is to be a long war, a very longer war than any politician thinks.”

William T. Sherman

Economic Problems:

The North

Industrial region

Favored tariff on imported

goods

The South

Agricultural region

Imported goods from Europe therefore not in favor of tariffs

Political Problems:The South favored State’s rights - loyalty to state before country

South losing political power to Northern and Midwestern states – larger populations

Therefore, the South was losing a balanced Senate- less amount of slave states.

And finally, a President from the North and against slavery

Social and Moral Issues Slavery – concerned over property

ownership by South. The constitution guaranteed the right to own property and protected against seizure of property

Slavery – a person owning another person is wrong in the eyes of many Northern citizens.

Background Events

Missouri CompromiseCompromise of 1850Kansas-Nebraska Act Dred Scott DecisionJohn Brown’s RaidElection of Abraham Lincoln

Missouri Compromise (1820)

Country had 11 slave and 11 free statesMissouri requests statehood.This would unbalance the SenateHenry Clay’s plan was to admit Missouri as a slave state and admit Maine as a free stateLine was drawn across US, south of the line would be slave except for Missouri, and north of the line would be free.Agreed by both sides

Compromise of 1850

Dealt with question of slavery in WestAt time, 15 slave/15 free states in U.S.Idea of Henry Clay & Daniel WebsterCalifornia as a free stateNew Mexico and Utah territories citizens would vote on free or slave -- “popular sovereignty”Strict Fugitive slave laws put in effect

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

Devised by Stephen Douglas Nebraska was a large territory, so divide into 2

territories (Nebraska and Kansas) making the “popular sovereignty” to be slave or free

South was in favor of Act because slave owners from Missouri could move their to vote for slavery

North was angry because Nebraska was always a free territory and knew South wanted slavery to move northward

Kansas territory became known as “Bleeding Kansas” as violence erupted as both sides tried to establish control of the government of Kansas

Dred Scott Decision (1857)

Scott was a slave whose owner moved into a free state. When the owner died, Scott argued that he should be a free man.Went to Supreme Court: the Court ruled that since Scott is a slave, he was not considered a citizen - -slaves were property.Court also ruled that Congress could not outlaw slavery in a territory therefore the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional.

John Brown’s Raid (1859)

John Brown & followers raided a federal arsenal (gun warehouse) at Harper Ferry, Virginia. They planned to give the guns to slaves in area to start a slave revolt.

Brown was eventually captured and at his trial was found guilty of treason. Brown was sentenced to death by hanging.

Brown became a hero to many northern abolitionists. Southerners felt even more threatened.

Election of Abe Lincoln (1860)

Lincoln defeated 3 opponents:

1. Stephen A Douglas ( Northern Democrat) 2. John C. Breckinridge (Southern Democrat) 3. John C. Bell (Constitutional Union Party)

Lincoln’s victory was the signal for the South’s secession and eventually war.

Vocabulary Terms to Know

Secession Compromise Civil war Tariffs Slave codes Abolition Underground Railroad

Sectionalism Fugitive Arsenal Martial law Emancipate Bounties Civilians Draft

Northern States outnumber Southern StatesThe number of senators from slave and free states were no longer even and with

the election of Abraham Lincoln, the South felt he would not be sympathetic to their way of life and would not treat them fairly. This caused the South to secede.

Graphics used this presentation can be located at the following sites:

webpages.marshall.edu/~hughesll/highlights.htmwww.civilwarhome.com/csa.htmwww.ilt.columbia.edu/k12/history/gb/origin.htmlwww.eden.rutgers.edu/~sirak/uscwcc/highlights.htmwww.members.tripod.com/~greatamericanhistory/grD2013.htm

The American Civil War1861-1865

Part II: The Battles and Generals

Political Leaders

North (Union) South (Confederate)

Abraham Lincoln Jefferson DavisAndrew Johnson Alexander Stephens

Military Leaders

The Confederacy The Union

BattlesUnion Victories Indecisive Battles Confederate

Victories New Orleans Fair Oaks Wilderness Campaign

Shiloh Perryville Fort Sumter

Charleston Harbor Antietam Bull Run

Port Royal Sound Jackson’s Valley Campaign

Stones River The Seven Days

Battle of the Ironclads The Second Battle of Bull Run

Fort Henry & Fort Donelson Yorktown

Vicksburg Fredericksburg

Gettysburg Chancellorsville

Atlanta

Chattanooga

Sherman’s March to the Sea

Appomattox Courthouse