Background to Background to the Conflictthe Conflict

Pre-Civil War DaysPre-Civil War Days

The Slave Economy & King CottonThe Slave Economy & King Cotton• Many people began to turn against slaveryMany people began to turn against slavery• Cost of owning slaves was too high for mostCost of owning slaves was too high for most• Most slaves worked on large plantations.Most slaves worked on large plantations.• Very few white Southerners could afford to own slaves.Very few white Southerners could afford to own slaves.• Cotton was hard to prepare for marketCotton was hard to prepare for market

– The little seeds had to be separated from the cotton.The little seeds had to be separated from the cotton.– This was very hard to do and took a LOT of TIMEThis was very hard to do and took a LOT of TIME– Eli Whitney invented the Eli Whitney invented the cotton gincotton gin

• Made cleaning cotton easierMade cleaning cotton easier• Farmers grew more cotton and made more moneyFarmers grew more cotton and made more money• Needed more slaves to work the cotton Needed more slaves to work the cotton

North and South DisagreeNorth and South Disagree

• States’ RightsStates’ Rights– South didn’t like depending on the North’s South didn’t like depending on the North’s

manufactured goodsmanufactured goods– Thought the North was getting RICH off of themThought the North was getting RICH off of them– Settlers from the South who moved west took their Settlers from the South who moved west took their

slavesslaves– Settlers from the North didn’t own slaves and thought Settlers from the North didn’t own slaves and thought

slavery was wrong.slavery was wrong.– WHO would WIN???WHO would WIN???– Would there be slavery in the new territories or Would there be slavery in the new territories or

NOT???NOT???

The Underground RailroadThe Underground Railroad• The Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad

was an informal network of was an informal network of secret routes and safe secret routes and safe houses used by slaves to houses used by slaves to escape to free states in the escape to free states in the US and to Canada with the US and to Canada with the aid of abolitionistsaid of abolitionists

• Harriet Tubman is the most Harriet Tubman is the most famous “conductor” of the famous “conductor” of the Underground Railroad.Underground Railroad.

Fugitive Slave LawsFugitive Slave Laws

• Fugitive Slave Laws make escaping Fugitive Slave Laws make escaping even harder.even harder.

• A new law that said:A new law that said:– Anyone caught helping slaves escape Anyone caught helping slaves escape

would be punished.would be punished.– If you found a runaway slave, you had to If you found a runaway slave, you had to

return them to their owner.return them to their owner.

Harriet

Beecher

Stowe(1811 – 1896)

Harriet

Beecher

Stowe(1811 – 1896)

So this is the lady who started the Civil War.

-- Abraham Lincoln

So this is the lady who started the Civil War.

-- Abraham Lincoln

Sold 300,000 copies inthe first year.2 million in a decade!

Uncle Tom’s Cabin 1852

John Brown’s Raidon Harper’s Ferry, 1859

John Brown’s Raidon Harper’s Ferry, 1859

John Brown’s rebellion at John Brown’s rebellion at Harper’s Ferry, VirginiaHarper’s Ferry, Virginia*A white abolitionist*A white abolitionist*Stole guns from Harper’s Ferry *Stole guns from Harper’s Ferry warehouse to give to slaves warehouse to give to slaves *Caught by Robert E. Lee, tried, *Caught by Robert E. Lee, tried, and hangedand hanged

Presidential Presidential Election of 1860Election of 1860

Worried White SouthernersWorried White Southerners• Many in the South were afraid if Lincoln Many in the South were afraid if Lincoln

were elected, slavery would be were elected, slavery would be outlawed.outlawed.

• Some even said they would LEAVE the Some even said they would LEAVE the Union if Lincoln was elected.Union if Lincoln was elected.

Election Results: Election Results: Lincoln WINSLincoln WINS

• November 6, 1860November 6, 1860• December 20, 1860 South Carolina’s December 20, 1860 South Carolina’s

leaders seceded from the Union.leaders seceded from the Union.• Later SIX other southern states secede Later SIX other southern states secede

and form the Confederate States of and form the Confederate States of America.America.

The Confederate States of The Confederate States of AmericaAmerica

• South CarolinaSouth Carolina

• MississippiMississippi

• FFloridalorida

• LLouisianaouisiana

• AAlabamalabama

• GGeorgiaeorgia

• TexasTexas

What to Do about the CSA?What to Do about the CSA?

• Some advised Lincoln to “Let the states go”Some advised Lincoln to “Let the states go”• Others said, “Give in on the slavery question.”Others said, “Give in on the slavery question.”• Still others said, “Use the ARMY to end their Still others said, “Use the ARMY to end their

revolt!”revolt!”• He wanted to prevent war.He wanted to prevent war.• “ “We are not enemies, but friends.”We are not enemies, but friends.”• THE VERY NEXT DAY an important THE VERY NEXT DAY an important message camemessage came from Major Robert Anderson commander at from Major Robert Anderson commander at Fort Fort Sumter.Sumter.

Urgent!Urgent!• The message from The message from

Commander Anderson to Commander Anderson to President Lincoln was:President Lincoln was:

Supplies at the Fort are almost gone. If new supplies are not sent soon, we will be forced to surrender the fort to the Confederacy.

If I send supplies…Southerners If I send supplies…Southerners might attack.might attack.If I send troops….Southerners If I send troops….Southerners WILL attack.WILL attack.If I do nothing…the commander If I do nothing…the commander will have to surrender.will have to surrender.

What should What should Lincoln do???Lincoln do???

Lincoln’s DecisionLincoln’s Decision

Lincoln decided to send supply Lincoln decided to send supply ships and see what the ships and see what the Southerners would do.Southerners would do.

Confederate President DavisConfederate President Davis• Davis decided to take over the fort Davis decided to take over the fort

BEFORE the supply ships arrived.BEFORE the supply ships arrived.• He demanded them to surrender.He demanded them to surrender.• Their response: NEVER!Their response: NEVER!• The Confederate troops FIRED on the The Confederate troops FIRED on the

fort, Major Anderson and his men ran out fort, Major Anderson and his men ran out of ammunition and had to give up.of ammunition and had to give up.

Fort Sumter: April 12, 1861

Fort Sumter: April 12, 1861

The Civil War has Begun!The Civil War has Begun!• Lincoln called for Americans to join the army to Lincoln called for Americans to join the army to

stop the rebellion.stop the rebellion.• Frightened southern states not in the Frightened southern states not in the

Confederacy now joined with the other 7 states.Confederacy now joined with the other 7 states.• Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North

Carolina Carolina

• Now the CSA is Now the CSA is 1111

States Strong States Strong