What are the key issues and events that led to the Civil War?

Day 1Slavery

States’ Rights

Nullification

Missouri Compromise

Compromise of 1850

Georgia Platform

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Dred Scott Case

Election of 1860

Debate over the Secession in Georgia

Role of Alexander Stephens

DifferencesAs the United States grew, clear differences showed up between the NORTH and the SOUTH.

◊Political

◊Cultural

◊Economic

◊Social

• Agriculture• Fertile Soil• Warmer Climate• Plantations• Farms• Rural• Self Sufficient• Expect Little Government Help

SOUTH

NORTH• Industry

• Rocky Soil

• Colder Climate

• Factories

• Cities

• Urban

• Interdependent

• Expect More Government Help

Resources of the

North & South

POPULATION

(22,300,000)

5,100,000Non-Slaves

4,000,000Slaves

Changes in Cotton Changes in Cotton ProductionProduction

Changes in Cotton Changes in Cotton ProductionProduction

18201820

18618600

Value of Cotton Exports Value of Cotton Exports As % of All US ExportsAs % of All US Exports

Value of Cotton Exports Value of Cotton Exports As % of All US ExportsAs % of All US Exports

Causes of the Civil WarStates’ Rights

Structure (Classes)

Solvency (Ability to Pay Debt)

Style (Urban vs. Rural)

Slavery

Sectionalism

Selection of Lincoln

Secession

SOUTH

Believed that states had the right to rule themselves

NORTH

Believed in a strong national

government

SOUTH

Government created by the states.

States have the right to reject laws that would hurt them.

Since states voluntarily joined the Union, they could voluntarily leave –secede.

NORTH

Government created by the people.

Only the Supreme Court can declare a law unconstitutional.

Only the people of the US could dissolve the Union. Attempting to destroy the Union was treason.

Even though the United States had been established decades earlier,

many people still felt that the states should have FINAL AUTHORITY, not

the federal government.

vs.

FARMERS WITH SLAVES

FREE BLACKS

SLAVES

Southern PopulationSouthern PopulationSouthern PopulationSouthern Population

SOUTH

Based on agriculture,

including cotton,

tobacco, and rice. Cotton was shipped

north to make cloth and thread.

NORTH

Based on factories,

mining, banks, stores, and railroads.

Southern AgricultureSouthern AgricultureSouthern AgricultureSouthern Agriculture

Tariffs

Cost = $50

Made in Northern United States

Made in Great Britain

Cost = $70

+$20 Import Tax

Northerners wanted to sell their goods in the South, but it was often cheaper for Southerners to buy things from Europe.

To help Northern industries, President Andrew Jackson put a tariff (taxes on imports) on imported goods in 1828.

This made European goods very expensive, so Southerners would have to buy from Northern States.

South

Favored low tariffs because they bought so

many goods from other countries.

North

Favored high tariffs on goods from

other countries so goods

manufactured in North cost less and

would outsell foreign goods.

Nullification Controversy

Nullify = to declare invalid.

Many people, including Georgians, wanted to NULLIFY the federal tariff, saying that it was not valid in their state.

South Carolina Threatens to Secede!

• Because a new tariff was too high.

• Began to arm themselves and hold practice drills.

Compromise Tariff Law

• Reduced Tariff over a 10 year period.

• Please South Carolinians.

• Protests Ended.

Panic of 1857• Depression hit the

country• Before this time,

Northern Industrialists built their factories with borrowed money.

• Nearly 5,000 went bankrupt.

• Factory owners asked Congress to pass higher tariffs to stop British goods from being sold in the United States.

• Debates followed…

South

RURALHad few large

cities other than

Richmond, Charleston, Savannah, Augusta.

North

URBANHad a number of

large cities offering

museums, opera, lectures,

theaters.

South

No formal educational

system in the South. Private tutors or school

abroad were options for upper

class. Some community schools but

teachers were not usually trained.

Some state-chartered

universities such as UGA.

North

Many private schools, including church-

sponsored schools, accepted both boys

and girls. Some private schools were open to both. Private universities such as Brown, Harvard, and Yale were opening.