Lecture Notes: The Lead-Up to the American Civil War

Introduction

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Early Life of Abraham Lincoln

• Born in Kentucky, moved to Indiana, and then Illinois.
• Self-taught lawyer with a successful career.
• Entered politics as a legislator and served in both local and national assemblies.
• Known for his witty rebuttals in court.

Political Climate

• Challenges to the interpretation of "All men are created equal."
• Debate over states' rights vs. federal government powers and slavery.
• The North and South developed different economic systems: industrial vs. agricultural with reliance on slavery.

Slavery and Tensions

• Eli Whitney's cotton gin expanded slavery in the South.
• The abolitionist movement grew in the North.
• Missouri Compromise attempted to balance slave and free states.
• Westward expansion increased tensions over slavery.

Key Events Leading to War

• Kansas-Nebraska Act led to "Bleeding Kansas," violence between pro- and anti-slavery settlers.
• John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry attempted to incite a slave uprising.
• Publication of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" highlighted the horrors of slavery.

Formation of the Republican Party

• Abraham Lincoln emerged as a leading figure.
• The party was seen as anti-slavery and radical by Southern Democrats.

1860 Presidential Election

• Abraham Lincoln won the presidency, triggering southern secession.
• Southern states seceded, forming the Confederate States of America.

Start of the Civil War

• Battle of Fort Sumter marked the beginning of the Civil War.
• Lincoln called for volunteers to preserve the Union.

Military Strategies and Early Battles

• Union strategy: blockade, control the Mississippi River, and capture Richmond.
• Initial battles, such as First Battle of Bull Run, highlighted inexperience on both sides.
• McClellan's cautious approach and Lincoln's frustration.

Emancipation Proclamation

• Issued in 1862 after the Union victory at Antietam.
• Declared slaves in Confederate states to be free starting January 1863.
• Shifted the war's focus to ending slavery and prevented European intervention.

Conclusion

• Lincoln's leadership and determination to preserve the Union.
• The Civil War was now about creating a Union without slavery, rectifying its original sin.