Lecture Notes on Causes of the Civil War

Introduction

• Discussion with Kim Cutz, Khan Academy's American history content fellow.
• Focus on understanding the complexities leading to the Civil War, beyond just the issue of slavery.

The Early Seeds of Conflict

• Contradictions at the Founding of the United States
  • The nation was founded on the principle that "all men are created equal," yet many Southern states practiced slavery.
  • Compromise needed to unify against Great Britain led to the retention of slavery in Southern states.
• Thomas Jefferson's View
  • Acknowledged slavery as a contradiction but saw it as necessary due to the interests of Southern elites.

Territorial Expansion and the Balance of Power

• Acquisition of New Territories
  • Louisiana Purchase (1803): Major expansion providing new areas for settlement.
  • New territories led to new states, needing designation as free or slave states.
• Representation in Congress
  • Balance between free and slave states was crucial to maintaining power dynamics.
  • Concerns in the North: Economic competition and moral opposition to slavery.
  • Concerns in the South: Preservation of economic interests and political power.

Perspectives on Slavery

• Abolitionists vs. Anti-Slavery Advocates
  • Abolitionists: Viewed slavery as morally wrong and sought its complete abolition.
  • Anti-Slavery Advocates: Opposed the spread of slavery into new territories but didn't push for abolition in the South.

Economic Concerns

• Northern Perspective
  • Economic competition with slave labor was a significant concern.
  • Opportunities for small farmers were limited by wealthy slaveholders buying up land.
• Southern Perspective
  • Slavery was integral to the economy; southern wealth was heavily tied to slave ownership.
  • Fear of losing political power if more free states joined the Union.

Key Compromises

• Missouri Compromise (1820):
  • Missouri applied for statehood as a slave state, threatening the balance in Congress.
  • Solution: Maine admitted as a free state to maintain the balance between free and slave states.
  • Demonstrated the ongoing struggle to maintain equilibrium while expanding westward.

Conclusion

• Continued compromises and territorial expansions hinted at the growing tensions leading to the Civil War.
• The Civil War was a culmination of multiple factors, primarily centered around issues of slavery and state representation.