Overview
This lecture explores the key causes of the Civil War, focusing on slavery and related political, legal, and social events leading up to the conflict.
Causes of the Civil War
- Slavery was the central cause of the Civil War, despite arguments about states’ rights and economics.
- States’ rights debates centered on whether states had the right to allow or disallow slavery.
- The election of Abraham Lincoln heightened tensions about the future of slavery.
The Compromise of 1850 and Fugitive Slave Law
- The Fugitive Slave Law required all citizens to help capture escaped slaves, even in free states.
- Free Black people in the North faced kidnapping and being forced into slavery.
- The law intensified Northern fears of a pro-slavery "slave power" controlling the government.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act and Popular Sovereignty
- The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) let settlers vote on slavery, repealing the Missouri Compromise ban north of the 36°30′ line.
- This triggered violence ("Bleeding Kansas") as pro- and anti-slavery groups clashed.
- The Act led to the formation of the Republican Party, dedicated to stopping slavery’s expansion.
Railroad Development and Sectionalism
- Railroads promoted economic links among Northern and Western states, increasing regional differences from the South.
- Political divides deepened as the North’s population and congressional representation grew.
The Dred Scott Decision
- Dred Scott, a slave taken to free states, sued for his freedom but was denied by the Supreme Court.
- The Court ruled Black Americans had no rights whites were bound to respect and could be treated as property nationwide.
- This decision convinced many Northerners that “slave power” dominated all branches of government.
Bleeding Kansas and John Brown
- Kansas's attempts at statehood were marred by violence, election fraud, and two competing constitutions.
- John Brown led a failed anti-slavery raid at Harpers Ferry (1859) and became a martyr for abolitionists.
The Election of 1860 and Secession
- Abraham Lincoln (Republican) won the presidency with no Southern electoral support.
- The Democratic Party split between North and South factions, while a third party also ran.
- Lincoln’s election led seven Southern states to secede and form the Confederacy before he took office.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Fugitive Slave Law — Law requiring citizens to assist in capturing escaped slaves.
- Popular Sovereignty — Policy allowing settlers in a territory to decide on slavery by vote.
- Missouri Compromise — 1820 law banning slavery north of 36°30′ latitude in new states.
- Kansas-Nebraska Act — 1854 law repealing the Missouri Compromise and allowing popular sovereignty.
- Dred Scott Decision — 1857 Supreme Court case ruling Black people were not citizens and had no rights under the Constitution.
- Slave Power — Term for the perceived pro-slavery domination of the federal government.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the events leading to the Civil War, especially the Kansas-Nebraska Act and Dred Scott decision.
- Prepare for a discussion or assignment on the inevitability of the Civil War.