Causes Of Civil War

The Civil War was instigated by many events leading up to it, including slavery. Although that was not the only cause of war. There were eight main events that divided the nation. Each event ignited the war in different ways.

Federal Government’s Authority vs. States’ Rights

Chief Justice John Marshall ruled to expand national government. So naturally he limits states rights. Marshall favored court cases that ruled in favor of the government. Court cases such as Worchester v. Georgia he determined that Georgia had no power to remove the Native Americans. 

Economic Changes

In the 1800s the railroad was a huge development. Which was the beginning of the famous industrial Revolution. The usage of iron was now more common and there were more jobs that were needed for the building and up keeping of the tracks and train. More stocks were compiled and sold for payment to build more. Invention was booming. The steel plow for farmers and the telegraph for communication changed lives for the common people. Economic change could have been satiated as a necessity.

Compromise of 1850 

The compromise of 1850 was when the president was not going to do anything to appease the South.  Congress decided to arrange the compromise.  Henry Clay was the leader of this.  There were five bills he wanted to pass.  1) California can be added as a free state.  2) Slave training was banned in Washington DC. 3) The south got stronger Fugitives slave act. 4) The New Mexico/Utah territory could become slave states. 5) Texas and New Mexico boarder dispute settled.  The bill wouldn't get selected all together (omnibus) so they split it up. Not a full section liked the bills; it was a mix of all the groups. And so this way everyone could strive for happiness.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Stephan A. Douglass wanted to create a railroad from pacific to Chicago. He was hoping the popular sovereignty vote would allow him to do this. The Kansas-Nebraska act of 1854 was a huge issue because it permitted the possibility of slavery in every area. Popular sovereignty was a possibility for the voters with the issue of slavery at hand. This would begin to prove the Missouri Compromise of 1820 as unconstitutional. What this bill offered was; the North fighting much harder for what it lost, while the South just had to sustain what was owned. AS a result of the Kansas-Nebraska Act the two party system was destroyed, the Whigs party dissappearing with them. Yet creating the Republican party.

Bleeding Kansas

There was a small civil war that was occuring in th Kansas territory. Pro-slavery rained in the Captiol, Lawrence, which just so happened to be free. After hearing this a man by the name of John Brown killed five pro-slavory people in cold blood. A truce was formed in 1856 to stop the hit-and-run guerilla warefare. This instigated a slogan: "Bleeding Kansas". Around the same time the slogan came out Preston Brooks assulted Charles Sumner. so the slogan branched out as "BBleeding Sumner". As these events were brought up and agressive side of slavory was shown.

Dred Scott Decision

A former slave from Missouri, Dred Scott, lived in a free area for several years. Once his owner no longer was with him he was forced to go back into slavory in Missouri. Scott then sued for his freedom, claiming he should be a free man because he has lived in a free area for so long. But being a slave he had no rights and unfortunatly did not get very far with convincing the white man of his humanity. Though Presedent-elect Buchanan did want the Justice to put a bit more effort and time into the case. But what was established was that Congress had no power to prohibit slavory anywhere, thus making the Missouri compromise unconstitutional.

Lincoln-Douglass Debates

Two candidates running for the Illinois Senate seat in 1858 and Douglas' first job he needed to do was to win re-election. His opponent, Abraham Lincoln, set out with a speech that pointed him out as proslavery because he did not boldly address the issue. All While Douglas has already lost the Southerners faith and is marked a trader to them. Abraham had to keep his supporters and when he was accused of desiring racial equality he had it quickly deny it and admit whites as the alpha race. Wanting to grant the slaves freedom without full citizenship. And Douglas pointed out his contradictory point of view. Even all the popular bursts Lincoln had, the Democrats had more counties and Lincoln lost the Senates election, but gained a newfound respect for his free-soil idea.

John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry

Southerners were becoming anxious about the ability to take their slaves into the territories. And a number of events were causing this anxiety to become fear, the first one being John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry. His image of removing the sin of slaveholding occurred in October of 1859 where he led 18 men to seize the federal arsenal and armory in Harpers Ferry. He wanted to start a guerrilla war  and insist the slaves to rebel and join him. Which they did not and his group had to take refuge in a fire engine house until the U.S. Marines barged in and fought his men. And Wounded Brown was put on trial for treason against Virginia. Brown was found guilty and hanged.

Election of 1860

In the election of 1860 there were four candidates: Abraham Lincoln from the Republican Party, John C. Breckinridge from The Democratic Southern party, Stephan A. Douglas from the Democratic Northern party, and John Bell from the Constitutional Union party. Of which Abraham had the highest popular vote.

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