Civil War Causes & Key Event American Civil War Causes Main causes: • Slavery expansion into new territories • Economic differences (industrial North vs agricultural South) • States’ rights vs federal authority • Sectionalism Important events leading to war: • Kansas–Nebraska Act (1854) • Allowed popular sovereignty to decide slavery in Kansas/Nebraska • Led to Bleeding Kansas • Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) • Supreme Court ruled enslaved people were not citizens • Congress could not ban slavery in territories • Wilmot Proviso (1846) • Proposed banning slavery in Mexican Cession territories • Failed but increased sectional tensions ⸻ Battle of Antietam (1862) • Bloodiest single-day battle of the Civil War • Allowed Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation • Prevented European support for the Confederacy ⸻ Reconstruction Andrew Johnson • Lincoln’s successor • Favored lenient Reconstruction for the South • Clashed with Radical Republicans • First president impeached (but not removed) ⸻ Booker T. Washington vs W. E. B. Du Bois Booker T. Washington • Promoted vocational training • Believed Black Americans should gain rights gradually W.E.B. Du Bois • Wanted immediate civil rights • Helped found the NAACP ⸻ Dawes Severalty Act (1887) • Broke Native American reservations into individual land plots • Goal: force assimilation • Result: Natives lost millions of acres of land ⸻ Labor & Industrialization Knights of Labor • Early national labor union • Included skilled and unskilled workers • Wanted: • 8-hour workday • end of child labor ⸻ American Federation of Labor (AFL) Led by Samuel Gompers Focused on: • Skilled workers • Higher wages • Better working conditions ⸻ Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) • First federal law to break up monopolies • Often not enforced well at first ⸻ Boss Tweed • Political boss of Tammany Hall in New York • Known for corruption and political machines ⸻ Economic & Social Ideas The Gospel of Wealth by Andrew Carnegie Idea: • Wealthy people should use their money to benefit society Example: • Carnegie funded libraries and universities ⸻ Social Gospel movement Belief that Christians should: • Help the poor • Improve social conditions • Address inequality ⸻ Farmers & Populism The Grange • Farmers’ organization • Wanted government regulation of railroads and grain storage ⸻ Populist Party Represented farmers and workers. Key demands: • Free silver • Direct election of senators • Government ownership of railroads ⸻ Immigration & African American Migration Exoduster Movement • African Americans moved to Kansas after Reconstruction • Escaping racism and violence in the South ⸻ Agriculture Systems Sharecropping • Farmers rented land from landowners • Paid with a share of crops • Often trapped farmers in debt Crop-Lien System • Farmers borrowed money using crops as collateral • Led to cycle of debt ⸻ Reform & Urban Help Jane Addams • Founded Hull House Settlement House Movement • Helped immigrants and poor urban families • Provided: • education • childcare • healthcare ⸻ Imperialism Open Door Policy • U.S. policy toward China • Wanted equal trade access for all nations ⸻ Jim Crow & the New South Jim Crow laws • Laws enforcing racial segregation • Mainly in the Southern states ⸻ Key Idea: Manifest Destiny Manifest Destiny Belief that the United States was destined to expand westward across North America. Effects: • Westward expansion • Conflict with Native Americans • Expansion of slavery debates ⸻ VERY Likely APUSH Test Questions Be ready to answer: 1️⃣ How industrialization affected workers 2️⃣ Differences between Knights of Labor and AFL 3️⃣ Causes of the Civil War 4️⃣ Goals of the Populist movement 5️⃣ Effects of the Dawes Act on Native Americans 6️⃣ Difference between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois ⸻ ✅ Fast way to study tonight (30 minutes): 1. Memorize key definitions 2. Focus on WHY each mattered 3

American Civil War

A conflict fought from 1861 to 1865 between the Northern states (Union) and Southern states (Confederacy) primarily over issues of slavery and states' rights.

Causes of the Civil War

Main causes included slavery expansion into new territories, economic differences between the industrial North and agricultural South, states’ rights versus federal authority, and sectionalism.

Kansas–Nebraska Act

1854 legislation that allowed popular sovereignty to decide on slavery in Kansas and Nebraska; led to violent conflict known as Bleeding Kansas.

Dred Scott v. Sandford

1857 Supreme Court case ruling enslaved people were not citizens and Congress could not ban slavery in the territories.

Wilmot Proviso

1846 proposal to ban slavery in Mexican Cession territories; although it failed, it heightened sectional tensions.

Battle of Antietam

1862 battle that was the bloodiest single day in the Civil War, allowing Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

Andrew Johnson

Lincoln’s successor who favored lenient Reconstruction for the South and was the first president impeached (but not removed).

Booker T. Washington

African American leader who promoted vocational training and believed that Black Americans should gain rights gradually.

W. E. B. Du Bois

Civil rights leader who advocated for immediate civil rights and helped found the NAACP.

Dawes Severalty Act

1887 law that broke Native American reservations into individual plots, aiming to force assimilation and resulting in large land losses for Natives.

Knights of Labor

Early national labor union that included both skilled and unskilled workers, advocating for an 8-hour workday and the end of child labor.

American Federation of Labor (AFL)

Labour union led by Samuel Gompers, focusing on skilled workers, higher wages, and better working conditions.

Sherman Antitrust Act

1890 law aiming to break up monopolies but was often poorly enforced initially.

Boss Tweed

Corrupt political boss of Tammany Hall in New York, known for his corruption and manipulation of political systems.

The Gospel of Wealth

Concept by Andrew Carnegie stating that wealthy individuals should use their fortunes to benefit society.

Social Gospel movement

Movement advocating for Christians to address social inequality, improve conditions for the poor, and address societal issues.

The Grange

Farmers' organization that sought government regulation of railroads and grain storage.

Populist Party

Political party that represented farmers and workers, advocating for free silver, direct election of senators, and government ownership of railroads.

Exoduster Movement

Migration of African Americans to Kansas after Reconstruction to escape racism and violence in the South.

Sharecropping

System where farmers rented land and paid rent with a share of crops, often leading them into debt.

Crop-Lien System

Economic system where farmers borrowed money with crops as collateral, entrenching them in a cycle of debt.

Jane Addams

Social reformer who founded Hull House to assist immigrants and poor urban families.

Settlement House Movement

Movement aimed at helping immigrants and urban families by providing education, childcare, and healthcare.

Open Door Policy

U.S. policy aimed at ensuring equal trading rights for all nations in China.

Jim Crow laws

State and local laws enforcing racial segregation primarily in the Southern United States.

Manifest Destiny

The belief that the United States was destined to expand westward across North America, leading to expansion and conflict with Native Americans.