Page 1: Overview of the American Civil War

Introduction to the Civil War

• The American Civil War began in 1861 due to tensions over slavery, westward expansion, and state rights.

• Abraham Lincoln's election as President led to the secession of eleven southern states.

• The war, also known as the War of States, concluded in 1865 with approximately 620,000 soldier fatalities.

Page 2: Pre-Civil War Background

Economic Differences

• North: Manufacturing and industry, few small-scale farmers.

• South: Large-scale plantations reliant on enslaved labor for cash crops like cotton and tobacco.

Key Pre-War Events

• Arrival of enslaved Africans (1619)

• Missouri Compromise (1820)

• Nat Turner’s Rebellion (1831)

• Wilmot Proviso (1846)

• Compromise of 1850

• Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

• Dred Scott Decision (1857)

• Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858)

• Election of Lincoln (1860)

Missouri Compromise (1820)

• Congress admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state to maintain balance.

• It prohibited slavery north of the 36° 30´ latitude line in territories acquired from the Louisiana Purchase.

Page 3: Notable Events Leading to the War

Nat Turner’s Rebellion (1831)

• Led by Nat Turner, resulted in the death of 60 white people and harsh retaliatory measures against enslaved populations.

• Increased restrictions for enslaved people in Virginia, prohibiting literacy and gatherings.

Wilmot Proviso (1846)

• Proposed to ban slavery in territories acquired from Mexico, influencing political stances on slavery.

Compromise of 1850

• Aimed to ease tensions, included provisions for both free and slave states, and prohibited slave trade in Washington, D.C.

Page 4: Continued Political Tensions

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

• Introduced popular sovereignty: residents decide on slave or free status.

• Led to violence in Kansas (Bleeding Kansas) and division within political parties.

Dred Scott Decision (1857)

• Confirmed legality of slavery in all territories; ruled that enslaved people were not citizens and couldn't sue for freedom.

Page 5: Dred Scott’s Journey

• Dred Scott was taken to free territories, attempted to sue for freedom based on residency, but ultimately lost.

• Supreme Court ruled that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional.

Page 6: Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858)

• Debates highlighted differing views on slavery; Lincoln opposed slavery, while Douglas favored state decision.

• Lincoln earned recognition as a prominent political figure.

Election of Lincoln (1860)

• Lincoln elected as 16th President, winning with divided Democratic votes, leading to more southern secessions.

Page 7: Nature and Causes of the Civil War

Causes of Division

• Issues related to states' rights, economic differences, and slavery contributed to sectionalism.

• The Civil War aimed to determine Union survival vs. Confederate independence.

Key Issues

• Slavery recognized in the original Constitution with provisions like Article 1, Section 2.

Page 8: State Dynamics and Slavery

Slave vs. Free States

• 15 slave states vs. 19 free states by 1861.

• Border states (e.g., Delaware, Kentucky) remained with the Union.

Historical Context

• Enslaved Africans played a crucial role in the colonial economy.

Page 9: Factors Contributing to Conflict

Economic Disparities

• South relied heavily on slave labor for cotton production, while the North industrialized and reduced reliance on slavery.

State's Rights Issues

• Southern states insisted on state rights concerning slavery. Lincoln's election led to concerns about slavery's future in the South.

Page 10: Westward Expansion and Slavery

Territorial Dynamics

• Westward expansion heightened conflicts over slavery.

• Legislative compromises attempted to balance interests; however, tensions remained high.

Abolitionist Movement

• Gaining momentum from the 1820s, calling for the end of slavery and women's rights, with key figures like William Lloyd Garrison.

Page 11: Secession and Civil War Outbreak

Secession Timeline

• South Carolina and others seceded after Lincoln's election, forming the Confederacy.

• Jefferson Davis elected President of the Confederacy.

Key Civil War Events

• Battle of Fort Sumter (April 12, 1861) initiated the war.

• Significant battles and turning points throughout the war's course, including the Emancipation Proclamation and Lincoln's assassination.