American Pre-Civil War Notes

American Pre-Civil War History Revision

Gains Independence

  • The United States gained independence in 1776.

Government Establishment

  • The government was established in 1781.

Constitution

  • The Constitution was formed in 1789.

Bill of Rights

  • The Bill of Rights comprises the first 10 amendments to the Constitution.
  • It guarantees civil rights and liberties, including freedom of speech and religion.

Cotton Economy of the South

  • Cotton plantations were highly profitable in the South.
  • Cotton was central to the Southern economy.
  • The invention of the cotton gin and sewing machine increased the demand for cotton as an export.
  • The South relied heavily on slave labor to maintain production.
  • Slaves could not resign or demand higher wages.
  • Farms/plantations were often owned by wealthy families and passed down through generations.
  • Bigger farms and a higher slave count signified power and prestige.

Industrialization and Increased Manufacturing

  • The North focused less on agriculture and more on manufacturing and industry.
  • People worked for wages in factories.
  • A population shift began as factory jobs offered better income, attracting both northerners and immigrants.

Economic & Social Differences Between North & South

North

  • Relied on manufacturing and industry.
  • Held more progressive views.

South

  • Relied on agriculture.
  • Held more conservative views.

The Civil War

  • The Civil War was fought between the North (Union Army) and Southern (Confederates) states from 1861-1865.
  • It is the biggest conflict in U.S. history.

Main Causes of the Civil War

  • State Rights
  • Secession
  • The election
  • Slavery

Views of Constitution

  • The North and South had different views regarding the federal government.
  • The North believed the federal government was dominant and its power exceeded the states'.
  • In the South, there was an emphasis on states' rights, with the belief that states had more power than the federal government.
  • Southern politicians emphasized that if they disagreed with the federal government, they could leave the Union freely, just as they had joined it freely.
  • Northern politicians disputed this, denying that the Union could be broken up.
  • As the Union grew, so did the division between the North and South regarding slavery.
  • People in the North wanted to stop the expansion of slavery in new territories.
  • The South thought that as slavery was legal, it should be allowed in new territories.

Growth of the Abolition Movement

  • William Garrison led the abolitionist movement.