Tindall_Civil_War_Causes___Battles

The Gathering Storm

The Mexican War and Slavery

• John C. Calhoun (SC) warned that new territories were "the forbidden fruit," predicting political demise if slavery expanded.

• Ralph Waldo Emerson (MA) likened U.S. conquest of Mexico to swallowing arsenic, foreseeing national poisoning.

• New territories fueled intense disputes over slavery, threatening the Union.

Free-Soil Coalition

• Members: Northern Democrats, anti-slavery Whigs, Liberty party members.

• Arguments: Opposed expansion of slavery into new territories from Mexico, referencing legacy compromises like the Missouri Compromise.

• The 1850 California statehood debate highlighted national tensions.

Compromise of 1850

• Major Elements: California entered as a free state; New Mexico and Utah organized without slavery restrictions (popular sovereignty); slave trade abolished in D.C.; a stricter Fugitive Slave Act enacted.

• The compromise aimed to alleviate the growing divide between free and slave states.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

• Proposed by Stephen A. Douglas, allowing residents to decide on slavery (popular sovereignty).

• Repealed the Missouri Compromise, inciting strong anti-slavery opposition and fostering the Republican Party's rise.

Reaction to Slavery Expansion

• Southern Desires: Rising slave prices increased southern interest in expanding slavery for economic gain.

• Political tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions amplified, leading to sectional conflict.

Popular Sovereignty

• Suggested resolving slavery debates by letting territories decide; infuriated anti-slavery advocates, contributing to political party fractures (e.g., Whigs).

California Gold Rush (1848)

• Mass Migration: Over 300,000 people moved to California for gold, transforming demographics and economy.

• California’s possible free state status reignited slavery debates.

Free-Soil Party

• Formed by anti-slavery groups against new territory expansion.

• Gained popularity with slogans like "free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men."

Political Landscape Changes

• Increasing polarization between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions; weakening of the second party system as Whigs and Democrats faced internal strife.

The Eve of Civil War

• John Brown's Exploration: Aimed to instigate a slave rebellion, alarming southerners and deepening divisions. His Harpers Ferry raid heightened the national slavery dialogue.

Election of 1860

• Abraham Lincoln's Victory: Without southern support, it led many southerners to consider secession as the only choice. Southern leaders viewed the Republican Party as a threat to their lifestyle.

Secession of Southern States

• Initiated with South Carolina's secession after Lincoln’s election, followed by other states, forming the Confederate States of America, led by Jefferson Davis.

Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

• Focused on unity and reconciliation instead of retribution after the Civil War.

• Highlighted moral responsibility regarding slavery and concluded with a plea for healing: "With malice toward none; with charity for all."

Inflection Points in the Civil War

• Battle of Antietam: The bloodiest single-day battle, shifting momentum towards emancipation.

• Emancipation Proclamation: Issued after Antietam, aimed at freeing slaves in Confederate territories, altering the war's purpose.

The War Behind the Lines

• Daily life transformed, particularly for women, who assumed new societal roles due to men's absence. Civilians faced destruction and conflict as battles occurred nearby.

Conclusion

• The Civil War profoundly impacted American society, reshaping political dynamics and institutions, while raising moral queries about slavery and human rights. The resilience shown in Lincoln’s leadership and community responses paved the way for recovery and reconciliation.