The Civil War was not a conflict that one day just suddenly emerged. Rather, the cause was contradicting views between the north and south over a period of time.
The source presents a original version of the Exposition and Protest on the Tariff. It was anonymously authored by John C. Calhoun of South Carolina during the South Carolina Nullification Crisis and passed on to the House of Representatives. They justified that the Tariff of Abominations was unconstitutional and ordered southern states to nullify the bill. In this source the "protests," that were claimed in the bill are listed in addition to the copy of the document.
Sectionalism
Sectionalism between the North and South was definitely a cause of the
Civil War from 1861-1865. Both the North and South had different views of how
the government should be run. The north favored Henry Clay's American System of
a strong Federal Government. Whereas the South was in favor of Jeffersonianism
and Jacksonianism, which were the same. Jefferson believed in a less powerful
government, and wanted the power to be controlled by "common men," or
wealthy white men of the southern states, as well as favored state banks.Henry
Clay's American System, had a tariff that effected the Southern economy
severely. The Tariff of Abominations of 1828 severely effected the Southern
economy. The protective tariff protected the northern growing industries from
foreign competition. Yet, the south completely opposed it, for the states had
to pay the greatest burden of taxes, resulting in the North Carolina
nullification crisis. and the west was uncertain about the tariff because it
protected the domestic market, but the western economy was also effected.
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The Battle of the Civil War.Photograph.n.d..American Civil War Records and Geneology.
Geni. Web.13 Dec.2013.
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Federal Government vs State Rights
Besides Sectionalism, the issue of who would be in charge of the
government arose. The North favored a strong form of government, whereas, the
South wanted the states to be in control. The Federal Government enacted a
series of policies regarding taxation and trade. Because of this, the South
felt inferior to the North, and took this as a threat. Therefore, the
Nullification Crisis happened. It was basically a sectional crisis created by
the Ordinance of Nullification, which was an attempt for a state to nullify a
law passed by the Federal Government. Another cause of argument was due to the
Missouri Compromise. This made Maine a free state in place of Missouri, which
became a slave state. The South criticized it because it gave the government power
to make laws regulating slavery. The North also didn't like it because they had
to accept the expansion of slavery. Hence, it upset the balance between the
free and slave states.
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| South Carolina and Secession.Photograph.n.d. States' Rights The Rallying Cries of Secession. Civi War Trust. Web. 13 December.2013. |
Economic
Changes
Another
issue that led up to the Civil War was the economic views of the North and
South. The north was prospering in economic status due to the growing
industries. As well as becoming greater in population from immigration, and the
principle of 'free labor''. On the other hand the southern economy was falling
apart from the competition of the Northern economy. The southern economy was
considered to be 'traditional' and had been in place for generations. Many
immigrants were more appealed to settle in the North than the South because
they had better labor options. Also the tax policies the North was putting on
the South had an effect on the changing economy. The wealthy southern
plantations were drastically falling apart, due to the emerging wealth of the
Northern economy.
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| A man working in a northern industry.Photograph.n.d. Industry and Enconomy during the Civil War. National Park Service.Web.13 Dec.2013 |
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| Slaves in Southern plantation. Photograph.n.d. Wage Slavery. Wikipedia. Web.13 Dec. 2013. |
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850
was a series of bills introduced to the senate by Henry Clay and was passed into
law by Stephen Douglas. There were benefits for both the north and south. The
north would gain California's admission as a free state. Also, slave trade
would be banned in Washington and Texas loses boundary dispute with New Mexico.
The South has no slavery restriction in Utah or Mexico, slave holding is
permitted in Washington D.C., Texas gains ten million dollars, and the Fugitive
Slave Law is passed. Yet, both sides gained benefits, once again the North
seemed to have gained more. Also, the balance of the senate was with the free
states due to the compromise. Even though The Fugitive Slave Law was admitted,
the north refused to enforce it because they thought it was unfair. The South
strongly favored it because it completely restricted runaway slave rights. But,
the North had won again.
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| Compromise of 1850.Photograph.n.d.Henry Clay Compromise Wikipedia.Web 13 Dec.13 |
Primary Source: http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=27
This source is very relevant to the topic because it shows a copy of the actual Compromise of 1850.
The compromise was a series of bills passed to address issues that were related to slavery. It was drafted and issued by Senator Henry Clay. The purpose of the Compromise was to keep the balance of free and slave states. Also, it allowed the decision of slavery to be determined by "Popular Sovereignty" in the new states. As well as banned slave trade in the District of Columbia and placed a stricter fugitive slave act. The site also allows to zoom in on the document having a more closer look at it.
This source is very relevant to the topic because it shows a copy of the actual Compromise of 1850.
The compromise was a series of bills passed to address issues that were related to slavery. It was drafted and issued by Senator Henry Clay. The purpose of the Compromise was to keep the balance of free and slave states. Also, it allowed the decision of slavery to be determined by "Popular Sovereignty" in the new states. As well as banned slave trade in the District of Columbia and placed a stricter fugitive slave act. The site also allows to zoom in on the document having a more closer look at it.
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
In 1858, Lincoln and
Douglas from Illinois had on going debates in seven different cities
of Illinois to see who would win a position in the U.S
senate. Douglas was better known than Lincoln, giving him an
advantage of winning a seat in senate. The debates were mainly concerned about
slavery. Lincoln was against slavery, while Doug;as was for slavery.
These series of debates have been claimed to be “the most famous war of words
in history". Stephen Douglas was a firm believer in "Popular
Sovereignty," therefore he believed that states should decide whether they
wanted to support slavery or oppose it. Douglas being someone who favored it.
On the other hand, Lincoln wanted a complete end to slavery eventually.
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| Lincoln-Douglas Debate 1858.Photograph.n.d.Stephen Douglas and the Lincoln Douglas Debates lib.Web. 13 Dec.13 |
The Kansas and Nebraska Act and Bleeding Kansas
The act passed in May
1854 by Stephen Douglas, repealed the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of
1850 and limited the expansion of slavery. Douglas being a strong supporter of
"Popular Sovereignty," left Kansas and Nebraska's statehood's to be
decided by the people of the states. Whether Kansas and Nebraska were to enter
the union as free states or slave states was to be decided by the people.
Though the act was directed to both states. Kansas had a harder time entering
the union because the pro-slavery bordering state of Missouri, started to feed
into the territory. Anti-slavery and slavery states fought to gain control of
Kansas. The rage of violence became known as "Bleeding Kansas.'' This
battle was a core beginning to the American Civil War.
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| Bleeding Kansas 1854.Photograph.n.d. Bleeding Kansas and the Missouri Border War Legends of America.Web. 13 Dec. 13 |
The Dred Scott Decision
It was a decision regarding Dred Scott, a slave.He was sent to trial because he tried to sue for his freedom in 1847. Later their was a Supreme Court case in 1857 questioning his action. The case was the Dred Scott v Sanford case. Dred Scott, a former slave of Missouri, who had lived in Illinoisand Wisconsin, free states, wanted to grant his and his family’s freedom.Yet, the case prohibited slaves to be citizens and have rights of freedom, like the white men. The court ruled that Scott's settlement in Illinois and Wisconsin, did not make him free once he returned back to Missouri. Also, Scott could not sue for his freedom because he was not granted citizen rights. Not only this, but Dred was considered to be property by his owner, an army doctor. Thus, property could not be taken, without the process of law. The government won and their was stricter principles passed towards slaves.
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| Dred Scott.Photograph. n.d.Dred Scott Decision Wikipedia.Web.13 Dec.13 |
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| Dred Scott.Photograph.n.d. Statue Dred Scott St. Louis Arch Wikipedia.Web.13 Dec.13 |
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
On the night of October 16, 1859 John
Brown and his small army of eighteen men went to Harper's Ferry, VA to rebel
against slavery and capture slave holders. They had seized the federal complex
without much struggle, which had an armory, engine house, and arsenal. Then he
sent a patrol to the country to notify slaves, but the slaves were not in
support of his risky plan. He wanted to raid weapons and give them to the slaves, so that they could rebel against their owners. Yet, a group of U.S. Marines under the command of
Robert E. Lee ended up defeating his raid and killing several members. He was
arrested for this felony along with several of his men. John Brown was
sentenced to death on December second, 1959, he was convicted of Treason. John Brown's raid resulted
in further sectionalism in the north and south. The north admired his raid and
thought he was courageous for attempting to defend the Southern government.
John Brown is a man worth remembering, he led a raid to Harper's Ferry, Virginia. He planned on stealing armory from the engine house and giving those weapons to the slaves to rebel against their owners. Though he lived in the South, he strongly disliked the southerners and their captivity of slaves. The video presents and states how Harper's Ferry, Virginia used to be and demonstrates John Brown's bravery and risky actions and the consequences of the raid.
The Election of 1860
Lincoln ended up winning
the presidency. His election had caused a major threat to the South because the north had a better say in government. Several states even tried to
pass laws of secession from the union. Since, Lincoln had become president
sectionalism views were growing.In fact, he did not get a single southern state
vote, so the south was angry. Also, Lincoln got the polarity of votes, getting nearly all of the northern states votes. Also, the southern states did not votes for Stephen Douglas because he was in favor of "popular sovereignty". The northern states were uncertain to chose Stephen Douglas, and not a lot of northern states voted for him because they figured he was more towards the south. Therefore, a new constitutional party appeared in the ballot of 1860. The Republican Party with Abraham Lincoln, from Illinois as there candidate. Lincoln's major issue in his presidency and before was slavery. He wanted to preserve the union. He said, "If I could free the union by freeing no slaves, I would do it, if I could free the union by slaving all the slaves I would do it". All he wanted to do was save the union from being seperated into two distinct parts, the north and the south.
 Election of 1860 Politics.n.d.Photograph.1860 Election U.S. History.Web.13 Dec.13 |
Works Cited
"31a. The Kansas-Nebraska Act." The Kansas-Nebraska Act [ushistory.org]. 30 Dec. 2013 <http://www.ushistory.org/us/31a.asp>."32a. The Dred Scott Decision." The Dred Scott Decision [ushistory.org]. 30 Dec. 2013 <http://www.ushistory.org/us/32a.asp>.
"32b. The Lincoln-Douglas Debates." The Lincoln-Douglas Debates [ushistory.org]. 28 Dec. 2013 <http://www.ushistory.org/us/32b.asp>.
"32c. John Brown's Raid." John Brown's Raid [ushistory.org]. 30 Dec. 2013 <http://www.ushistory.org/us/32c.asp>.
"32d. The Election of 1860." The Election of 1860 [ushistory.org]. 30 Dec. 2013 <http://www.ushistory.org/us/32d.asp>.
Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations. 29 Dec. 2013 <http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/civil-war-overview/northandsouth.html>.
Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations. 29 Dec. 2013 <http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/civil-war-overview/statesrights.html>.
Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations. 30 Dec. 2013 <http://www.civilwar.org/150th-anniversary/john-browns-harpers-ferry.html>.
"Miller Center." American President: Abraham Lincoln: Campaigns and Elections. 30 Dec. 2013 <http://millercenter.org/president/lincoln/essays/biography/3>.
PBS. PBS,n.d. 29 Dec. 2013 <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2951.html>.
"State Rights VS. Federal Rights - Civil War Project." Civil War Project. 30 Dec. 2013 <http://chordarm.weebly.com/state-rights-vs-federal-rights.html>.
"Top Five Causes of the Civil War." About.com American History. 28 Dec. 2013 <http://americanhistory.about.com/od/civilwarmenu/a/cause_civil_war.htm>.
"Welcome to OurDocuments.gov." Welcome to OurDocuments.gov. 30 Dec. 2013 <http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=28>
Video: John Brown Accessed 150 Years Ago After Harper's Ferry Raid. N.p.: VOA Video, 26 Oct. 2009. Video.
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