The Civil War - Contributing Factors

What were the main factors that contributed to the start of the Civil

War?

The Democratic Party’s (est. by Andrew Jackson, 1824) basic ideas:

-Government should serve the “Common People”-Voting rights extended to non-property owners-Still just white males

What did the principle of “states’ rights” mean for the South?

It illustrated conflict b/t North and South North wanted to add tariffs to Southern goods State power should be ultimate power (popular

Southern view)

What was the Missouri Compromise of 1820 about?

Admission of Missouri as 23rd state upset balance of 11 free states and 11 slave states

Compromise admitted Missouri as slave state and Maine as free state

Drew line at 36 - 30’- prohibited slavery above this line map

What was the Indian Removal Act of 1830 about?

Cherokee & Choctaw populations (18,000) were removed, forcibly, to western land-1838

“Trail of Tears”- 1/4 of people died-link 3,000 Seminoles killed

in Florida - 1842

Industrial Revolution’s Impact on America?

Industrial technologies created economic advantages (harnessing of “Promethean” growth) pic

Urban centers in north (Chicago, Detroit, NY) contained many factories and industries

South was largely agricultural

Who were Nativists?

“Whites” who opposed immigrants who might compete with them for jobs

Gangs of New York image

What was the “Transportation Revolution” and what was its impact? Steam powered engines for trains and boats, map Cut transportation costs by 75% By 1860, 30,000 miles of railroad track

Impact of the Cotton Gin?

Invented in 1793-increased production By 1860, cotton was leading export product “Cotton Kingdom” formed South relied heavily on institution of slavery 1/3 of Southern whites claimed ownership of those

enslaved “Cotton Gin” increased demand for enslavement

What was the impact of Nat Turner’s Rebellion?

About 60 Whites killed Over 100 slaves killed All states North and South strengthened slave

codes- link

Abolitionist Leaders?

Those who opposed the institution of slavery Arguments based moral and religious grounds Helped establish “underground railroad”- Elijah Lovejoy, Frederick Douglass,William

Lloyd Garrison, and Angelina and Sarah Grimke Harriet Tubman

Underground Railroad

Why was the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 important?

Declaration of Sentiments - proclaimed “Women’s Rights” - link

First nationally organized effort in world Rights of women - equal rights, equal pay,

education, property rights, and right to vote.

What was the Temperance Movement of 1855 about? Who led it?

Movement to convince people of “evils” of alcohol

Consumption should be limited or stopped Members were mostly women (white, middle

class, and religious) Carrie Nation

What was “Manifest Destiny” about?

Idea that settlers have rights to inhabit this nation, “from sea to shining sea”

Authority granted by “God”- Gast Painting

What was the Mexican War about? Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?

Dispute over territory in South (Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona)

Turf war b/t US troops and Mexican map

Impact of the California Gold Rush?

Mad dash for gold out west Brought prospectors, merchants, and RR lines Many Chinese-American came to build RR lines Miners

What did the Compromise of 1850 resolve?

Temporary resolution to question of new territories as states (Slave or Free?)

Map

What did the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 attempt to resolve?

map

Historical significance of Dred Scott Decision?

Question of citizen’s rights for those African-Americans formerly enslaved

Decision

What were the Confederate States of America?

secede.gif

Essay Quiz (20pts for complete, concise, and well-reasoned answers of

one to two pages) Use three to five historical examples to construct a

convincing argument that answers our original question about the Civil War - What were the main factors that contributed to the start of the Civil War?

Possible examples: “States Rights”, Missouri Compromise, Industrial Revolution, Transportation Revolution, Cotton Gin, Nat Turner’s Rebellion, Tariffs, Institution of Slavery, Dred Scott Decision