Causes of the Civil War 1 Northwest Ordinance

Causes of the Civil War

1 Northwest Ordinance (1787) Banned slavery in the Northwest territories

2 Louisiana Purchase (1803) Lead to the debate on expansion of slavery Doubled the size of the U. S.

3 Missouri Compromise (1820) Banned slavery north of the 36° parallel Set precedent that for every slave state, a free state must enter 36’ 30 Line Kept the balance of free & slave states

4 NULLFICATION CRISIS (1832) – States’ Rights vs. Preserving the Union South Carolina nullifies Tariff of Abominations & threatens to secede

Slavery in America The issue stayed in the background after the Missouri Compromise The proposal to add new states and territories (Texas, New Mexico, and California) brought the issue back up On numerous occasions, Congress made motions to not discuss the topic in session

5 Wilmot Proviso • A bitter debate over slavery in the new west • Rep. David Wilmot (Penn) – Proposed slavery be prohibited in any land acquired from Mexico • Sen. John Calhoun (S. C. ) – No govt. authority can prohibit or regulate slavery in a territory • Neither proposal passed, but intensified the debate

5 • Some say Missouri Compromise line should extend west • Others called for popular sovereignty – People in the territories will vote on whether to allow or deny slavery

1 st president never previously elected to a public office

5 Debate in Congress centered on California becoming a state The old guard of 19 th century politicians take the lead in Congress Clay seeks a compromise and makes over 70 speeches in the House (Webster supported holding the Union together) In the Senate, Calhoun (too sick to read his own statements) calls for the south to secede – DIES DURING THE DEBATE

President Taylor wants to abolish slavery and threatens to veto the bill Taylor dies suddenly– Millard Fillmore becomes President & signs the bill

6 Terms: For the North California admitted as a free state Slave trade abolished in District of Columbia Texas gave up its western lands for $10 million For the South New Mexico & Utah organized under popular sovereignty Fugitive Slave Law passed

7 Fugitive Slave Law • Return escaped slaves to their state & owner • All citizens expected to help

7 Whig party dying!!! Whigs choose another Mexican War General (another war hero like Jackson)

9 KANSAS-NEBRASKA ACT Repealed the Missouri Compromise Stephen Douglas calls for POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY (vote) on slavery in the territories

9 Race for control of Kansas (Abolitionist & Missouri settlers) Only 1, 500 people in KS…but 6, 000 people vote in election Kansas had 2 governments – Free & Slave

10 BLEEDING KANSAS Debate over slavery in territory War broke out over the debate (1856) Pro-slavery raids took place in Lawrence John Brown raided pro-slavery parts of Kansas to raise abolitionist support

11 In 1856, Senator Charles Sumner (Mass. ) gave a speech on the “Crime Against Kansas” condemning the South’s desire to expand slavery Senator Preston Brooks (SC) believed Sumner was insulting his uncle, Senator Andrew Butler Since Sen. Butler was not present to defend himself, Sen. Brooks (SC) beat Sen. Sumner with his cane while Sumner was seated at his desk Showed the brutal nature of the debate & Brooks was seen as a hero in South Carolina (it even helped him get reelected)

12 (1854) Founded to “establish liberty & overthrow the power of slavery” SLAVERY – MORAL, SOCIAL, and POLITICAL EVIL AGAINST THE EXPANSION OF SLAVERY The party and its power grew after “Bleeding Kansas”

12 Supported popular sovereignty Called the Republicans extremists/radicals No electoral votes from the South Condemned KS-NE Act & slavery expansion