Civil War 1861 1865 Causes of Civil War

Civil War 1861 -1865

Causes of Civil War § Leaders of the North and South argued over states’ rights § States’ rights is the idea that states have the right to limit the power of the federal government § Southerners felt that the states could limit the power of the federal government § Northerners felt the states could not limit the power of the federal government

Causes of Civil War § The second major cause was slavery § People in the South wanted to keep slavery § Texas and other southern states depended on slavery for their economy § People in the North wanted to end slavery because they felt it was wrong § The third cause was arguments over the use of public lands that split the states

Slavery in Texas § Many settlers brought slaves with them to Texas § Growing the number one chief product in Texas, COTTON, required many farm workers § 30, 000 slaves in 1845 when Texas joined the U. S. § 182, 000 slaves in Texas by 1860 (6 X)

Slavery in Texas § The average price of a slave between 1850 & 1860 was $600 § Blacksmiths and other skilled craftsmen cost more than $2, 000 § Slaveholders fed, clothed and housed the slaves § This cost little compared to the profits earned from cotton

Treatment of Slaves § The law regarded slaves as property in Texas and the rest of the South § Slaveholders could buy, sell or rent out slaves – often used to pay debts § Some slaves were treated well since the owners depended on them for production § Some slaves were overworked and barely given enough food to survive § Slaves had almost NO control over much of their lives

Daily Lives of Texas Slaves § Worked in fields 5 -6 days a week from sunrise to sunset § Lived in small log cabins with dirt floors § Owners encouraged marriage…children meant more slaves § Family ties were strong but could be separated at any time § Slaves developed their own culture § Religion and music were a source of comfort and hope

Daily Lives of Texas Slaves

Slave Codes § Slave codes were designed to keep slaves from running away or rebelling § Slaves were forbidden to gather in groups of more than 3 § Slaves could not leave the farm without a written pass § Slaves were not allowed to own guns § Slaves were not allowed to learn to read and write

Slave Escapes § Many slaves tried to escape to the North or to Mexico § Journey was long and dangerous § Every county had slave patrols that arrested any unknown black person § Very few slaves made it to freedom § Slaves could be whipped or hanged if owners even heard “rumors” of an escape

Slave Escapes

Slave Rebellions § Many slaves tried to rebel § Some slaves attempted to strike back by breaking tools, destroying crops, stealing food or working very slowly § Some revolts turned violent § In some cases, whites were killed…but in most cases it was the slaves being killed § Slaves were whipped or hanged for rebelling § Owners could not be punished because slaves were not citizens/no court hearing

African Americans in Texas § Not all African Americans in Texas were slaves § 400 free black men and women in Texas according to 1860 census § Most had jobs as a blacksmith, wagon maker or worked at the sawmills § Abolitionists were hung or forced out of Texas if they spoke out § Abolitionist – person who wanted to end slavery

Missouri Compromise 1820 § There were 11 free states and 11 slave states in 1819 § Missouri was applying for statehood and wanted to be a slave state § U. S. decided to add a free state to keep the balance between slave and free states § Missouri would be admitted as a slave state § Maine would be admitted as a free state

Missouri Compromise 1820 § To settle the issue of slavery in western territories, an imaginary line would extend westward § All new states north of Missouri would be free states § All new states south of Missouri would be slave states

Missouri Compromise 1820

Compromise of 1850 § In 1849, there were 15 slave states and 15 free states § California applied for statehood § Oregon, Utah and New Mexico were close to applying for statehood § ALL wanted to be free states § This would upset the balance § Southern slave states feared they would lose votes in the Senate

Compromise of 1850 § Southern slaves states started talk about secession § Secede – to withdraw from the Union § Northerners believed slavery was evil but the break up of the U. S. would be worse § In the Compromise: § § § Settled the Texas/New Mexico western border California would enter Union as a free state Mexican Cession territories in West would decide issue of slavery by popular sovereignty § Fugitive Slave Act was created

Compromise of 1850

Fugitive Slave Act 1850 § All citizens are required to help catch runaway slaves § If you help slaves escape, you would be fined $1, 000/possible jail time

Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854 § The Compromise of 1850 dealt with lands of the Mexican Cession § It did not resolve the issue of slavery for the Louisiana Purchase § People of Kansas and Nebraska would decide for themselves the issue of slavery by popular sovereignty § Southerners supported the Act § They felt the Act supported states’ rights § Northerners opposed the Act § They felt the Act overturned the Missouri Compromise of 1820

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854 § Hundreds of proslavery men from Missouri came across the border and voted illegally to select a pro-slavery government § The new government quickly made slavery legal § Anti-slavery citizens refused to accept new government and elected their own § Kansas was in chaos with two rival governments § Armed gangs roamed the state looking for trouble § More than 200 people killed – Bleeding Kansas

Bleeding Kansas

Dred Scott Case 1857 § Dred Scott was a slave who tried to win his freedom through the courts § After his Missouri owner died, Dred Scott was sold to John Emerson and taken to Illinois, a free state, and Wisconsin territory § He married Harriet Robinson and John Emerson married Irene Sandford § They all returned to Missouri and John Emerson died § Dred Scott filed suit against Irene Sandford claiming he was free since he had lived in Illinois

Dred Scott § Scott v. Sandford case went to the Supreme Court § Supreme Court ruled that since Dred was a slave, considered property and not a citizen, his case would not be heard § The decision also said U. S. could not outlaw slavery in the Western territories § This decision supported the Kansas-Nebraska Act and overturned the Missouri Compromise

Dred Scott

“Texas Troubles” § By 1860, hostility between the North and the South was worse than ever § Violence erupted in Texas that summer § A series of fires damaged parts of Dallas, Denton and Pilot Point § Abolitionists and slaves were blamed for the fires but there was no evidence § Texas vigilantes punished those people they “thought” were guilty § Vigilantes – people who take the law into their own hands § Between 30 -100 people were hanged (slaves)

Texas Secedes § Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, was elected President in 1860 § He received NO votes in Texas § Southerners worried what the President and Congress might try to end slavery § On December 20, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the U. S. § Other states followed: § Mississippi ~ Florida ~ Alabama ~ Georgia ~ Louisiana § Petitions from around Texas called for Governor Sam Houston to get Texas to secede

Texas Secedes § Sam Houston opposed secession and wanted to keep the U. S. together § Texans held a convention without Houston in January 1861 to discuss secession § The delegates voted 166 to 8 to secede § Texas was the only state to have the people vote on whether or not to approve secession § Texas joined the Confederacy in February 1861 § State leaders took an oath of loyalty to the Confederacy § Sam Houston refused to sign the oath of loyalty § Confederates removed Houston as governor

Texas Secedes § More states seceded including Virginia ~ Arkansas ~ North Carolina ~ Tennessee § Eleven (11) states seceded from the Union § Southerners believed they had every right to secede § According the Declaration of Independence: “It is the right of the people to alter or to abolish” a government that denies the rights of its citizens § They believed Lincoln would deny them the right to own slaves § The stage was being set for war…

North vs. South