Congress adopted the policy that there would be balance in the Senate For every free state there would be an equal slave state. ▪ The south was afraid.

Causes of Civil War

Balance

Congress adopted the policy that there would be balance in the Senate For every free state there would be an

equal slave state.▪ The south was afraid that slavery would be

outlawed if there were more free states than slave

Everything was fine until Missouri- was it North or South (Free or Slave)

North says free, South says secession

Missouri Compromise

Missouri would be admitted as a slave state

Maine would be admitted as a free state

A line would be drawn at 36 30’ degrees of latitude. Everything North would be free while everything south would be slave.

Fears, Concerns, and Issues

Southern Fear- Abolitionists might cause slaves to revolt

Fugitive Slaves- Slaves escaped to the north were they received help- Stolen southern property

Slavery in the territories- Should slaves be allowed in new lands

California- Applies for statehood. It applies as a free state, but part of it is below the 36 30 line. If allowed to join then Free states would have the majority in the senate

Compromise of 1850

Something for everyone California would be a free

state (N) New Mexico and Utah

territories would be open to slavery (S)

No Slave trade in Washington D.C., but slave owners could keep their slaves (N&S)

Fugitive Slave Law- Reclaim runaway slaves (S)

More Fears, Concerns, and Issues Fugitive Slave Law- The

north refused to support the law. South was angered.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin- Revealed the horrors of slavery- Best seller in the North, made abolitionists movement explode

Kansas-Nebraska Act- No more 36 30 line but “popular sovereignty” or the people will decide slavery. It passed the North was outraged.

Bleeding Kansas

The abolitionists sent men and guns to live in Kansas

The south supported by “Border Ruffians” laid claim to Kansas.

Two separate governments, one free and one slave were created

Violence- Pro slavery groups raided Lawrence Kansas (free). They burned buildings and destroyed abolitionist printing presses

John Brown seeks revenge. He hacks to death five pro slavery leaders

The violence heads to Congress. An anti-slavery senator is beat to near death in Congress because he spoke out against the violence in Kansas.

Dred Scott

Dred Scot was a slave that was taken to Wisconsin. He believed since he was on free soil he should be free. The Supreme court will decide the issue of slavery

The decision Dred Scott can not sue for his freedom

because he is not a citizen No African American could become a citizen Missouri Compromise was Unconstitutional Slaves are property and according to the 5th

amendment, property can not be taken without due process

South pleased, North angered

The Breaking Point

John Brown’s Raid- John Brown and his sons try seize weapons from a federal arsenal. He wants to start a slave rebellion. He fails but the south sees how far the abolitionists will go.

Lincoln and Douglas Senate debates-

Douglass believed the supreme court put the slavery issue to rest

Lincoln believed it was a moral issue and not a legal issue

Lincoln loses election but becomes a national figure

Breaking Point Continued Election of 1860

The Republican nominated Lincoln The Democrats nominated three

separate candidates Democratic vote is split three

ways Lincoln wins without getting a

majority of the people to vote for him

Lincoln will not end slavery but he will not let it spread.

The South begins to succeed

Secession

Fort Sumter

South Carolina opens fire on a federal fort in Charleston Harbor.

After 33 hours the fort falls.

The Union can not be saved without war

America enter the bloodiest war in American History