The Civil War
May 24, 2015
The Civil War
Setting the Stage for ConflictKey issues
Slavery State v. federal government
Declaration of Independence (1776) Thomas Jefferson’s original draft sought to
outlaw slavery
Setting the Stage for Conflict Whiskey Rebellion (1794)
Farmers in western Pennsylvania refuse to pay federal Whiskey Tax
Attack tax collectors President Washington gathers army to end the
rebellion
Setting the Stage for ConflictAlien and Sedition Acts (1798)
Jefferson and Madison (Democratic Republicans) get states to oppose
Virginia and Kentucky pass resolutions nullifying the law
Nullification=the principle that states had the right to nullify or consider void any act of Congress that they deemed as unconstitutional
Setting the Stage for Conflict Missouri Compromise (1820-1821)
Missouri request admission to the union Northern and Southern state reps. fight in
Congress over whether to admit Missouri as a slave or free state
Compromise admitted Missouri as a slave state, Maine as a free state
Rest of Louisiana Territory is divided into two parts
Southern half could have slaves, North of the line (except Missouri) slavery was banned
Setting the Stage for Conflict Nullification Crisis (1832)
South's economy is hurt by the Tariff of 1816 To free South from tariff, John C. Calhoun of
SC develops the concept of nullification He said the Constitution was a compact
between 14 sovereign states Each would then have the right to determine if
an act of Congress was constitutional If so a state could void the law within its
borders Tariffs are raised again in 1832
Setting the Stage for Conflict SC declares the tariffs unconstitutional and
threatens to secede President Jackson urge the passage of a bill
to allow federal gov. to use force if state officials refused to pay proper duties
Henry Clay creates a compromise that lowers tariffs over 10 years
Avoids conflict for now
Setting the Stage for Conflict Indian Removal (1832)
State of Georgia tries to remove Cherokee’s Supreme Court rules in Worcester v. Georgia
that the state cannot regulate the tribe Jackson ignores Supreme Court ruling and
moves Cherokees for Georgia Leads to Trail of Tears
Setting the Stage for ConflictSectional Differences
Southern colonies: plantations Middle colonies: mixed economy New England Colonies: small self sufficient
farms, and towns that relied on trade
The Second Great Awakening Religious revival from 1790s-1830s Leads to the development of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints Their persecution led them to move
west as America expanded Inspires abolition movement
Fredrick Douglas, AA leader
William Lloyd Garrison, founder of the Liberator
Sojourner Truth fought for Civil Rights for women and AA
Compromise of 1850 CA admitted as a free state New Mexico and Utah would choose on own
whether to be slave or free The sale of slaves in D.C. would be banned Fugitive Slave Act would order Americans
citizens to help in the return of all slaves
Immediate Causes
Kansas Nebraska Act Territory, North of the Missouri Compromise
line was legally closed to slavery Kansas-Nebraska Act allows territory to vote
on slavery Opponents and supporters of slavery rush to
move to Kansas Struggle turns bloody and Kansas gets the
nickname “Bleeding Kansas”
Immediate Causes
New political parties are formed Republican Party forms in
opposition to slavery Abraham Lincoln elected
President in 1860
Immediate Causes
Sides are chosen South Carolina and 6
other states secede after Lincoln is elected president
Form Confederate States of America
Fort Sumter is fired upon
Upper South, 4 more states secede
Jefferson Davis is elected President of the
Confederacy
Border States: Delaware, Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland and West Virginia
Union
The Confederacy: The States that succeeded
The U.S. during the Civil War
Preparation for WarNorth’s Advantages
More railroads More factories Balanced economy Functioning gov. 2/3s the nation’s
population
South’s Advantages 7 of the 8 military
colleges Trained officers Defensive war
Here is a photo of the Merrimack rechristened the CSS Virginia.
A few BattlesFirst Battle of Bull Run (July 21, 1861)
Significant Confederate victory Hinted at a long war
Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863) The war’s turning point
Surrender at Appomattox Court House April 9, 1865
African Americans and the Civil WarLincoln faces pressure to make the war
about slaveryEmancipation Proclamation
January 1, 1863 Freed slaves in states that seceded Had little immediate effect Ended potential support from Great Britain
and France for South
African Americans Fight
– Allowed to join union army after Emancipation Proclamation
– On warships served with white soldiers
– In army, served in all-black regiments
– 54th Massachusetts Infantry charge on Fort Wagner most famous contribution of AA, subject of movie Glory
African American Veteran of the Civil War.
Lincoln’s AssassinationWatching play at Ford’s Theater, April 14,
1865John Wilkes Booth shoots Lincoln in back
of headBooth and conspirators are hanged