Causes of the Civil War

Northwest Ordinance

(1787) Banned slavery in the Northwest territories

1

Louisiana Purchase (1803)2

Doubled the size of the U.S.

Lead to the debate on expansion of

slavery

Missouri Compromise (1820)3

Set precedent that for every slave state, a free

state must enter

Kept the balance of free & slave states

36’30 Line

Banned slavery north of the 36°

parallel

NULLFICATION CRISIS (1832) – States’ Rights vs. Preserving the Union

South Carolina nullifies Tariff of Abominations & threatens to secede

4

Slavery in AmericaThe issue stayed in the background after the Missouri Compromise

On numerous occasions, Congress made motions to not discuss the topic in session

The proposal to add new states and territories (Texas, New Mexico, and California) brought the issue back up

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

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

1st president never previously elected to a public office

Debate in Congress centered on California becoming a state

The old guard of 19th 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

5

President Taylor wants to abolish

slavery and threatens to veto the

bill

Taylor dies suddenly– Millard

Fillmore becomes

President & signs the bill

Terms:

California admitted as a free state

Slave trade abolished in District of Columbia

New Mexico & Utah organized under popular sovereignty

Texas gave up its western lands for $10 million

Fugitive Slave Law passed

For the North

For the South

6

Fugitive Slave Law• Return escaped slaves to

their state & owner• All citizens expected to help

7

Whigs choose another Mexican War General (another war hero like Jackson)

Whig party dying!!!

7

Uncle Tom’s Cabin8

• By Harriet Beecher Stowe– Published in 1853– Following the passage of the

Fugitive Slave Act

• Lived in Cincinnati, Ohio– Home was a trail on the

Underground Railroad– Based the book on case

histories from escaped slaves

• Persuaded more people particularly northerners to become abolitionists

Northerners should/should not follow the Fugitive Slave Act and

assist in capturing “runaway” slaves because…