Causes of the Civil War
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Transcript of Causes of the Civil War
Causes of the Civil War
Northwest Ordinance
(1787) Banned slavery in the Northwest territories
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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
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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
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• 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
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• 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
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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
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Fugitive Slave Law• Return escaped slaves to
their state & owner• All citizens expected to help
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Whigs choose another Mexican War General (another war hero like Jackson)
Whig party dying!!!
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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…