The Road to War

United States Civil War Part 4

Lincoln• Abraham Lincoln had long regarded

slavery as an evil. In a speech in Peoria, Illinois, in 1854, he declared that all national legislation should be framed on the principle that slavery was to be restricted and abolished.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates• Senator Douglas, known as the "Little

Giant," ran against Lincoln for the Illinois senate seat. Lincoln and Douglas engaged in a series of seven debates. In the end, Douglas won the election by a small margin, but Lincoln was recognized as a national figure.

John Brown• John Brown, an

antislavery fanatic captured and killed five proslavery settlers in Kansas. Later he led a band of followers in an attack on the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry. Brown's goal was to use the weapons seized to lead a slave uprising.

Sing along, “John Brown’s Body”

1860 Presidential Election• In the presidential election of 1860 the

Republican, Abraham Lincoln, ran against Stephen A. Douglas, a Democrat, and the Whigs party nominee, John C. Bell of Tennessee.

Lincoln Wins• Lincoln won only 39 percent of the popular

vote, but had a clear majority of 180 electoral votes, carrying all 18 free states. Despite his poor electoral showing, Douglas trailed only Lincoln in the popular vote.

Lincoln Wins

Succession!

• The southern states said that if Lincoln won the Presidential election, they would secede (leave) the union. South Carolina was the first southern state to seceded from the union.

Succession!

• By February 1, 1861, six more Southern states had joined South Carolina in succession. On February 7, the seven states adopted the constitution for the Confederate States of America. The other southern states as yet remained in the Union.

Succession!

Confederate White House

Succession!• The South formed

their own nation, The Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis served as the President.

Inaugural Address• Abraham Lincoln

was sworn in as president of the United States. In his inaugural address, he refused to recognize the secession, considering it "legally void."

WAR!

• The battle began in April of 1861 when the Confederate Army took over Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina.  

Civil War, Death and Destruction• A war had begun in which more

Americans would die than in any other conflict before or since.

Civil War, Death and Destruction• A war had begun in which more

Americans would die than in any other conflict before or since.

Civil War, Death and Destruction• A war had begun in which more

Americans would die than in any other conflict before or since.

Civil War, Death and Destruction• A war had begun in which more

Americans would die than in any other conflict before or since.

Civil War, Death and Destruction• A war had begun in which more

Americans would die than in any other conflict before or since.

Civil War, Death and Destruction• A war had begun in which more

Americans would die than in any other conflict before or since.

Civil War, Death and Destruction• A war had begun in which more

Americans would die than in any other conflict before or since.

Civil War, Death and Destruction• A war had begun in which more

Americans would die than in any other conflict before or since.

Civil War, Death and Destruction• A war had begun in which more

Americans would die than in any other conflict before or since.

Civil War, Death and Destruction• A war had begun in which more

Americans would die than in any other conflict before or since.

Civil War, Death and Destruction• A war had begun in which more

Americans would die than in any other conflict before or since.

Writing Situation: Pretend you are a news reporter during the years prior to the Civil War.

Directions for Writing: Write an news article explaining the causes leading to the Civil War.

Additional Resources

• A Day in the Life of A Slave

• An Interview with a Slave (listen to a first-hand experience)

• Civil War Quiz

• American Civil War Homepage

• Civil War Photographs

• Download the whole presentation