The Causes
When most people think of what caused the Civil War, they automatically think of slavery. Although slavery played a large role in starting the war, there were many other events that led up the war that forever shaped our nation. In fact, with all of the turmoil within the separated country, the Civil War was inevitable. The North, with the West, and the South were just too different in their economies and opinions on various political matters. With such sectionalism present, America was launched into a devastating war.
Slavery
Slavery had been in America since thirty slaves from Angola were dropped off in Jamestown in 1619. From that point on, it only continued to grow rapidly. At the beginning of the Civil War, the South was home to about four million slaves. Actually, most small farmers did not own slaves, as they could not afford them; however, the large plantation owners had many. These slaves became necessary to the South’s agricultural economy, especially since the invention of Eli Whitney’s cotton gin led to a cotton boom. The North, on the other hand, had abolished slavery in most of the states. In the 1840s and 1850s, a potato famine led to a steady amount of immigration from Ireland and Germany. These new immigrants served as the laborers in the North, and slavery was not as needed in the region. Further tension caused by slavery was later created by the abolitionist movement.
The Dred Scott Decision
When Doctor John Emerson bought his slave, Dred Scott, he brought him into free territory in Illinois. Although they moved to St. Louis later, Scott and his wife had lived in free territory for a period of time. When Emerson died in 1843, Scott offered his widowed wife three hundred dollars for his and his wife’s freedom. Mrs. Emerson refused, however, and the Scotts took their case to the court. Their argument was that, since they had lived in free territory for some time, they were free for that time. In 1824, the Missouri Supreme Court decision in Winny vs. Whitesides declared that once a slave was free, he or she was always free. The first trial in 1847 did not occur because Scott could not prove that Mrs. Emerson owned him and his wife. When they tried again in 1850, though, they were granted their freedom. Sadly, after just two years, the Missouri Supreme Court took it away because they opposed helping slaves gain freedom. In the Supreme Court case Scott vs. Sanford, which was Scott’s appeal, John Sanford, Mrs. Emerson’s brother, claimed that he owned the Scotts. In 1857, the Supreme Court declared that because Scott was a black man, he was not a United States citizen, and the Constitution did not authorize him to sue. This decision blatantly disavowed the Missouri Compromise of 1820. It also spurred the abolitionist movement and launched Abraham Lincoln’s career in politics. Lastly, it began the long argument of whether or not the Supreme Court had the jurisdiction to prohibit slavery in any state.
States' Rights
Sectionalism grew with the dissension over states’ rights. Not only did states argue over whether each individual state could abolish slavery or not, but they also disagreed on the concept of nullification. Many southerners felt that too many unfair laws were being passed by the federal government. For example, various import taxes targeted the south; therefore, many southerners thought that states’ rights should be able to overturn federal laws that were unjust. On the other hand, several northerners did not believe in nullification, as they thought states’ rights would make the country a weaker nation.
Abolitionist Movement
From the 1820s to the 1830s, the abolitionist movement became an influential factor on sectionalism in the United States. Suddenly, newspapers and literature attacking the morality of slavery became popular. Some states in the south, like South Carolina, even outlawed abolitionist writings. These anti-slavery protesters questioned the fairness and ethicalness of forcing African Americans to be laborers and “property” of the white man. They emphasized that slaves were, in fact, intellectual humans, though few abolitionists actually fully believed that blacks and whites were equal. One such abolitionist, named David Walker, who was once a slave but now free, wrote An Appeal to the Colored People of the World, which encouraged slaves to take a stand against their masters. This was quite extreme for most abolitionists, though, including William Lloyd Garrison. Garrison started The Liberator in 1831, which became the most famous anti-slavery newspaper in the country. Such events led to the gathering of the American Anti-Slavery Society Convention, which only led to many riots between slavery supporters and opposers.
John Brown
Born on May 9, 1800, John Brown was an extreme abolitionist who
led two violent attacks due to his anti-slavery beliefs. He believed that God has chosen him to be the hero in helping slaves gain freedom. When the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 permitted popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska, Brown moved to Kansas, as he believed it would be entered into the Union as a free state. Border ruffians from Missouri attacked those against slavery, however, and rumors soon spread that these border ruffians were going to attack Pottawatomie Creek: the town in which Brown lived. Before this could happen, Brown led a group of men on May 24, 1856 to Henry’s Crossing and viciously murdered pro-slavery men in the area. Because of this attack, Kansas broke in its own civil war, known today as “Bleeding Kansas.” John Brown soon struck again, though. On October 16, 1859, Brown led a group of twenty-one men (five of them black men) on a siege of the U.S. Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. Although his motive for this is unclear, many abolitionists supported him financially. The small faction took prisoners and caused destruction until the local militia boxed them inside the firehouse at the arsenal. Once there, U.S. Marines under Robert E. Lee’s command broke into the firehouse and stopped the raid. Of Brown’s group, ten were killed instantly, but seven, including Brown, who was wounded, were captured. Brown was charged for murder, treason, and conspiracy to begin a slave uprising. On December 2, 1859, Brown was hanged in Charles Town, still believing that he had done it all for justice. Opinions on this belief differed, though. Many northerners thought he had died a martyr for a good cause, while most southerners were astonished at his radical acts. When the South discovered that abolitionists had actually helped and supported John Brown and his attacks, they were extremely upset, especially because they thought abolitionists now wanted to wipe out white slave owners completely. The majority of the North just viewed it as an inspiration to push for an end to slavery. The question still remains today: was the radical abolitionist more of a hero or a terrorist?
led two violent attacks due to his anti-slavery beliefs. He believed that God has chosen him to be the hero in helping slaves gain freedom. When the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 permitted popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska, Brown moved to Kansas, as he believed it would be entered into the Union as a free state. Border ruffians from Missouri attacked those against slavery, however, and rumors soon spread that these border ruffians were going to attack Pottawatomie Creek: the town in which Brown lived. Before this could happen, Brown led a group of men on May 24, 1856 to Henry’s Crossing and viciously murdered pro-slavery men in the area. Because of this attack, Kansas broke in its own civil war, known today as “Bleeding Kansas.” John Brown soon struck again, though. On October 16, 1859, Brown led a group of twenty-one men (five of them black men) on a siege of the U.S. Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. Although his motive for this is unclear, many abolitionists supported him financially. The small faction took prisoners and caused destruction until the local militia boxed them inside the firehouse at the arsenal. Once there, U.S. Marines under Robert E. Lee’s command broke into the firehouse and stopped the raid. Of Brown’s group, ten were killed instantly, but seven, including Brown, who was wounded, were captured. Brown was charged for murder, treason, and conspiracy to begin a slave uprising. On December 2, 1859, Brown was hanged in Charles Town, still believing that he had done it all for justice. Opinions on this belief differed, though. Many northerners thought he had died a martyr for a good cause, while most southerners were astonished at his radical acts. When the South discovered that abolitionists had actually helped and supported John Brown and his attacks, they were extremely upset, especially because they thought abolitionists now wanted to wipe out white slave owners completely. The majority of the North just viewed it as an inspiration to push for an end to slavery. The question still remains today: was the radical abolitionist more of a hero or a terrorist?
Uncle Tom's Cabin
In 1852, an author by the name of Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The book explains the injustices of slavery through the infamous character Uncle Tom. It became one of the most popular books of the time, second only to the Bible. The impact of this powerful story angered the majority of the northerners who had been unaware of the realities of slavery. It made them realize how harsh the practice really was, and, although the novel may have been exaggerated a bit, many people were upset with how the slaves were treated. Southerners, however, believed that it was a personal attack, since slavery was a major part of their economy. Tensions only rose with the publication of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
The Underground Railroad
Further continuance of the Abolitionist Movement included the Underground Railroad, which helped nearly 100,000 African Americans escape slavery. It was created in the 1800s and supported by many abolitionists. A path of safe houses was used to help give freedom to as many slaves as was possible. The problem was that this system went against state laws and the Constitution. Slaves who got caught escaping in slave states received extremely harsh punishments, if they made it to the jail! Often times, angry mobs of pro-slavery whites severely injured or killed a runaway slave. Abolitionists caught in the act of assisting a runaway slave was given jail time at the least. Abolitionists were angry with the immorality of slavery, and southerners were upset that the abolitionists were breaking laws in order to meddle with a key part of their economy’s success.
The Missouri Compromise
When Missouri applied for statehood in 1819, the question arose on whether to make it a slave state or not. In order to try to keep a balance of power and tensions at bay, James Tallmadge, Jr. suggested that the importation of slavery would become prohibited in the state and that slaves that were already there should become free over time. The Senate rejected this proposal, though, so Henry Clay said that states should be admitted in pairs, with one being free and the other slave; thus, Missouri was admitted as a slave state, and Maine was added as a free state. Later, Jesse B. Thomas created the amendment that would allow slavery under the southern border of Missouri but not above the southern border of Missouri. Even though this compromise was put in place to keep the peace, it led to major uproars. Later events continued to go against the Missouri Compromise, such as the Dred Scott Decision. The government had a very hard time trying to keep the peace on the issue of slavery when states and other politics kept going against the Missouri Compromise. Plus, many slave owners in the South were upset because they felt that this was the beginning of the end of slavery. It showed how slavery began to dissipate in the country.
Lincoln's Election
The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 is often said to have been the final cause of the American Civil War. He was the first Republican president to ever be elected. This was because the Democratic vote was split between Stephen A. Douglas, John Bell, and John C. Breckinridge. The interesting fact was that Lincoln won with absolutely no southern support. South Carolinians immediately began making plans for secession. After two months, South Carolina voted to break away from the Union on December 20, 1860. Many people usually consider Abraham Lincoln’s election “the final straw” for the South.
Southern Secession
Sectionalism had previously been caused by slavery and the issue of states’ rights. When Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860, many in the South felt that slavery would soon be illegal once and for all. On December 20, 1860, South Carolina officially seceded from the Union. They did not want it to be like the Nullification Crisis, though. This time, South Carolina sent ambassadors to other southern states to get support. Just a few months later, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee seceded, as well, and Jefferson Davis was voted to be the leader of the Confederacy. The new Confederacy attacked Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, and war began. Not only did the Confederacy begin the conflict, but Lincoln wanted to preserve the Union. He knew that the country would not survive if the South and the North were split.
Fort Sumter
The first battle of the Civil War was the Battle of Fort Sumter. Under Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard, Confederate Edmund Ruffin fired the first shot on the fort after the signal gun was fired. The Union General, Major Robert Anderson, did not fire back until seven in the morning, though, in order to conserve ammunition supply. The first Union shot was fired by Captain Abner Doubleday. During the night, firing ceased but began again in the morning. Without permission, Beauregard’s aide, Louis Wigfall rowed to the fort to see if Anderson wanted to surrender when he saw the American flag shot away. Although Anderson was not actually going to surrender, Wigfall negotiated surrender, and, at one thirty in the afternoon on April 13, a white sheet was placed on the flagpole. Official surrender occurred on April 14 at twelve in the afternoon. The next day, President Lincoln asked for 75,000 people to volunteer for the Union army in order to keep the Union together; thus, the Civil War had begun.