The American Civil WarThe American Civil War

The NorthThe North

• Industrialized Industrialized • Large cities were establishedLarge cities were established• By 1860, one quarter of all Northerners lived in By 1860, one quarter of all Northerners lived in

urban areas urban areas • Between 1800 and 1860, the percentage of Between 1800 and 1860, the percentage of

laborers working in agricultural pursuits dropped laborers working in agricultural pursuits dropped drastically from 70% to only 40% drastically from 70% to only 40%

• Slavery had died out, replaced in the cities and Slavery had died out, replaced in the cities and factories by immigrant labor from Europe. seven factories by immigrant labor from Europe. seven out of every eight immigrants were settling in the out of every eight immigrants were settling in the North rather than the South North rather than the South

• Transportation was easier in the North, which Transportation was easier in the North, which boasted more than two-thirds of the railroad boasted more than two-thirds of the railroad tracks in the country and the economy was on an tracks in the country and the economy was on an upswing upswing

The SouthThe South

• The fertile soil and warm climate of the South made it ideal The fertile soil and warm climate of the South made it ideal for large-scale farms and crops like tobacco and cotton – so for large-scale farms and crops like tobacco and cotton – so why industrialize?why industrialize?

• Eighty percent of the labor force worked on the farm Eighty percent of the labor force worked on the farm • By 1860 slavery was inextricably tied to the region's By 1860 slavery was inextricably tied to the region's

economy and culture economy and culture • there were almost as many blacks in the South as there were there were almost as many blacks in the South as there were

whites (4 million blacks and 5.5 million whites). whites (4 million blacks and 5.5 million whites). • There were no large cities aside from New Orleans - the ones There were no large cities aside from New Orleans - the ones

that did exist were located on rivers and coasts as shipping that did exist were located on rivers and coasts as shipping ports to send agricultural produce to European or Northern ports to send agricultural produce to European or Northern destinations destinations

• Only 1/10Only 1/10thth of Southerners lived in urban areas of Southerners lived in urban areas • transportation between cities was difficult, except by water - transportation between cities was difficult, except by water -

only 35% of the nation's train tracks were located in the only 35% of the nation's train tracks were located in the South South

The Birth of Slavery in The Birth of Slavery in AmericaAmerica• When the North American continent was first When the North American continent was first

colonized by Europeans the land was vast, the colonized by Europeans the land was vast, the work was harsh, and there was a severe shortage work was harsh, and there was a severe shortage of labor. of labor.

• White bondservants, paying their passage across White bondservants, paying their passage across the ocean from Europe through indentured labor the ocean from Europe through indentured labor worked plantations but more labour was neededworked plantations but more labour was needed

• Early in the seventeenth century, a Dutch ship Early in the seventeenth century, a Dutch ship loaded with African slaves introduced slavery to loaded with African slaves introduced slavery to the United Statesthe United States

• Slaves were most economical on large farms Slaves were most economical on large farms where labor-intensive cash crops, such as where labor-intensive cash crops, such as tobacco, could be grown. tobacco, could be grown.

Slavery ContinuedSlavery Continued• By the end of the American Revolution, By the end of the American Revolution,

slavery had proven unprofitable in the slavery had proven unprofitable in the North and was dying out. North and was dying out.

• In the South the institution was becoming In the South the institution was becoming less useful to farmers as tobacco prices less useful to farmers as tobacco prices fluctuated and began to drop. fluctuated and began to drop.

• In 1793 Northerner Eli Whitney invented In 1793 Northerner Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin; this device made it possible the cotton gin; this device made it possible for textile mills to use the type of cotton for textile mills to use the type of cotton most easily grown in the South.most easily grown in the South.

• Cotton replaced tobacco as the South’s Cotton replaced tobacco as the South’s main cash crop and slavery became main cash crop and slavery became profitable again profitable again

Opposition to SlaveryOpposition to Slavery• As the North moved away from As the North moved away from

Slavery more and more people Slavery more and more people in the North opposed the idea in the North opposed the idea of slaves – abolitionistsof slaves – abolitionists

• Nat Turner leads a rebellion of Nat Turner leads a rebellion of slaves against white slaves against white landowners in Virginia on landowners in Virginia on August 21August 21stst, 1831, 1831

• Harriet Tubman establishes the Harriet Tubman establishes the Underground Railroad to help Underground Railroad to help slaves escape the Southslaves escape the South

• Uncle Tom’s Cabin is written in Uncle Tom’s Cabin is written in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe refuting the Southern myth that refuting the Southern myth that blacks were happy as slaves blacks were happy as slaves

• Dred Scott sued for his freedom Dred Scott sued for his freedom but the Supreme Court that but the Supreme Court that slaves were subhuman property slaves were subhuman property with no rights of citizenship; with no rights of citizenship; they had no legal means of they had no legal means of protesting the way they were protesting the way they were treated treated

The Raid on Harper’s FerryThe Raid on Harper’s Ferry• On October 16, 1859, the radical On October 16, 1859, the radical

abolitionist John Brown led a abolitionist John Brown led a small group of followers in a raid small group of followers in a raid on the armoury at Harper’s Ferry. on the armoury at Harper’s Ferry.

• Brown hoped to use the captured Brown hoped to use the captured weapons to initiate a slave weapons to initiate a slave uprising throughout the South. uprising throughout the South.

• He and his men were pinned He and his men were pinned down by local citizens and militia, down by local citizens and militia, and forced to take refuge.and forced to take refuge.

• On October 18, U.S. Marines On October 18, U.S. Marines were sent via train to Harpers were sent via train to Harpers Ferry under the command of Ferry under the command of Colonel Robert E. LeeColonel Robert E. Lee

• Brown was captured and was Brown was captured and was tried for treason by the State of tried for treason by the State of VirginiaVirginia

• He was convicted and hanged in He was convicted and hanged in nearby Charles Town. nearby Charles Town.

• The failed raid was a major The failed raid was a major catalyst in accelerating the slide catalyst in accelerating the slide to Civil War. to Civil War.

The Compromise of 1850The Compromise of 1850

• After the Mexican-American War, the issue After the Mexican-American War, the issue of slavery in the new territories led to the of slavery in the new territories led to the Compromise of 1850. Compromise of 1850.

• While the Compromise of 1850 averted an While the Compromise of 1850 averted an immediate political crisis, it did not immediate political crisis, it did not permanently resolve the issue of the permanently resolve the issue of the power of slaveholders in national politics. power of slaveholders in national politics.

• Many Northerners, especially leaders of Many Northerners, especially leaders of the new Republican Party, considered the new Republican Party, considered slavery a great national evil. slavery a great national evil.

The Compromise of 1850The Compromise of 1850

Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854

• organized 2 new federal territories – Kansas and Nebraska

• What was controversial was the provision that stipulated that each territory would separately decide whether to allow slavery within its borders.

• This provision repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which had prohibited slavery in any new states to be created north of latitude 36°30' since Kansas and Nebraska would be north of that line and could now choose to allow slavery.

• prohibiting slavery in states/territories north of 36º 30’ latitude

• people decide (popular sovereignty)

The Election of 1860The Election of 1860

• As the election of 1860 approached, the As the election of 1860 approached, the Democrats split over the issue of slavery in the Democrats split over the issue of slavery in the territoriesterritories

• The party split on the issue and the result say The party split on the issue and the result say three candidates run for the Presidencythree candidates run for the Presidency

• This division opened the door for the This division opened the door for the Republican Party and Abraham Lincoln Republican Party and Abraham Lincoln

• The Republicans believed that slavery should The Republicans believed that slavery should be left undisturbed where it was already in be left undisturbed where it was already in place but should not be allowed in the new place but should not be allowed in the new territoriesterritories

Secession from the UnionSecession from the Union

• The immediate result of the election was The immediate result of the election was the secession of seven southern states to the secession of seven southern states to form their own country (the Confederate form their own country (the Confederate States of America)States of America)

• These States included: South Carolina, These States included: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and TexasLouisiana and Texas

• They based their right to secede on the They based their right to secede on the idea that the free states had denied the idea that the free states had denied the Southern States equal rights in the unionSouthern States equal rights in the union

• They drafted their own constitution and They drafted their own constitution and named their new alliance the Confederate named their new alliance the Confederate States of AmericaStates of America

Fort Sumter and the Start of the Fort Sumter and the Start of the WarWar

• As the Southern States Seceded they seized United As the Southern States Seceded they seized United States arsenal, mints and fortresses within their States arsenal, mints and fortresses within their bordersborders

• Fort Sumter was still under federal controlFort Sumter was still under federal control• In April of 1861, the fort was running short on supplies In April of 1861, the fort was running short on supplies

so Lincoln sent orders out to restock itso Lincoln sent orders out to restock it• Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy sent the Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy sent the

order to take the fort before it could be resupplied order to take the fort before it could be resupplied • While there was no life lost in the attack, news of the While there was no life lost in the attack, news of the

incident stirred nationalism in the North and Lincoln incident stirred nationalism in the North and Lincoln had no trouble filling his military’s ranks with able had no trouble filling his military’s ranks with able bodied men bodied men

More States SecedeMore States Secede

• Faced with the Faced with the prospect of fighting prospect of fighting their neighbours their neighbours four more states four more states seceded from the seceded from the unionunion

• These states These states included: Virginia, included: Virginia, Arkansas, North Arkansas, North Carolina and Carolina and TennesseeTennessee

Map of SecessionMap of Secession

Preparing for WarPreparing for War

• The North had a The North had a material advantage material advantage in many aspects in many aspects regarding a regarding a potential warpotential war

The NorthThe North

• Larger PopulationLarger Population

• Larger railroad Larger railroad connectionsconnections

• More farm industryMore farm industry

• Industrialization ($) – Industrialization ($) – more than 80% of more than 80% of manufacturing plantsmanufacturing plants

• The Leadership of The Leadership of Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln

• Forts in the SouthForts in the South

• Have to attack the Have to attack the South in the SouthSouth in the South

• Military leaders are Military leaders are less experiencedless experienced

• Cannot expect help Cannot expect help from Europefrom Europe

Advantages Disadvantages

The SouthThe South

• Defending instead of Defending instead of attacking – just had attacking – just had to hold out against to hold out against attacksattacks

• Better military Better military leaders – Robert E. leaders – Robert E. LeeLee

• Ports that can be Ports that can be used for support used for support from Europefrom Europe

• Smaller PopulationSmaller Population

• Fewer railroad Fewer railroad connectionsconnections

• Industrialization ($) Industrialization ($) – more than 80% of – more than 80% of manufacturing manufacturing plantsplants

Advantages Disadvantages