Lesson II: Causes of the Civil War Chart

Road to the Civil War: A Sectional Perspective

Event	Year	Significance	Sectional Perspective-
Annexation of Texas	1845	Addition of Texas to the U.S. adds a major slave state to the Union	The annexation of Texas is essentially good for the nation because we have gained a rather large tract of land. Yet, there is a major concern about the state being a slave state. Not only is it morally wrong, but it will also upset the balance of free and slave states in the Senate.
Wilmot Proviso	1846	Though never passed by Congress, this proposal to ban slavery from territories taken from Mexico Keeps the slavery issue in Congressional view.	The Wilmot Proviso is a noble step for us in terms of trying to keep out slavery from the South. The new territories should be free because any more additional slave power in the South would upset the political balance.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo	1848	While ending the Mexican-American War, this also adds a huge section of the Southwest to the U.S. "Should these states be allowed to have slaves?" is a key question.	No, because there would be too many slave states, thus altering the balance in the Senate. It should be the right of the people of the states to vote on whether or not to become a free or slave state. Therefore, since California supports desires to become a free state, they should be allowed to do so.
Compromise of 1850	1850	While not satisfying either abolitionists or slavery advocates, this brings California in as a free state and strengthens the Fugitive Slave Law. It also allows Utah and New Mexico territory residents to decide on slavery.	The Compromise of 1850 gave a significant boost to our cause of abolishing slavery. Winning over California as a free state provides great support. The petty strengthening of the Fugitive Slave Law is most likely not going to be enforced by the states in the North. An example is Massachusetts, who passed a law that nullified the Fugitive Slave Law. Overall, the Compromise was a major success on behalf of the North.
Uncle Tom's Cabin	1852	Publication of Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel takes the message of abolitionism to a broad audience. Over 300,000 copies are sold in the first year. It is also produced as a play throughout the world. Good, kindly blacks are portrayed as victims of a cruel system.	This book has a strong message that really provokes the nation as a whole to realize that slavery is unethical and unjust. This book accurately portrays the cruelty of slavery.
Kansas-Nebraska Act	1854	Repealing the Missouri Compromise, the K-N Act gives residents the right to decide on the issue of slavery. Proposed by Stephen Douglas, this pushes many former Whigs into the new Republican Party, which opposes the extension of slavery beyond its current locations.	This is outrageous. The man behind the bill, Senator Stephen Douglas, is only proposing the Kansas-Nebraska Act just so he can have a railroad built through the territory he owns, which is in Illinois. Since he needs supporters, he decided to appeal to the South by proposing the possibility of a new slave state. If this slavery issue is continuously reopened and not put to rest, then our nation will be torn apart. In response, we northerners have come together to form the Republican Party.
Bleeding Kansas	1855	Violent clashes between pro- and anti-slavery advocates. 200 deaths result as settlers pour in to Kansas on both sides.	Unfortunately, Missouri sent over their own party of voters to shift the tide in the votes for whether or not Kansas would be free or slave. It was for this reason that Kansas became a slave state, with a pro-slavery legislature. Yet, the good-hearted Free-Soil Party created their legislature and constitution for the state to continue the push to make Kansas a free state. Yet, the barbaric Southerners responded by ransacking Lawrence, Kansas, the headquarters of the Free-Soil government and attacking anti-slavery advocate Charles Sumner. This violence would not go unanswered. We responded by killing five pro-slavery men, just to make things even. Yet, the South still did not know when enough was enough. They were on a rampage of revenge as they swooped through eastern Kansas, killing 200 people.
Dred Scott case	1857	Critical ruling by the Supreme Court that slaves are not citizens and that Congress has no authority to ban slavery from the territories. Huge victory for pro-slavery forces.	This ruling is merely an opinion by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court made an extremely biased decision, as more than half the judges on board are pro-slavery. This act of immorality by the highest law of the land has now stiffened the sectional conflict.
Lecompton Constitution	1857	Kansas pro-slavery constitution that is adopted after anti-slavery forces boycotted the state's constitutional convention but defeated it by 10,000 votes, clearly indicating an anti-slavery majority. Pres. Buchanan supports the Lecompton document, greatly distressing Republicans. Kansas voters reject it again and it isn't until 1861 that Kansas joins the Union as a free state.	These southerner’s think they can get away with anything. The Lecompton Constitution did not let people vote on the constitution as a whole, but only for whether or not the constitution allowed slavery. Yet, they have to reopen the slavery issue. Even more infuriating, if the end result is a no-slavery constitution, then slave owners have their rights protected. Ironically, Senator Douglas does not support the Constitution, even though he proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act about three years ago. Luckily, the House and Free-Soilers defeated it. But unfortunately the final bond that held together the Union, the Democratic Party, was fractured along sectional lines due to this issue.
Lincoln-Douglas debates	1858	In a race for an Illinois Senate seat, Douglas defends popular sovereignty and accuses the Republicans of favoring war and social equality of the races.  Lincoln opposes the extension of slavery into the territories, but does not advocate its abolition in the South. The debate makes Lincoln a national figure.	Lincoln makes excellent points throughout his debate: “A house divided cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free.” Slavery should be kept out of new territories, like Mr. Lincoln stated. Despite his loss, these debates have made him an excellent candidate for the Presidency.
John Brown's Raid	1859	While failing in his attempt to begin a slave uprising, John Brown helps define the line between abolitionists and those opposed to slavery, but unwilling to take a stand against it. Brown's action convinces some Southerners that nothing but withdrawal from the nation would preserve slavery in the South.	Brown was a true advocate for slavery! His actions for the freedom of slaves will be remembered. Yet, I understand the sentiments of some northerners that his actions were too much. The killing of innocent, fellow Americans should not have happened in this raid. Unfortunately, the raid may have stimulated the South’s ambition for secession.
Election of 1860	1860	While winning less than 40% of the popular vote, Lincoln achieves a victory in the electoral college over a divided Democratic Party.	Despite being a heavily sectional election, Lincoln managed to pull out on top! Although Lincoln is no abolitionist, his Republican party principles state that slavery will not be extended any further.
Jefferson Davis sworn in as Confederate president	February 1861	Seven seceding states establish the Confederate States of America, claiming they are acting in the spirit of 1776.	How dare the south secede! Contrary to southern belief, by seceding from the Union, they are actually dishonoring our Founding Fathers and the basic principles of which this country was founded upon. Our Founding Fathers sacrificed everything to make sure this country would stay intact and live in peace and prosperity. Seceding from the Union violates all of this. Sooner or later, the South will realize that we are interdependent on each other.
Firing on Ft. Sumter	April 1861	Lincoln sends supplies to the fort in Charleston harbor, knowing the South would attack. Several southern states secede and the conflict has become war.	Well the worst has happened. The south has invigorated war by attacking Ft. Sumter. No longer can we hide the fact that our once united nation is about to go to war.