The American Civil War began in 1861 and ended in 1865, fought between the Northern and Southern states over the issues of slavery and states' rights. The Northern economy was based on manufacturing and industry while the Southern economy depended on cotton production and slavery. Tensions rose throughout the 1850s over the expansion of slavery into new territories and the rights of slave owners to capture fugitive slaves, leading Southern states to secede from the Union after Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860 and form the Confederate States of America.
This PowerPoint presentation is designed to assist students and teachers who are preparing for the South Carolina End of Course (EOC) examination in US History.
This PowerPoint presentation is designed to assist students and teachers who are preparing for the South Carolina End of Course (EOC) examination in US History.
Lincoln, War, and the Slaughter of the American Working Class.docxsmile790243
Lincoln, War, and the Slaughter of the American Working Class
The American Civil War 1861-1865
The American Civil War is still, without doubt, the most traumatic experience in American History. Far more so than the American Revolution, the World Wars, and 9/11.
New estimates put the number of soldier deaths at 750,000 or above. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/science/civil-war-toll-up-by-20-percent-in-new-estimate.html
This does not include the many civilian deaths through disease, starvation, heartbreak, etc.
About 22 million lived in the North and 9 million in the South at the time of the war. There was about a 3.5 to 2.5 ratio of deaths North to South, but this means that the South lost a greater percentage of its population.
About 36,000 African American soldiers were killed.
In the following slides, we’ll recount the seminal events leading up to the war.
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We can go back to the very foundations of the United States when the Fugitive Slave Clause (Article 4, Section 2, Clause 3) and the 3/5th Clause (Article 1, Section 2. Par. 3) of the Constitution effectively legalized slavery without explicitly mentioning slavery.
Also, Amendment 10 “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” leaves the issue of slavery and other legal, commercial, and social matters up to the states.
Arguments and ill feelings regarding these issues began almost immediately, and tensions almost led to violence in 1820 when the Missouri Compromise staved off revolt and kept the balance between slave state and free state representation.
Texas independence from Mexico followed by its attempt to join the U.S. created tensions before and after the delayed admission in December of 1845, during the Polk Administration.
Polk’s (murderous?) manipulation of international politics led to massive gains in U.S. territory. He gave Mexico little chance to a avoid war that resulted in the loss of the that nations northern half, and he negotiated for the acquisition and consolidation of the Northwest, completing the U.S. march to the Pacific.
This created all kinds of problems for the slavery balance. The Wilmot Proviso, which might have solved the problem, though admittedly in the non-extentionist favor, was rejected. When California asked to join the Union as a free state, it engendered yet another crisis. Half of the state was below the Missouri Compromise line. There was a call in Congress to split California into one free and one slave state.
Then Clay (again) proposed a compromise that delayed secession, but may have ensured it at the same time.
Battle of San Jacinto
April 21, 1836
1845
O’Sullivan
Popularizes Term
Manifest Destiny
Clays Compromise 1850
California Enters Union as a Free State
Territories to Have No Restrictions on Slavery
Enforce Fugitive Slave Law
No Slaves in D.C.
Recall from the last presen ...
2.
Began in 1861, ended in 1865
Fought between North and South
Confederacy and Union
Major effects on America
Main cause was slavery
Southern commander: Robert E. Lee
Northern commander: Ulysses S. Grant
Background Info
3.
Large middle class
Built around manufacturing, specifically cotton from
South
Recognized importance of education
Northern Economy
National flag of 1861
4.
Nothing but Cotton
Profitability of Cotton
Slavery
Cotton Gin
Only 25% owned slaves
Southern Economy
5.
Both sides Tried to control growth of slavery
Missouri as slave state worried northerners
Other new states, slave or non slave
Disagreed on states’ rights
Bleeding Kansas, Preston Brooks, Charles Sumner
Rising Tension 1
6.
Fugitive slave act
Release of Uncle Tom’s Cabin
John Brown ferry Raid
Dred Scott decision
Lincoln winning was final straw
for South
Rising Tension 2
8.
Feb. 9, 1861: Jefferson Davis elected president of
South
April 12, 1861: Attack on Fort Sumter, war began
April 17, 1861: Virginia secedes
May 6, 1861: Arkansas and Tennessee secede
May 21, 1861: North Carolina secedes
Timeline of Secession
(continued)