Key Term:

sectionalism: placing the interests of a region over the interests of the nation

Other Notables:

In the first half of the 19th Century (that would be the 1800's for those of you who didn't pay attention when you took other history classes), the people of the United States continued their focus on economics. Not that there's anything wrong with that, our nation was founded primarily on economic principles - so this makes sense. The problem was that the North, South and West seemed to adopt the notion that we had separate systems that were not closely related. This harsh economic stand (which did include the issue of slavery) would drive us toward the Civil War.

Video Link:

An introduction to the Civil War Causes

Key Terms:

Tariffs - these were taxes on imports, which the South detested.

economic imperialism - when one nation, or region, seeks to dominate another for its own economic gain

nullify - to cancel out

Other Links:

Here is a site that identifies and explains "The Top 5 Causes of the Civil War"

Other Notables:

So what was the big deal about these tariffs? These were taxes on imported goods to the United States, which posed TWO significant problems for the South:
1. It made manufactured goods more expensive. Southern states relied on foreign made goods - which they traded for - because the same products manufactured in the Northern U.S. were not as "good" and tended to cost more. So this put the obvious financial strain on the South.
2. These tariffs upset other nations, like Britain and France. If we pass a tariff against their stuff, then their markets shrink. Their reaction would then be to retaliate against the U.S. by passing tariffs on our stuff (like the cash crops from the South), which would limit Southern markets!
DOUBLE WHAMMY!!!

The South viewed the extension of slavery as a way to protect itself against a potentially hostile North. If greater areas had similar economic interests (and again, slavery was far more economics than social at the time), then the South would have more power and protection within Congress.

And finally the State's Rights thing... Southern states had the belief that they freely joined the United States under the promise of the protections of the Constitution. That the national government would make laws that helped the entire nation rather than harm a particular state or region. Thus, many leaders in the South believed it was within their right to refuse to abide by any law that actually caused harm - claiming it was against the common good! And, if states joined freely, they should be permitted to leave the Union (secede) if they wished.

Terms:

necessary evil - that it was known to be morally wrong, but was needed for the greater good (in this case, the economy)

hypocrisy - being hypocritical;

Other Links:

Here's an essay from 1852 - a primary source - where (get this) slaves are actually "happy" and content!?! Check out his justification - and try not to laugh, 'cause dude was trying to be serious.

Here is a site that examines the argument for slavery in a more objective way.

More Notes:

They called it "The Peculiar Institution" - Most in the North saw the institution as immoral and backwards. The morality speaks for itself, but the lack of modernity was the next step. Many northern economists felt that by holding on to such a system, the nation would be held back. Slavery, to them, offered no practical way for significant growth and was doomed to fail.

Southerners viewed "The Peculiar Institution" as a necessary evil. Many believed slaves were better off than the wage workers in the North, who typically lived in worse daily conditions than the slaves. Also, an end to slavery would be an immediate end to the South's economy, from which it could not recover. Further, if slaves were freed they would enter society and create considerable economic and civil unrest! Many even believed the existence of slavery to be "natural" - as it can be traced to the ancient civilizations and sanctioned in the Bible.

It is going to take a war to figure this all out!

Video Clip:

Dred Scott Decision

More Notes:
Dred Scott was born into slavery. His owner moved into a free territory and took Dred with him. The owner died, and Dred Scott lived several years as a free man. Under the Fugitive Slave Act, he was captured and returned to slavery. Scott decided to sue for his freedom, believing that he had become a free man. The Supreme Court, dominated by southern judges, ruled against him and basically stated that property (including slaves) could be taken anywhere. This effectively overturns the concept of having "free" and "slave" territories. Further, the court ruled that no black man, free or slave, was a citizen and had no rights in the courts! Northerners were very upset by this ruling!!!

Other Links:
This link goes to a site that highlights Dred Scott. Check it out to learn more about the decision that outraged the North.
The Underground Railroad helped many slaves to freedom - check out this site to learn more!

Video Clip:

Here is a clip that looks at the violent side of abolitionists!!

Other Links:
"I Will Be Heard" - this site looks at the history of abolitionism.

Click here to go to the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center.

More Notes:

Well, all of these guys have something in common - they were incapable of dealing with the crisis situation that was boiling. Of course, we need to place in perspective that the "role" of the President was not as strong then as it is today - and what we perceive as not being responsible was really more that they did not feel it was within their power to do that much. But still...one guy was even named MILLARD!!!

Links: You can click on each of these links for a quick presidential Bio -

Zachary Taylor

Millard Fillmore

Franklin Pierce

James Buchanan

The Missouri Compromise

This compromise was made primarily to maintain the balance of power in the Senate - as Missouri was permitted as a slave state, and Maine as a free state.

The line drawn further west was soon to be outdated, as the U.S. gained more territory from Mexico, and California would have been bisected by this compromise line.

Finally, the Dred Scott decision ruled that slaves were property, and property rights are protected regardless of where a person lives...Thus, no such thing as a "free territory"!

The Compromise of 1850

This was designed to fix the issue of the line that would cross California, but it also included significant points that brought about more conflict!

The portion on the fugitive slave act truly outraged the Northerners, and allowing the western territories to decide the issue of slavery on their own (popular sovereignty) could lead to more bitter disputes!

And there was still that "free territory" in the western portion of the Louisiana Purchase that would bring future conflict!

The Kansas-Nebraska Act

The guy who proposed this - Stephen Douglas - even opposed the idea of slavery. But he (and his state of Illinois) had so much to gain by organizing the territory to the west. A railroad that connected California to the East would go directly through his home state - bringing some serious economic boost!

Problem was, people were willing to cheat, lie, engage in vote fraud and even fight ("Bleeding Kansas") over this issue!

Douglas believed slavery would not extend into that territory based on economic reasons...But the conflict led to BLOOD!

Terms:

secede - when states would leave the union and form their own country.

Movie Clips:

What happened when Lincoln was elected?

More Notables:

Abraham Lincoln was elected in November of 1860, yet he would not take office until March of 1861. During his campaign, Lincoln expressed his sentiment that he would not abolish slavery where it already existed. Rather, he was only interested in preventing its spread. Lincoln believed slavery was morally wrong, but he knew he lacked the power to end it...

Yet, the states in the DEEP SOUTH disagreed - and as they were so reliant on slave labor for their cotton plantations, these states believed they could not survive the Presidency of Lincoln. Seven states joined together and declared independence from the United States - issuing a document remarkably similar to the Declaration of Independence from 1776!

It was not until Lincoln called for troops and the first shots fired that the UPPER SOUTH joined the Confederacy. Repeatedly, Lincoln defended his military action. He was not willing to go to war to end slavery, he was interested in PRESERVING THE UNION!

More Links:

Here is the text of South Carolina's "Declaration of Independence".

Use this link to trace the process of Southern Secession.