Douglas and Others on Causes of the Civil War The American Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865 and was a complex and multifaceted conflict with deep-rooted causes spanning several decades. At its core, the war was fought over the issue of slavery, which had become a large issue in American politics. However, slavery was just one of several issues that contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War. Other factors included economic and social differences between the North and South, states' rights, and the election of Abraham Lincoln as president in 1860. These factors created tensions that eventually exploded into the bloodiest conflict in American history. The causes of the civil war were important and a pivotal point in American history changing …show more content…
This speech is seen in Document 6 when Lincoln states, “ I believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free.” it showed that there needed to be a Civil War to even out the nation. Lincoln's statement that the government cannot endure half slave and half free implies that the nation must ultimately choose one path or the other. This sentiment threatened the power and interests of the southern states, which relied heavily on slave labor to maintain their economic and social systems. By suggesting that slavery was incompatible with the nation's future, Lincoln challenged the legitimacy of the South's way of life and its political power within the Union. This speech, along with other political and social factors, contributed to the growing sectionalism and deepening divide between the North and South that ultimately led to the outbreak of the Civil …show more content…
Douglass points out the stark contrast between the ideals of political freedom and natural justice espoused in the Declaration of Independence and the reality of slavery and oppression experienced by African Americans. This speech challenged the legitimacy of the South's defense of slavery and raised awareness about the need for reform and change. It also contributed to the growing sectionalism and polarization between the North and South, as the issue of slavery continued to be a point of contention between the two regions. The issue of slavery shown also in Document 7 in the depiction of the terrible conditions of slavery and how hard everyone was worked. The sentiments expressed by Douglass and other abolitionists fueled the debate over the future of slavery in America and ultimately contributed to the events that led to the outbreak of the Civil
Slavery, political tension, disagreements between the north and south and the split opinions about Abraham Lincoln were components that contributed to the start of the American Civil War. These factors were the catalyst in the beginning of the Civil War. Slavery was the most influential factor that contributed to the beginning of the Civil War. The North’s support to abolish slavery in all American states was viewed as a violation of constitutional rights by the South, thus creating an extreme hatred between the two sides, and ultimately beginning the Civil War. The south, or “the great cotton empire”, was dependant on slavery to keep the large cotton plantations in business.
The Civil War was a battle of great importance to our history of the United States. On April 12th, 1861 this battle broke out between the Union States, North, and the Confederate States, such as the South. The Civil War took place all throughout the United states, and did not come to an end until the Union won the war on May 9, 1856. So, our question of “What caused the Civil War”, comes with three important answers. The three main causes of the Civil War between the North and the South were Economic, Social, and Political differences.
Despite President Lincoln stating, “I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so” (Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address, 1). He was a strong Republican and it was these views that resulted in his being elected to the highest office in the United States. His opponents saw his election as a threat to their individual State’s rights. In the President’s eyes, the states could and should not be seceding.
This battle led to the succession of several states, including South Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia, dividing the nation into conflicting factions. As the nation continued to divide, it became more clear that the Civil War was caused by disputed beliefs about slavery. Furthermore the Civil War was prompted by the difference in economic priority, political stances and candidates, and the public view of slavery.
In document eight, Frederick Douglass proclaims “I answer, a day that reveals to him, more than any other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is a constant victim.” This statement revealed the extreme unfairness that a slave endured, that the Constitution promised freedom for the future generations, yet slaves were treated like property. In document one, George Fitzhugh explains how slaves were some of the “freest people in the world”. The southerners believed that slavery was a way of life, and there was nothing wrong with it. Being raised that way, slavery was all they knew.
Lincoln Barry Mr. Sumner U.S. History CP 3/21/23 Causes of the American Civil War Throughout the years 1861 to 1865, the American Civil War took place. The War was between the two groups known as the Union and the Confederacy (the North and the South respectively). The War between the two groups inevitably occurred due to the issue of slavery. During the Civil War, approximately 620,000 people were killed. Although many were killed this war was a big turning point for the U.S. and played a major role in making us the country we are today.
Washington speech made the people feel patriotic in participating in their government by saying “unity of government” is the “main pillar in the edifice of our real independence”. He caused the audience to have a sense of responsibility in their civic duties, economic prosperity, and defense for their country for their own “tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity” and “liberty”. Although, Lincoln appealed to the peoples’ conscience on the subject of slavery by quoting “a house divided against itself cannot stand”, making them feel guilty for the division of the states not coming together to decide on keeping slavery or ending it. Also, he appeals to the conscience of the people by questioning “Have we no tendency to the latter condition?” referring to slaves going to states that have abolished slavery still being a claimed as a slave.
Douglass listed attributes of the Constitution are all great and do not include slavery; in opposition, many say the black population was not included in this declaration. He continued to say it is the slaveholders who misinterpret the declaration of what the Constitution says, not the Constitution itself . In other words there was nothing wrong with the Constitution, but was the interpretation of it that was wrong. Douglass concludes his speech by asking the head of the Northern states to step in and take over the South. Douglass says, “If the slaveholders have rule the American Government for the last fifty years, let the
Many important events preluded the Civil War, but the Mexican-American War essentially caused the war to happen. Although there are many other theories on what events caused the Civil War, such as the Scott vs. Sandford court case and Abraham Lincoln’s election as president, the Mexican-American War was the most imperative for the Civil War to occur. Without the occurrence of the Mexican-American War, a crucial chain of events that would lead to the Civil War, such as the Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska Act, would not have happened or could have happened differently, and the Civil War could have been prevented. The Causes of the Civil War
The American Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865, was an important turning point in American history. It was a conflict between the Union, or northern states, and the Confederacy, or southern states. The problem of slavery and its extension into other territories was the fundamental cause of the Civil War. The American Civil War was the most crucial event because it preserved the United States as a single nation and ended slavery, which had split the country since its founding. The Union's major goal was to keep the United States together, but the Confederacy wanted to create a split in which slavery would be permitted.
One of the most fundamental causes of the Civil War was the issue of slavery. Slavery had been a contentious issue in the United States since its founding,
The US Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865, resulting in the death of approximately 120,000 Americans. The tensions between the North and South were formed early in the nation’s history. We’ve learned to study and debate the tensions in our society, keeping in mind the lives lost in the Civil War, to be certain we never repeat that mistake. Following are the causes leading up to the War Between the States.
This was the main catalyst of the Civil War because it demonstrated the political superiority of the North, the political inferiority of the south, and showed that abuse of power by the Northern
There were three main causes of the civil war including slavery, sectionalism and secession. Slavery was a huge part of it and it led to the Missouri Compromise where any states below the border would be slave states and the anything north of that was free states. (Mrs. Wise) "The south feared the declaration of freedom for the slaves by government leaders in the North." Next, sectionalism. Sectionalism-
This including the electing of Abraham Lincoln made the southern states feel like they were going to lose control of the political choices in the southern territories, which would have lead to them not having control over their area in general (American Civil War History). These events are all effects where the underlying problem was the conflict of slavery that was between the north and south states. Showing how much of a factor it was during the civil war era. Making it one of the largest causes of why the civil war broke