Civil War Causes

Words: 820
Pages: 4
Open Document
Most Americans are unaware of what the main cause of the Civil War actually was. Some say it was because Southerners attempted to preserve slavery, while others would disagree and highlight other causes such states rights and unfair taxation. This debate may never come to a conclusion but in my opinion slavery, compared to all other causes of the war, was the most crucial catalyst in setting the stage for war. Slavery is defined as a system where human beings are treated as property and work for someone without pay. These people were captured against their will, bought, sold, and held until the time they die unless they ran away. Slavery began in the 17th century and soon spread throughout the American colonies after the English brought …show more content…
Forty percent of America’s population left their homes in the east and began to expand westward in search of economic opportunity; this is widely known as Manifest Destiny. This explosive growth fanned the flames of the growing conflict over slavery and its future. So, would slavery be allowed in the new western states? The Missouri Compromise in 1820 admitted Missouri to the union as a slave state and Maine as a free state to balance the number of slave states and free states. The issue over slavery continued since the Missouri Compromise did not apply to the territories not included in the Louisiana Purchase. The Compromise of 1850 played a huge role in postponing the Civil War for a decade. During these 10 years, the North was able to industrialize while the South depended on the use of slavery and cash crops, which ceased their ability to industrialize. This gave the North a huge advantage in the upcoming war because they were able to supply and man its armed forces better than the South. However, four years after the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas Nebraska Act opened all new lands for settlement and allowed white male settlers to determine whether or not they would allow slavery within each territory through popular sovereignty. The Supreme Court’s ruling in the Dred Scott case ruled that all territories were open to slavery in 1857. The South would soon reach its breaking point with the election of Abraham
Show More

Related Documents: Civil War Causes

Civil War Causes

Four years of bloodshed. Why? The American Civil War has left many dumbfounded as to why it even began in 1861. This war was fought between the North and the South, and began on the 12th of April, 1861 and ended on the 9th of April, 1865. Many believe that the war was fought only because of slavery. Although that may have been a cause, there are many other reasons as to why this War between the States even occurred, such as: economic differences between the North and the South, the Expansion of America…

Words 908 - Pages 4

Civil War Causes

Causes and effects of American Civil War The American Civil War started on Apr 12, 1861 and ended on May 9, 1865. It was one of the most famous battles in the United States. The American Civil War definitely was a turning point in the United States’ history. The causes and effects of this war were complex, the North and South always held disagreements on many subjects, but federal power and slavery were the two major causes, and this war directly had economic impacts on both the northern and southern…

Words 824 - Pages 4

Civil War Causes

Over the past couple weeks we have been learning about the causes of the Civil War. Some events where Slavery, The Tariff Issue, the Texas Annexation, and many more. But I believe the cause of the Civil War are 2 different events. These events are the Missouri Compromise and Bleeding Kansas. The first event I think caused the Civil War is the Missouri Compromise. The Missouri Compromise happened in 1820 and was an effort by the Congress to make half the states free of slaves and have the states…

Words 569 - Pages 3

Civil War Causes

Many people can argue that the main cause of the American Civil War was slavery, and whether it was a necessity to the economy or if it was morally wrong. Events leading up to the Civil War would follow under the categories of political; Lincoln/Douglas, The Nullification Crisis, and the Kansas/Nebraska Act. Economical; northern industrialization vs. southern cotton kingdom, tariffs and taxes, and the Whiskey Rebellion. And social; Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Dred Scott case, and the caning of Sumner. Economically…

Words 704 - Pages 3

Causes Of The Civil War

American Revolution Civil war 1861-1865 (3 years)
The war to end slavery 
Long Term Causes: Slavery was becoming a huge issue. Several compromises had been made but now compromises would not work. North wanted no slavery, south wanted slavery. The south breaks off from the Union
Immediate Cause: Abraham Lincon elected, outh succeeds, Ft. Sumter. 
Major Battles: Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Antietam, Sherman's March to the Sea, Battle at Gettysburg, Picket's Charge. 
Turning point: Battle of…

Words 602 - Pages 3

The Causes Of The Civil War

The cause of the civil war has been a controversial topic causing many heated discussions in the historian community. It is my belief there are three main causes for the civil war: slavery issues, state rights, and economy reasons. The north and south had extremely different views on slavery; while the north fought furiously to abolish slavery the south continued to push for slave rights. In addition, states began to feel the need to claim their own rights such as the right to chose whether slavery…

Words 527 - Pages 3

Civil War Causes

The Causes Of The Civil War Melody Su G Block There is no doubt that The Civil War was one of the most significant events in American history. When we try to figure out the direct causes of the war, most may argue that it was the election of 1860, when Republican candidate Lincoln, who supported the abolition of slavery, was elected. Then the southern states declared their independence while the northern states, on the grounds of maintaining unity of the federal government, started the long and…

Words 1476 - Pages 6

Causes Of The Civil War

The Civil war era was a time of great change and great revolution. While the Union did have many advantages against the Confederacy, the Confederacy could hold its own very well against the Union, causing the war to be drawn out and almost evenly matched. One of the major reasons the North won was because of blacks, both free and enslaved, who helped their cause. They joined the armed forces to fight for their country and for their freedom, however, after the war, their country limited this hard…

Words 922 - Pages 4

causes of civil war Essay

the English civil war in 1642can be blamed on the actions of Charles I? Introduction: The English Civil War started in 1642 when Charles I raised his royal standard in Nottingham. The split between Charles and Parliament was that neither side was willing to back down over the rules that they held and war was expected as a way in which all problems could be solved. The country split into those who supported the king and those who supported Parliament, this was the beginning of a civil war. The reason…

Words 507 - Pages 3

Causes Of The American Civil War

Essay 5-A The Civil War in the US took place from 1861 to 1865. Many Americans lost their lives, but in the end, America was finally united. The United States was finally a single nation instead a company of states with their own establishments. The United States had many problems that led to the Civil War. One of the main causes for war was the social and economic differences between the North and the South. The South was basically a one crop economy because of the invention of the cotton gin…

Words 1135 - Pages 5