Short Term Causes of the Civil War

Setting the Stage

• In 1819 there are 11 Free States in the North and 11 Slave States in the South

• Representation in Congress is balanced• BUT…– New states wanted to be added– should they be free or slave? – Which side will get more power in government?

Missouri Compromise

• Developed by Henry Clay• Tried to keep balance between number of free

and slave states in govt. (wanted same number of representatives)

• Missouri was added as slave state• Maine was added as a free state• Imaginary line drawn at 36’30 (north of line

was free territory, south of line was slave)

Missouri Compromise

Compromise of 1850

• California wanted to enter as free state- this would upset the balance in govt.

• Compromise allowed California to enter as a free state

• Utah and New Mexico use popular sovereignty (vote) on slavery

• Slave trade in Washington D.C. would be ended- no new slaves imported

• Strict Fugitive Slave law to capture runaway slaves

Compromise of 1850

Fugitive Slave Act

• Made it a crime to help runaway slaves and allowed police to arrest suspected fugitive slaves

• Slaves not allowed to testify at their own trial• Judges paid more to find slaves guilty ($5

innocent, $10 guilty)

Fugitive Slave Act

Kansas-Nebraska

• Divided land into states Kansas and Nebraska• Each state would vote on whether or not to

allow slavery• Elections were corrupt and violent • “Bleeding Kansas”– Bloodshed over slavery issues- predicts the battles

of the civil war

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Bleeding Kansas

Dred Scott

• Slave that moved with his owner to the free state Wisconsin

• When his owner died, Dred Scott sued for his freedom

• Supreme Court ruled that slaves were not citizens, had no legal rights

• Unconstitutional to prevent slavery- govt. could not control a person’s property

Dred Scott

Election of 1860

• Lincoln wins presidential election- would not end slavery, but would not allow it to expand to new states

• South worried about way of life and began secession- formally leaving the country

• South Carolina first to leave, followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Texas, Georgia, and Louisiana

Election of 1860

Abraham Lincoln

Secession