What Was The Main Cause Of The Civil War
Period 3
March 20, 2013
CBA final draft
The Civil War Until this day people sill debate about what the main cause of the civil war was. The civil war was a war fought between the Northern and Southern states of the U.S. It was a battle about disagreements between the north and south states that took place all over the U.S. Many of the battles took place from the Mississippi river to the eastern shore. Probably the most gruesome battle of this war was the battle of Gettysburg. Out of the 2.4 million soldiers fighting in this war, about 620,000 were killed and many more injured. The conflict between the North and South during 1861 to 1865, was caused by Lincoln’s election and differences, and could have been avoided by having an agreement made on the issue of slavery. …show more content…
A big cause of the civil war was the differences between the North and South states.
“As America began to expand, first with the lands gained from the Louisiana Purchase and later with the Mexican War, the question of whether new states admitted to the union would be slave or free” (Martin Kelly). The north was anti-slavery and wanted it to be abolished. The south on the other hand was pro-slavery and wanted slavery to expand west. “On the other hand, the northern economy was based more on industry than agriculture. “In fact, the northern industries were purchasing the raw cotton and turning it into finished goods” (Martin Kelly). The north was growing rapidly with more industries and less farms. The south was more farming and agriculture which was why they relied on slaves to do the work. As you can see there were some big differences between the north and south at this
time. Another main cause of the civil war was the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. “By 1860, the divisions in the country had reached a breaking point” (”The Election of 1860 and Secession”). This was because Lincoln was known to be anti-slavery. This made the south fear that slavery would be abolished. The election of the anti-slavery Republican Abraham Lincoln as president in 1860 caused seven southern states to secede from the Union to form the Confederate States of America; four more joined them after the first shots of the Civil War were fired (“American Civil War”). In reaction to Lincoln’s election, the southern slave states decided to secede. Seceding then created a debate about whether it was legal or not. The election of Abraham Lincoln was a big cause of the civil war. Many believe that the civil war could have been stopped. “In the midst of the secession crisis of the winter of 1860-61, many compromise proposals emerged in Congress and the press” (David Blight).As the secession of the south was taking place, congress was already trying to think of ways to compromise. Some of the things they proposed were replacing presidency with councils to represent the states along with a fugitive slave act. “The "Crittenden Compromise" plan in Washington, named for Kentuckian, John J. Crittenden, offered various ideas for Constitutional amendments that would prevent the federal government from ever abolishing slavery in any government jurisdiction, prevent any interference in the domestic slave trade, or extend the Missouri Compromise Line to the Pacific Ocean” (David Blight). This compromise suggested constitutional amendments along with congressional changes. It was meant to stop the secession crisis. Even though many compromises were suggested, none of them could stop the civil war from happening. There were many causes of the American Civil War but I believe the two main causes were the differences between the North verses the South and The election of Abraham Lincoln. There were many differences between the North and South states like social and economic differences. Another big cause was the election of Abraham Lincoln. While the North liked Lincoln and his ideas, the south opposed him for being anti-slavery. Even though many people believe compromises could have stopped the civil war, all the compromises proposed at that time failed. The Civil War caused the most deaths of any war in American History and was caused by many things. This is a war people will never forget.
Works cited
American Civil War. N.p.: A&E Television Networks, LLC, 1996. N. pag. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.
Blight, David. David Blight: could the civil war have been prevented? N.p.: The Washington Post, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.
Kelly, Martin. Top five causes of the Civil War. N.p.: About.com, n.d. N. pag. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.
The Election of 1860 and Secession. Chicago: civilwarinart.org, 2012. N. pag. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.
March 20, 2013
CBA final draft
The Civil War Until this day people sill debate about what the main cause of the civil war was. The civil war was a war fought between the Northern and Southern states of the U.S. It was a battle about disagreements between the north and south states that took place all over the U.S. Many of the battles took place from the Mississippi river to the eastern shore. Probably the most gruesome battle of this war was the battle of Gettysburg. Out of the 2.4 million soldiers fighting in this war, about 620,000 were killed and many more injured. The conflict between the North and South during 1861 to 1865, was caused by Lincoln’s election and differences, and could have been avoided by having an agreement made on the issue of slavery. …show more content…
A big cause of the civil war was the differences between the North and South states.
“As America began to expand, first with the lands gained from the Louisiana Purchase and later with the Mexican War, the question of whether new states admitted to the union would be slave or free” (Martin Kelly). The north was anti-slavery and wanted it to be abolished. The south on the other hand was pro-slavery and wanted slavery to expand west. “On the other hand, the northern economy was based more on industry than agriculture. “In fact, the northern industries were purchasing the raw cotton and turning it into finished goods” (Martin Kelly). The north was growing rapidly with more industries and less farms. The south was more farming and agriculture which was why they relied on slaves to do the work. As you can see there were some big differences between the north and south at this
time. Another main cause of the civil war was the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. “By 1860, the divisions in the country had reached a breaking point” (”The Election of 1860 and Secession”). This was because Lincoln was known to be anti-slavery. This made the south fear that slavery would be abolished. The election of the anti-slavery Republican Abraham Lincoln as president in 1860 caused seven southern states to secede from the Union to form the Confederate States of America; four more joined them after the first shots of the Civil War were fired (“American Civil War”). In reaction to Lincoln’s election, the southern slave states decided to secede. Seceding then created a debate about whether it was legal or not. The election of Abraham Lincoln was a big cause of the civil war. Many believe that the civil war could have been stopped. “In the midst of the secession crisis of the winter of 1860-61, many compromise proposals emerged in Congress and the press” (David Blight).As the secession of the south was taking place, congress was already trying to think of ways to compromise. Some of the things they proposed were replacing presidency with councils to represent the states along with a fugitive slave act. “The "Crittenden Compromise" plan in Washington, named for Kentuckian, John J. Crittenden, offered various ideas for Constitutional amendments that would prevent the federal government from ever abolishing slavery in any government jurisdiction, prevent any interference in the domestic slave trade, or extend the Missouri Compromise Line to the Pacific Ocean” (David Blight). This compromise suggested constitutional amendments along with congressional changes. It was meant to stop the secession crisis. Even though many compromises were suggested, none of them could stop the civil war from happening. There were many causes of the American Civil War but I believe the two main causes were the differences between the North verses the South and The election of Abraham Lincoln. There were many differences between the North and South states like social and economic differences. Another big cause was the election of Abraham Lincoln. While the North liked Lincoln and his ideas, the south opposed him for being anti-slavery. Even though many people believe compromises could have stopped the civil war, all the compromises proposed at that time failed. The Civil War caused the most deaths of any war in American History and was caused by many things. This is a war people will never forget.
Works cited
American Civil War. N.p.: A&E Television Networks, LLC, 1996. N. pag. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.
Blight, David. David Blight: could the civil war have been prevented? N.p.: The Washington Post, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.
Kelly, Martin. Top five causes of the Civil War. N.p.: About.com, n.d. N. pag. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.
The Election of 1860 and Secession. Chicago: civilwarinart.org, 2012. N. pag. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.