causes of war
A number of causes can be attributed to the outbreak of the American Civil War. We will focus on five. Each one of the five will contain sub-causes that help explain the social reform, economic progress, and governmental policies that contributed to the stark divide between North and South.
1. The Argument for States Rights:
The argument for and against States Rights goes back much further in history than just the Civil War. The idea really relates to the concept of federalism: how the Central government will share its powers with the State governments. This argument was presented with the passing (and subsequent failure) of the Articles of Confederation as compared to the passing of the Constitution. The Articles proved to be too weak due to a lack of effective power at all in the Central government. What we see in the outbreak of the Civil War are states, like South Carolina, standing up for their States Rights (mostly through the concept of nullification) and therefore seceding. South Carolina became the example for many other southern states to follow.
2. Slavery:
Slavery was not the only reason the Civil War was fought, but we need not dismiss it. Since the Missouri Compromise was established, Congress was attempting to find a solution to the question of, “Which newly admitted states should be free and which should allow slavery?” Through the failed Missouri Compromise and through the failed Compromise of 1850, Congress granted the newly admitted states the power of popular sovereignty; thus allowing the populations in those states to vote on the issue. Chaos and conflict erupted as a result, most notably in Kansas. That chaos and conflict carried over into the fighting of the War itself.
3. Economic Differences Between North and South:
Since the establishment of the Jamestown settlement, southern states have depended on an agrarian economy and society. Meanwhile, northern cities were continuing to grow an economy based on industry. Although both relied on slavery to continue to push business forward, social reforms in the north were changing the status quo. Increased diversity and new ideas from the 2nd Great Awakening forced northerners to question moral and social issues, including the use of slavery in the southern economy. The growing arguments in the north are the basis for the abolition movement.
4. The Abolition Movement:
The abolition movement grew steadily in the 19th Century as the many social reform movements also grew. Spurred by the 2nd Great Awakening and the growth of the Women’s Rights Movement, abolition took to the forefront. Supporters saw events like the Dred Scott decision and the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act (as a part of the Compromise of 1850) as landmark decisions proving that something must change. That something was found in the form of abolishing slavery.
1. The Argument for States Rights:
The argument for and against States Rights goes back much further in history than just the Civil War. The idea really relates to the concept of federalism: how the Central government will share its powers with the State governments. This argument was presented with the passing (and subsequent failure) of the Articles of Confederation as compared to the passing of the Constitution. The Articles proved to be too weak due to a lack of effective power at all in the Central government. What we see in the outbreak of the Civil War are states, like South Carolina, standing up for their States Rights (mostly through the concept of nullification) and therefore seceding. South Carolina became the example for many other southern states to follow.
2. Slavery:
Slavery was not the only reason the Civil War was fought, but we need not dismiss it. Since the Missouri Compromise was established, Congress was attempting to find a solution to the question of, “Which newly admitted states should be free and which should allow slavery?” Through the failed Missouri Compromise and through the failed Compromise of 1850, Congress granted the newly admitted states the power of popular sovereignty; thus allowing the populations in those states to vote on the issue. Chaos and conflict erupted as a result, most notably in Kansas. That chaos and conflict carried over into the fighting of the War itself.
3. Economic Differences Between North and South:
Since the establishment of the Jamestown settlement, southern states have depended on an agrarian economy and society. Meanwhile, northern cities were continuing to grow an economy based on industry. Although both relied on slavery to continue to push business forward, social reforms in the north were changing the status quo. Increased diversity and new ideas from the 2nd Great Awakening forced northerners to question moral and social issues, including the use of slavery in the southern economy. The growing arguments in the north are the basis for the abolition movement.
4. The Abolition Movement:
The abolition movement grew steadily in the 19th Century as the many social reform movements also grew. Spurred by the 2nd Great Awakening and the growth of the Women’s Rights Movement, abolition took to the forefront. Supporters saw events like the Dred Scott decision and the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act (as a part of the Compromise of 1850) as landmark decisions proving that something must change. That something was found in the form of abolishing slavery.
5. The Republican Party and the Election of Abraham Lincoln
"Free labor, free land, free men" was the rallying cry of the Republican Party as it was officially established in the north in 1854. Taking influence from the growing abolition movement and the many social reforms of the 19th Century, the Republican Party became a symbol of 'anti-slavery.' Fearing the livelihood of their economic future and their own States Rights, many southern leaders began to debate secession to combat this new political party. In December of 1860, just a month before Abraham took office as the first republican president, South Carolina seceded from the Union. Four months later, the Civil War began in Charleston Harbor.
"Free labor, free land, free men" was the rallying cry of the Republican Party as it was officially established in the north in 1854. Taking influence from the growing abolition movement and the many social reforms of the 19th Century, the Republican Party became a symbol of 'anti-slavery.' Fearing the livelihood of their economic future and their own States Rights, many southern leaders began to debate secession to combat this new political party. In December of 1860, just a month before Abraham took office as the first republican president, South Carolina seceded from the Union. Four months later, the Civil War began in Charleston Harbor.
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/civilwarmenu/a/cause_civil_war.htm
http://www.pbs.org/civilwar/
http://oep.oxfordjournals.org/content/50/4/563.abstract
http://www.pbs.org/civilwar/
http://oep.oxfordjournals.org/content/50/4/563.abstract