The True Cause of the Civil War Between the economic, political, and social quarrels that evolved throughout the 1850's, the North and the South underwent many changes that led to the start of the Civil War. The most attributing factor to this war was that of a moral dispute between two sections who both wanted different things. Slavery became the issue that spread across the nation and was disputed back and forth between the North and South sections of the country. Abolitionists were focused upon in the North and tried to get their message across to those owning slaves in the South. They expressed moral disapproval but engaged in few out-in- the-open activities. "To the extent that there was an organized antislavery movement, it centered on the concept of colonization-the effort to encourage the resettlement of American blacks in Africa or the Caribbean." (Brinkley, American History 342) Among these Abolitionists, was a famous U.S. journalist who published The Liberator and helped lead the successful Abolitionist campaign against slavery in the U.S. In his first issue of The Liberator, he boldly states his opinion on the issue of slavery: "I do not wish to think, or speak, or write, with moderation....I am in earnest-I will not equivocate-I will not excuse-I will not retreat a single inch-AND I WILL BE HEARD." (www.britannica.com) The Civil War forced Garrison to choose between his pacifist beliefs and emancipation. In December 1865 he published the last issue of The Liberator and announced that his vocation as an abolitionist is ended. (www.britannica.com) When the issue of slavery peaked, the South decided that the best bet would be to secede. As for the entire issue of slavery, "basically the South wanted and needed it and the North did not want it at all. The South was going to do anything they could to keep it. This was the issue that overshadowed all others." (www.ask.com) During the 1850's the South had about 4 million slaves. These slaves were very valuable to the slaveholding planter class.
The American Civil War was caused because of the North and South differences in economies, disagreements about abolishing slavery and whether the state or federal government had more power. These three factors played a key role in America's deadliest war. Understanding the causes of the Civil War is important because the war was one of the most important events in our nation's history. After the Civil War all men were truly created equal, it reunited the country as one, and redefined what it meant to be an
What caused the Civil War is not solely one. The main cause of the Civil War is economic difference between the North and the South, which had been set up since American colonial times. The economic division also caused political division and different arguments regarding slavery because both the North and the South fought to protect their own economic system.
The abolitionist movement of 1830 had a more influential impact on the nation than the antislavery movement prior to 1830 because of William Lloyd Garrison and the ways that he transformed abolition. Before 1830, there were movements that were against slavery but none made an impact enough to stop slavery in the South or to call attention to the horrors of slavery. William Lloyd Garrison challenged the restricted fight against slavery by voicing his philosophy through his weekly newspaper, the Liberator. Garrison used his paper to show a new perspective on slavery. He stated the hardships that slaves had to go through and he quickly attracted a large group of antislavery followers known as the New England Antislavery Society.
Abraham Lincoln was elected as sixteenth president of the United States of America in 1861 and served until his assassination in 1865. He is viewed as a popular political figure and is known as the “Great Emancipator” for his role in freeing the slaves during the 1860s (Columbia University Press 2013, 1). He delivered the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 that declared “all persons held as slaves within the rebellious states are, and henceforth shall remain free” (Columbia University Press 2013, 1). Although the Proclamation made Lincoln seem like a hero, others would soon realize that the proclamation was a war tactic and in reality did not put an end to slavery. In The Real Lincoln: A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War by Thomas J. DiLorenzo, the reader will discover facts about President Lincoln that are not told in the average history book. Within the chapters of DiLorenzo’s book, he explains Lincoln’s true view on slavery, reasons for his political success, and why Lincoln encouraged war between the North and the South.
Lincoln is famously known for ending slavery. He Issued the Emancipation of Proclamation. The presidential proclamation was issued during the American Civil War. Lincoln stated in his speech, "I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of states, and henceforward shall be free." The states he was referring to were the 11 out of 22 states that still had slavery. It was because of Lincoln that millions ...
Instead of convincing American citizens from around the country that slavery was America’s largest injustice, he now was persuading people in the government and people who were originally for anti-slavery, that black men should have equal citizenship and the right to vote. His change in audience is another reason that the abolitionist's voice changed beginning in the mid 1860’s. The harsh and passionate rhetoric he was using to condemn slavery may have not been so effective or persuasive to politicians. Therefore it was in his best interest to change the approach he originally was making. A great example of this is Frederick Douglass’s first meeting with President Andrew
Why were the southern states so dependent upon slaves that they were willing to fight a war over their right to keep them? The answer lies in the social and economic differences between the north and the south. The southern United State’s climate was perfect for agriculture. Plants like tobacco, cotton, indigo and sugar had become extremely profitable to produce.(2-615) To increase profits, the farms, known as plantations, had to grow. Managing a plantation of an average of 335 acres took a lot of labor, and the most economical source was the slave trade. Without slaves, plantation owners would have to hire people to manage their farms, an option that many were either unable to take or unwilling to consider.
Slavery denied people basic human rights. For example when a child born into slavery is sold his or her parents will have no authority over him or her(doc 1). Frederick Douglas stated the law will give the master definite power over the slave. The master can work him. The slave owner may flog him or hire him out. In law the slave can not marry cannot have citizenship or home. The slave may own nothing. But must belong to another (doc 2). From a slave’s point of view They were not treated like normal people (doc 3). For example they had no civil rights. To quickly sum it up The slaves were normal people treated wrongly because of her skin color.
The American Civil War fought from 1861 to 1865 is described as “the bloodiest conflict in the history of North America” (Feature Causes Of The Civil War). The Civil war or war between the states was fought for many economic, political and moral reasons tracing back to the very start of America. The civil war fought between the Northern and Southern states is truly a significant event in the history of the United States because it involved American citizens fighting against each other. The American civil war was initiated through the controversy over slave labor, unfair actions toward Southern states and the vast division between the Northern and Southern states.
Civil War is said to be the worst kind of war because it is when a
Many causes led to the Civil War. This all happened around the mid 1800s. It was a conflict between the Northern and Southern states. Both sides had their own view on slavery, and their separate views caused contentions between the two. Both had different views on whether to expand or stop slavery growth to the West, or have slavery at all.
The leading starting point to the abolitionist movement was the American Anti-Slavery Society, founded in 1833. The goal was to cause immediate abolition of slavery in the United States. The leader and spokesperson was radical William Lloyd Garrison, one of the most important abolitionists in 19th century America. Garrisons’ first act of abolitionist awareness was the publishing of a newspaper called The Liberator. This paper outraged the South, many fearing that he was trying to encourage a slave revolt. Due to his radical views and powerful use of words toward antislavery, he became a wanted man in many slave states. His radical views and strong disapproval of the US Constitution caused a divide from many abolitionists and a split form the movement. His radical actions and views set a separation between he and Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist and ex-slave. Their views of the Constitution were opposite. Garrison viewed the Constitution as pro slavery, while Douglass viewed it as the “most important tool in ending the institution of slavery.” In 1862 President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves exclusively in the areas of the rebellion. Although it did not end slavery permanently, it was a step in the right
The American Civil War was caused by an explosion of conflictions, provoked by regional and sectional differences and an unfortunate sequence of political events. As explained earlier, the central theme of almost all of the events that brought about the Civil War was related to slavery. The Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Dred Scott Case, and the Election of 1860 were three events that played very instrumental roles in causing the Civil War, however each could have been handled differently by the parties involved. The approaches of the parties could have been more subtle, using compromises to settle disputes, in order to avoid a war.
The civil war happened because of slavery but thats not the only reason. America was on the road to war. (Crash Course #18) After Lincoln became the president, Southerners felt they had no power political system that was controlled by voters in the North that they felt no connection to.The many difference between the North and South caused conflict that eventually lead to war.
The biggest cause of the civil war is that the north and south have too many economic and social differences between Americans (Kelly). The society in the north was completely different than the society in the south. The north was more industrialized than the south was. Northerners worked in the factories and lived in the bigger cities like New York City. Northerners wanted to develop industry in the south to expand the American economy. Southerners did not agree with the northern ways. The south was mostly all plantation owners. In the south, they pushed slavery. Slavery was southerner’s way of life. That’s how families made their money. They grew cotton, or some kind of food and sold it to the market. Plantation owners had slaves to help them pick all there product. Most plantation owners had anywhere from five to ten slaves per plantation (United States History). Along with that, the majority of the southern states were all slave states, and the north was mostly Free states.