2. Pre-War Issues
Before the Civil War, America was in a bit of turmoil. The lives of
slaves were becoming harder, so they were running away. The
states were divided because of their different climates and
geography, making different lifestyles and arguments. This was
eventually called the Sectional Division. The Kansas-Nebraska Act
(decided which state would be a slave state and which one would
be a free state), the Dred Scott decision, and the Raid at Harper’s
Ferry (when John Brown and his men attacked a U.S. Federal
Arsenal) was leading America into the Civil War.
3. Causes of the Civil War
• The Civil War is a bit controversial
about why it was started, and it was
not started to free the slaves.
• Common reasons for the Civil War are:
– The inauguration of president Lincoln
– The secession of the states, the first
being South Carolina
– States individual issues and rights
4. The Start of the War
• On November 6, 1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States -- an
event that outraged southern states. The Republican party had run on an anti-slavery
platform, and many southerners felt that there was no longer a place for them in the
Union. On December 20, 1860, South Carolina seceded. By February 1, 1861, six more
states -- Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas -- had split from
the Union. The seceded states created the Confederate States of America and elected
Jefferson Davis, a Mississippi Senator, as their provisional president.
• In his inaugural address, delivered on March 4, 1861, Lincoln proclaimed that it was his
duty to maintain the Union. He also declared that he had no intention of ending slavery
where it existed, or of repealing the Fugitive Slave Law -- a position that horrified
African Americans and their white allies. Lincoln's statement, however, did not satisfy the
Confederacy, and on April 12 they attacked Fort Sumter, a federal stronghold in
Charleston, South Carolina. Federal troops returned the fire. The Civil War had begun.
• Immediately following the attack, four more states -- Virginia, Arkansas, North
Carolina, and Tennessee -- severed their ties with the Union. To retain the loyalty of the
remaining border states -- Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri -- President
Lincoln insisted that the war was not about slavery or black rights; it was a war to
preserve the Union. His words were not simply aimed at the loyal southern
states, however -- most white northerners were not interested in fighting to free slaves or
in giving rights to black people. For this reason, the government turned away African
American volunteers who rushed to enlist. Lincoln upheld the laws barring blacks from
the army, proving to northern whites that their race privilege would not be threatened.
5. The North vs. The South
• After the North was attacked and
the southern states declared
themselves as their own
country, the northern states cut
the South from any trade with
the U.S.
• The North began to forbid the
South for looking for their slaves
• Soon there were two separate
countries
6. Advantages and Disadvantages for the
Northern States
Advantage Disadvantage
• With slaves running to the • Northern soldiers had to
northern side, the north conquer a huge area to
increased at an almost bring the South back into
exponential rate. the Union
• Had many people to grow • They were invading
food and to work in unfamiliar land
factories making supplies
• Had more than 70% of the
nation's rail lines
• Had a strong navy and a
large fleet of private
trading ships
7. Advantages and Disadvantages for the
Southern States
Advantage Disadvantage
• Defending their • Had few factories to
homeland gave them a produce weapons, railroad
strong reason to fight tracts, and other supplies
• Had skills that made • Had few railroads to move
them good soldiers troops and vital supplies
• Many of the best officers • The South had a small
in the United States were population, about 9
from the South million lived in the
Confederacy and 22
million in the Union
• More than 1/3rd of the
population was enslaved;
therefore they had fewer
people that could be
soldiers
8. Battle of Appomattox Court House
• Started April 9th, 1865, and would
be the last battle. General Robert
E. Lee, the general for the Army
of Northern Virginia, turned to
attack General Ulysses S. Grant
and the Union Army of the
Potomac. At this point, the
Confederacy is basically
crumbling. General Lee began to
retreat across Virginia, with his
army disintegrating. He
attempted one more attack at the
Appomattox Court House and
ended up surrendering .
9. After War
• After the Civil War, the South’s labor force was lowered drastically
due to the amount of deaths.
• Many new inventions were created after the Civil War, including
the cultivator and railroads.
• Money was now one currency, instead of one for each state.
• Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 15, 1865 in the
Petersen House.
10. Importance of the Civil War
• The Civil War is important in U.S. history
because it ended with the creation of the 13th
and 14th amendments and is the reason why
America’s still united. It is especially important
now when referring to today’s political issues
and some states wanting to secede once
again.
