causes of the civil war Flashcards
what was Lincolns view on ending slavery?
Lincoln believed to end slavery in new states NOT in states where it already existed.
what was Lincolns view on Black Americans equality?
he didn’t believe that black Americans were equal and believed them to be lesser people than whites.
what did Lincoln say about equality?
he never campaigned for equality, stating he was never in favour of bringing about social or political equality.
who was Stephen Douglas?
he was the democratic candidate for president who ran against Lincoln in 1860 and lost the election. he campaigned on maintaining slavery. he had also ran against Lincoln in a senate race.
what did Douglas say in regard to the government and whites?
Douglas believed and stated that the government was made by white men for the benefit of white men.
how did Douglas justify his position against abolition?
He referenced the declaration of independence as Thomas Jefferson Never had the slaves in mind when writing that all are created equal, he means white men
what was the dredd Scott decision?
SC court decided that dredd Scott (escaped slave) was not a citizen in any free state. with the lead judge also saying that he had no right to be in the SC
did all the judges on the Dredd Scott decision agree?
NO there were 3 dissenting judges
why were slave holders becoming anxious?
southern slave holders feared slavery being abolished and became increasingly uncertain that it was safe within the union
who was John brown? what did he do?
he was a radical abolitionist who led an attack on Harpers ferry hoping to trigger a slave rebellion.
what happened to John brown?
his plan failed and he was caught and executed. seen as a martyr for the abolitionist cause.
what was the extent of division in the US over slavery?
by 1860 even religious denominations had split into north and south along with most other organisations and movements. the only national group left being the democratic party.
what was the split within the democratic party before the 1860 election?
split in the party between the northern Stephen Douglass and the southern current president Buchanan, Douglass had alienated the southern vote.
which state is the first to succeed and when?
South Carolina, December 20th 1860
what happened after South Carolina seceded?
a further six other states followed and created the confederate states of America with Jefferson Davis as president
what was the opinion of those in the south towards war?
a war was going to be a difficult thought and many in the south did not want one as there were many who were still pro union.
which states were the most supportive of secession?
those with strong slaveholder communities were more pro secession and those with fewer slave holders were against, mostly yeomen farmers and non slave holders
where was the first strike of the civil war?
Fort Sumter 1861 in which union troops needed a resupply but southern forces blockaded the Fort and demanded their surrender
why was slavery so important to the south?
the cotton industry ran the southern economy and made up 60% of worlds production. most of the cotton was farmed on slave plantations and relied on slave labour.
what was the effect of the war on the south?
the war destroyed the southern economy and created mass poverty and most families had lost the breadwinner to the war.
how did wealthy southerns avoid service?
the wealthy could pay to send someone in their place, over 50,000 southerners did this.
what did South Carolina claim was the reason for secession?
officials claimed the federal govt had infringed on their right as a State and was justified within its withdrawal?
how did South Carolina justify secession?
they invoked Thomas Jefferson’s words in that states have the right to abolish a govt they feel has become destructive.
what did president Buchanan think of the idea of secession?
he denied the right of states to secede and blamed anti slavery sentiment for aggravating the north.
