1.What were the causes of the Civil War?

2.Was the Civil War preventable? Give an argument why or why

not.

WARM-UP

Lincoln and the start of the Civil War

«He was what Beethoven was in music, Dante in poetry, Raphael in painting, the Christ in the philosophy of life…»

Leo Tolstoy

Born February 12th, 1809In a log cabin near

Hodgenville, KentuckySon of Thomas and Nancy

Hanks LincolnMoved to Indiana at age 7Mother dies in 1818 from

milk sicknessFather remarries to Sarah

Bush Johnston

The Early Years

Lincoln loved to read

Preferred reading to working in the fields

Led to difficult relationship with his father

Borrowed books from neighbors

The Lincolns moved again in 1830Illinois Lived in New Salem, Illinois until 1837

Worked odd jobs – store clerk, surveying, and postmaster

Impressed residents with his character

Earned nickname “Honest Abe”

Henry Clay was Kentucky's most prominent nineteenth-century politician. He was Abraham Lincoln's political idol.

Lincoln and His FamilyMet Mary Todd in

Springfield, IL in 1839

Married her in 1842

Next eleven years 4 children

Robert, Edward, William (Willie), and Thomas (Tad)

The Lincoln Family

Abraham Lincoln's wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, was from Lexington, Kentucky. She was one of the best-educated women of her era, and her support, encouragement, and vast political knowledge helped Lincoln become our nation's sixteenth president.

Lincoln reportedly wept when his brother-in-law, Ben Hardin Helm, was killed while fighting for the Confederacy. Lincoln's family, like the nation, was divided during the Civil War.

Mary Todd Lincoln

Lincoln in Politics

1832 – Lincoln unsuccessful in run for Illinois legislature

1834, 1836, 1838, 1840 – won these races for Illinois legislature

Member of the Whig party (remained a Whig until 1856)

Studied law in spare time, became lawyer in 1836

Serving the State of Illinois

“The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me.”

Speech on the Sub-Treasury, IL House of Representatives 12-26-1839

1846 – Lincoln elected to the House of Representatives

Opposed the Mexican WarOpposed slaveryAfter his term was over, he returned to

Illinois to practice law

Congress

Washington Cont’dMade unsuccessful

attempt for seat in the Senate in 1854

1856 – received support for Republican Vice-Presidential nomination

Opposed the Dred Scott decision

The Rise of Abraham Lincoln

1858 – Lincoln challenges Stephen Douglas (Compromise of 1850) for Illinois US Senate seat

Debated Slavery

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Issues and IdeasStephen Douglas

“The Little Giant”5’ 1” tallFreeport Doctrine

– slavery decided by popular sovereignty

Slavery was not morally wrong

Abraham LincolnLittle known

lawyerAbolitionist6’ 4” tallSlavery was

morally wrong

Issues of the Debates

1. Expansion of slavery 2. Popular sovereignty 3. Dred Scott decision 4. Freeport Doctrine 5. African-American Citizenship

“A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half-slave and half-free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved – I do not expect the house to fall – but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all the one thing or all the other.”

House Divided Speech in Springfield, IL 3-4-1858

Lincoln is thrust into the national spotlight as a abolitionist leader

Leading Republican

Importance

4 Major Candidates (including Lincoln)

Election of 1860

John Breckinridge (KY) – Southern

Democrat

Stephen Douglas (IL) – Northern

Democrat

Sen. John Bell (TN) –

Constitutional Unionists (Whigs)

Abraham Lincoln, IL—turned out had strongest hand: was former anti-slavery Whig in a party

full of thesehad reputation as a moderatehad opposed Know Nothingshad reputation for integrity and honestyembodied ideology of upward mobilitycame from crucial state

ELECTION OF 1860—REPUBLICANS

Nominate Abraham Lincoln (R – Illinois)

Republicans

ELECTION OF 1860Unique in American history because came down to

two separate races: Lincoln vs. Douglas in the North and Breckinridge vs. Bell in the South

in 10 southern states, Lincoln did not even have a ticket and in 5 remaining slave states received 4% of popular vote

Lincoln won by carrying northern states plus OR and CA—purely sectional victory with less than 40% of popular vote

Results of 1860 Election

Lincoln Presidential Advertisements

Photograph showing March 4, 1861 inauguration of Abraham Lincoln in front of U.S. Capitol, which was

undergoing construction

Southern Response

The South Secedes

Leave the UnionSouthern State Legislatures vote to pass

“Articles of Secession”7 states secede before Lincoln’s

Inauguration12/20/1860 – SC1/9/1861 – MS1/10/1861 – FL1/11/1861 – AL1/19/1861 – GA1/26/1861 – LA2/1/1861 – TX 3/4/1861 – Lincoln is Inaugurated

What is secession?

On December 20, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede.

They were followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.

The eleven states that had seceded formed the Confederate States of America.

They named Jefferson Davis as president.

They wrote a new Constitution which made slavery legal.

Confederate States of America

The Confederate States of America (CSA or Confederacy)

Government similar to the UnionConstitution nearly identical, except:

State SovereigntySlavery as a right of whitesPresident limited to one six year termPresident had “Line-Item” veto

CSA Organization

Army of N. Virginia Battle Flag. Became the symbol of Confederacy and included all states in it as stars.

Question: What does this flag represent to you?

The President and VP

Jefferson Davis Alexander Stephens

Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederacy, was also born in Kentucky. Before the Civil War, he was a planter, soldier, politician, and U.S. Secretary of War. He died in 1889.

Advantages North

FactoriesPopulationRailroads (70%)TelegraphMoneyNavy

SouthGreat Leaders

(Robert E. Lee, “Stonewall” Jackson)

Home Field Advantage

Southerner’s believed in the cause

Defensive WarIndian TribesDid not have to

win, only tieCotton and

Tobacco

1. Increased Sectionalism

2. Tariffs 3. State’s Rights4. Preservation of

the Union5. Westward

Movement6. Slavery7. Election of 1860

Causes of the Civil War

Was the Civil War about slavery? Why or why not?

How did the election of 1860 lead to the separation of the South from the North?

Wrap-up