Causes of Civil War

  • 3/5th Compromise of 1787

    3/5th Compromise of 1787
    This made every three slaves of five count towards population. This is a cause because it gave more political power to the south.
  • Northwest Ordinance

    Northwest ordinance provided the framework for governing the northwest territory. This is a cause for the civil war because it prohibited slavery in northwest territories.
  • Fugitive Slave Act of 1793

    Fugitive Slave Act of 1793
    A law to allow for the recapture and return of enslaved people that have escaped. This caused the civil war because it made northerners have to participate in capturing escaped slaves, and also free African Americans can get captured and enslaved when they were never in the first place.
  • Invention of Cotton Gin

    Invention of Cotton Gin
    The cotton gin was an invention that separates cotton fibers from the seeds. This helped cause the civil war because slavery was going downhill at the time. But after the invention the cotton industry boomed and needed more slaves to pick more.
  • Ban on Slave Importation

    An act that banned slave importation into the united states. This is a cause to the civil war because it hurts the slave industry in the south, which raises tensions between north and south.
  • Missouri Compromise

    The compromise was a temporarily fix to keep the balance between free and slave states. It admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. It also created the 36 30 line which fueled the civil war do to it leading to future debates on slave or free states.
  • Nat Turner Rebellion

    Nat Turner Rebellion
    Nat Turner, an enslaved preacher, lead the most most dangerous slave revolt in history. This was a cause to the civil war because it was slaves straight out rebelling, which angered the south. It also fueled the anti-slavery movement.
  • South Carolina Nullification Crisis

    A conflict between South Carolina and the federal government. South Carolina did not like the tariff the the federal government imposed. Andrew Jackson threatened the state with the military. This is a cause to the civil war because it raised tensions, and was the first time a state threatened to secede.
  • The Underground Railroad

    The Underground Railroad was a huge network that helped free slaves to freedom. This is a cause because this then led to a more strict fugitive slave act, which raised tensions between the north and south.
  • The Wilmot Proviso

    The Wilmot Proviso
    Wilmot Proviso was an attempt at banning slavery in the territory acquired from Mexico after the Mexican American war. This raised tensions because the south felt it was a shot at slavery. It also was a key part in the creation of the republican party.
  • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

    A treaty that ended the Mexican-American war. This is a cause because it led to debates over whether or not the new territory should have slavery or not, which raised tensions
  • Compromise of 1850

    The Compromise of 1850 included 5 things which were California was a free state, Utah and New Mexico were up to popular sovereignty, Texas-New Mexico boundary was settled with Texas receiving $10 million for the land, a harsher fugitive slave act, and slave trade was abolished in Washington D.C but not slavery itself. This was a cause to the civil war because it only delayed the inevitable war
  • The Publishing of Uncle Tom's Cabin

    The Publishing of Uncle Tom's Cabin
    Uncle Tom's Cabin was a book by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was a cause for the civil war because it showed how harsh and tragic slavery was to the north, which made the south defend it more aggressively
  • Kansas-Nebraska Act

    The Kansas-Nebraska act repealed the Missouri compromise, and created two new territories, Kansas and Nebraska. It also let slavery up to popular sovereignty. This is a cause because it continued to raise debates on slavery and also led to "Bleeding Kansas"
  • "Bleeding Kansas"

    "Bleeding Kansas"
    Bleeding Kansas was a conflict in Kansas over slavery. Since the compromise of 1850 made it up to popular sovereignty, both sides wanted their way. This is a cause because it was really some of the first confrontation between north and south.
  • Charles Sumner Attacked

    Charles Sumner Attacked
    Charles Sumner was a congressmen that was attacked by Preston Brooks after his speech called, "Crime Against Kansas". He was beat by Brooks cane. This is a cause because Sumner almost beaten to death by a southern democrat.
  • Dred Scott Decision

    The Dred Scott Decision was a court case where the supreme court denied the citizenship of African Americans and said that they were property to their owners. This is a cause because this shocked the north and also increased anti-slavery actions.
  • John Brown's Raid at Harper's Ferry

    John Brown's Raid at Harper's Ferry
    John Brown was planning to lead to slave rebellion at Harper's Ferry. They were unsuccessful and they were captured and killed. This is a cause because it made the south start fearing about slave rebellions and showed that conflict was inevitable.
  • Lincoln's Election 1860

    Lincoln's Election 1860
    President Abraham Lincoln was elected on November 6th 1860, he was apart of the Republican party. This is a huge cause to the civil war because when he was elected and even before inaugurated many states seceded.
  • South Carolina Secedes From the Union

    South Carolina secede from the union on the 20th of December, 1860. This was because they thought that Lincoln would abolish slavery. This is a cause to the civil war because many states then followed by seceding and started the Confederate States of America.