Why did the

Civil War start?

(1861-1865)

Grade 5
Ms. Grants class
Different Lifestyles
The North preferred factories and urban (city) areas.
The South preferred agriculture (farming) and rural
(country) areas.
The North liked to create new things (advances in
technology).
The South liked to grow things (cotton).
They could not relate to each other.
The North had a more stable economy.
The Souths economy related mostly on cotton.
Moral Issue of Slavery
Lincolns two most important goals were: preserve
the union (keep he country together) and abolish
(stop) slavery.
Southerners did not like this because they believed
slaves were property and used them to help produce
their crops.
Southerners felt that abolishing slavery would take
away their property and change their lives.
Southerners relied on the free labor of slaves to
grow and produce cotton to maintain their economy.
Territorial Expansion
Westward expansion caused controversy due to the
continuing debate over slavery.
Lincoln claimed the Federal (National) Government
had the right to halt (stop) slavery; meaning it
should not expand into new territories.
The South wished to take slavery into the western
territories.
The North was determined to prevent this from
happening.
The Issues of States Rights
The South felt the decisions made in the Federal
government should have been up to the states.
The South believed the Federal Government had too
much control over them.
Debates over which new states should be slave
states and which should be free states.
Election Of Abraham Lincoln
The Election of 1860
Lincoln did not get one single Southern electoral vote.
Lincoln was a Republican who was also an abolitionist
(anti-slavery).
This election was a sign that the Southern states had lost
all influence.
The South felt excluded (left out) from the political
system.
After the election they believed secession (removing
themselves from the United States) was the only answer.
This political decision led directly to war.
Abraham Lincoln
Secession of the South
South Carolina was the first to secede.
Seven states followed.
They formed the Confederate States of America.
Elected Jefferson Davis as their President.
The Confederacy was not recognized as a legitimate
(real) government.
Jefferson Davis
Fort Sumter
Tensions increased over several months between the
North and the South.
The Souths main belief was that slavery was an
essential (necessary) part of their lifestyle.
The Confederacy attacked Fort Sumter on April 12-
14, 1861 near Charleston, South Carolina (SC).
The Union (North) fort surrenders after a 34 hour
attack.
The Civil War officially begins.
Review Video
https://vimeo.com/39441340