The American Civil War: Draft 3

“The origins of the Civil War may be traced to a complex mix of causes, some of which
can be traced back to the earliest years of American colonization” (Hickman 1). Since the
earliest years of America, a conflict has always existed between, races, states, gender, “parties,”
etc. This is destined to happen because with freedom comes the opportunity to make decisions
that usually may be effected by a strictly governed body. During the middle of the 1800s,
America was found to be at its climax of all internal conflicts, called the Civil War. The Civil
War became and still stands today as the largest bloodshed of Americans in any war. This is
because of the fact that Americans were fighting fellow Americans on their own soil. Before the
Civil War, America had received an easy victory in the Mexican-American War. A war which
ended in America gaining areas such as California, Arizona, New Mexico, and all of Mexico’s
territories in present day America. Though this may seem like a major gain at the time, it only
boiled tensions that already existed between northern and southern America. The north and
south disagreed upon many subjects, but primarily they disagreed upon slavery, the acts and laws
passed to deal with the slavery dispute, and the social and economic structure of the union.
Slavery was by far the most controversial issue prior to the Civil War, and thus the main
cause of the Civil War. “In the years prior to the Civil War almost all sectional conflicts
revolved around the slave issue” (Bailey 294). Northerners wanted slavery to be abolished
because they began to realize that the treatment was unjust and that the slave trade was morally
wrong. The southerners however saw the slaves as only profits and grew angry at the increasing
abolitionist movement, especially in the newly gained Mexican territories. “Abolitionists in the
North wrote books, published newspapers spreading their ideas about slavery, and often assisted
slaves to freedom when they ran away from their masters” (Kentucky 1). The assisting of
freeing slaves made the southerners begin to believe that the northerners were committing
treason and were not looking out for the good will of their brothers down south. The union
realized how hot this debate was getting, so in order to try to put the fire out, compromises were
written and laws were put into effect.
One such compromise to the slavery dispute was the Compromise of 1850. The
Compromise of 1850 allowed popular sovereignty in the newly acquired states. “This meant that
the local people and their territorial legislatures would decide for themselves whether slavery
would be permitted” (Hickman 1). So this part of the compromise forced the slave issue to be
based on popular vote, and basically allowed the government to not make an official decision on
permitting slavery. Northerners rushed to the new land, in order to guarantee the vote went in
their favor. “Northerners began to pour into Kansas, and Southerners were outraged, since they
had supported the Compromise of 1850 under the impression that Kansas would become slave”
(Bailey 297). Also, the compromise was controversial in that it contained a new Fugitive Slave
Act, in order to please the southerners. “Of all the bills that made up the Compromise of 1850,
the Fugitive Slave Act was the most controversial. It required citizens to assist in the recovery of
fugitive slaves. It denied a fugitive's right to a jury trial” (PBS 1). Northerners were enraged at
such a law, because it upheld the law that the northerners were expected to help the southerners
bring back their slaves. It also, made the slaves look even more like property. “Inflamed
Northerners pledged not to follow the new law, and the Underground Railroad stepped up its
timetable” (Bailey 296). The north started the famous Underground Railroad to help slaves
escape from the south. Once the south found out about this, it only added gasoline to the fire.
The lack of stability and increase in north and south tensions made the Compromise of 1850 a
contributory cause of the Civil War.
The north and south were not only different in opinions, but also on the make up of their
economic structure. “The southern economy became a one crop economy, depending on cotton
and therefore on slavery. On the other hand, the northern economy was based more on industry”
(Hickman 1). The differences in economies showed the south being more prosperous than the
north because the southern economy was based on free labor and cheap foreign trade. This
disgruntled the north over time and resulted in the remote cause of the Civil War, which was the
differences in the two’s economic and social structure. Since they had different types of social
structures, many of the bills and laws were unable to be passed with the majority because it
would either favor industry or agriculture, thus causing arguments between the north and south.
It is hard to get along when there is constant argument and disagreement on all disputes.
Eventually the south became impatient with the lack of support from the United States
government. “Southerners believed that abolitionists were attacking their way of life and that
the Federal government was not doing enough to protect their "property" from running away”
(Kentucky 1). The south grew angry that the north was attacking their way of life, and that since
the government was not taking action, then the government was not being fair and just. It would
be the 1860 election that really put the Civil War into full effect.
Lincoln winning the presidential election of 1860 was the immediate cause of the Civil
War because, that was the last straw for the south, and they immediately seceded from the union.
“Even though things were already coming to a head, when Lincoln was elected in 1860, South
Carolina issued its "Declaration of the Causes of Secession." They believed that Lincoln was
anti-slavery and in favor of Northern interests” (Martin 1). The south was determined that
Lincoln would stop slavery in the south since he was a northerner and a Republican. Though the
Civil War was destined to occur from the previous causes, Lincoln’s election definitely sped up
the process, and put the country into a full on Civil War.

Works Cited
Bailey, Thomas A. ​The American Pageant A History of the Republic Eleventh Edition.​ Boston:
McGraw Hill, 1999. Print.
Hickman, Kennedy. “The Approaching Storm.” ​American Civil War: Causes​. Web. 18 Nov.
2010.
Kentucky Educational Television. “Causes of the Civil War.” ​KET.​ Web. 18 Nov. 2010.
Martin, Kelly. “Leading up to Secession and the Civil War.” ​Top Five Causes of the Civil War.​
Web. 18 Nov. 2010.
PBS Online. “The Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act.” ​Judgment Day​. Web. 18
Nov. 2010.

Krogstad, Travis
There were at least 5 different sources used including 1 printed source.
Yes - used at least 10 citations
In-text citations - did not use Author in text - According to Smith.... (23)
In-text Citation error: did not use (author n.p.) for websites.
Minimal or no writing errors
Used the 4 required terms: Main/Primary Cause, Contributory Cause, Immediate Cause, Remote Cause.
Minimal or no errors in Works Cited .
Average high school writing

The American Civil War: Draft 2

“The origins of the Civil War may be traced to a complex mix of causes, some of which
can be traced back to the earliest years of American colonization” ​(Hickman)​. Since the earliest
years of America, a conflict has always existed between, races, states, gender, “parties,” etc.
This is destined to happen because with freedom comes the opportunity to make decisions that
usually may be effected by a strictly governed body. During the middle of the 1800s, America
was found to be at its climax of all internal conflicts, called the Civil War. The Civil War
became and still stands today as the largest bloodshed of Americans in any war. This is because
of the fact that Americans were fighting fellow Americans on their own soil. Before the Civil
War, America had received an easy victory in the Mexican-American War. A war which ended
in America gaining areas such as California, Arizona, New Mexico, and all of Mexico’s
territories in present day America. Though this may seem like a major gain at the time, it only
boiled tensions that already existed between northern and southern America. The north and
south disagreed upon many subjects, but primarily they disagreed upon slavery, the acts and laws
passed to deal with the slavery dispute, and the social and economic structure of the union.
Slavery was by far the most controversial issue prior to the Civil War, and thus the main
cause of the Civil War. “In the years prior to the Civil War almost all sectional conflicts
revolved around the slave issue” (​Bailey ​294). Northerners wanted slavery to be abolished
because they began to realize that the treatment was unjust and that the slave trade was morally
wrong. The southerners however saw the slaves as only profits and grew angry at the increasing
abolitionist movement, especially in the newly gained Mexican territories. “Abolitionists in the
North wrote books, published newspapers spreading their ideas about slavery, and often assisted
slaves to freedom when they ran away from their masters” (Kentucky). The assisting of freeing
slaves made the southerners begin to believe that the northerners were committing treason and
were not looking out for the good will of their brothers down south. The union realized how hot
this debate was getting, so in order to try to put the fire out, compromises were written and laws
were put into effect.
One such compromise to the slavery dispute was the Compromise of 1850. The
Compromise of 1850 allowed popular sovereignty in the newly acquired states. “This meant that
the local people and their territorial legislatures would decide for themselves whether slavery
would be permitted” (​Hickman​). So this part of the compromise forced the slave issue to be
based on popular vote, and basically allowed the government to not make an official decision on
permitting slavery. Northerners rushed to the new land, in order to guarantee the vote went in
their favor. “Northerners began to pour into Kansas, and Southerners were outraged, since they
had supported the Compromise of 1850 under the impression that Kansas would become slave”
(​Bailey)​. Also, the compromise was controversial in that it contained a new Fugitive Slave Act,
in order to please the southerners. “Of all the bills that made up the Compromise of 1850, the
Fugitive Slave Act was the most controversial. It required citizens to assist in the recovery of
fugitive slaves. It denied a fugitive's right to a jury trial” (PBS). Northerners were enraged at
such a law, because it upheld the law that the northerners were expected to help the southerners
bring back their slaves. It also, made the slaves look even more like property. “Inflamed
Northerners pledged not to follow the new law, and the Underground Railroad stepped up its
timetable” (​Bailey​). The north started the famous Underground Railroad to help slaves escape
from the south. Once the south found out about this, it only added gasoline to the fire. The lack
of stability and increase in north and south tensions made the Compromise of 1850 a
contributory cause of the Civil War.
The north and south were not only different in opinions, but also on the make up of their
economic structure. “The southern economy became a one crop economy, depending on cotton
and therefore on slavery. On the other hand, the northern economy was based more on industry”
(​Hickman​). The differences in economies showed the south being more prosperous than the
north because the southern economy was based on free labor and cheap foreign trade. This
disgruntled the north over time and resulted in the remote cause of the Civil War, which was the
differences in the two’s economic and social structure. Since they had different types of social
structures, many of the bills and laws were unable to be passed with the majority because it
would either favor industry or agriculture, thus causing arguments between the north and south.
It is hard to get along when there is constant argument and disagreement on all disputes.
Eventually the south became impatient with the lack of support from the United States
government. “Southerners believed that abolitionists were attacking their way of life and that
the Federal government was not doing enough to protect their "property" from running away”
(Kentucky). The south grew angry that the north was attacking their way of life, and that since
the government was not taking action, then the government was not being fair and just. It would
be the 1860 election that really put the Civil War into full effect.
Lincoln winning the presidential election of 1860 was the immediate cause of the Civil
War because, that was the last straw for the south, and they immediately seceded from the union.
“Even though things were already coming to a head, when Lincoln was elected in 1860, South
Carolina issued its "Declaration of the Causes of Secession." They believed that Lincoln was
anti-slavery and in favor of Northern interests” (​Martin​). The south was determined that Lincoln
would stop slavery in the south since he was a northerner and a Republican. Though the Civil
War was destined to occur from the previous causes, Lincoln’s election definitely sped up the
process, and put the country into a full on Civil War.

Works Cited
Bailey, Thomas A. ​The American Pageant A History of the Republic Eleventh Edition.​ Boston:
McGraw Hill, 1999. Print.
Hickman, Kennedy. “The Approaching Storm.” ​American Civil War: Causes.​ Web. 18 Nov.
2010.
Kentucky Educational Television. “Causes of the Civil War.” ​KET​. Web. 18 Nov. 2010.
Martin, Kelly. “Leading up to Secession and the Civil War.” ​Top Five Causes of the Civil War.​
Web. 18 Nov. 2010.
PBS Online. “The Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act.” ​Judgment Day​. Web. 18
Nov. 2010.

The American Civil War

“The origins of the Civil War may be traced to a complex mix of causes, some of which
can be traced back to the earliest years of American colonization” (Hickman). Since the earliest
years of America, a conflict has always existed between, races, states, gender, “parties,” etc.
This is destined to happen because with freedom comes the opportunity to make decisions that
usually may be effected by a strictly governed body. During the middle of the 1800s, America
was found to be at its climax of all internal conflicts, called the Civil War. The Civil War
became and still stands today as the largest bloodshed of Americans in any war. This is because
of the fact that Americans were fighting fellow Americans on their own soil. Before the Civil
War, America had received an easy victory in the Mexican-American War. A war which ended
in America gaining areas such as California, Arizona, New Mexico, and all of Mexico’s
territories in present day America. Though this may seem like a major gain at the time, it only
boiled tensions that already existed between northern and southern America. The north and
south disagreed upon many subjects, but primarily they disagreed upon slavery, the acts and laws
passed to deal with the slavery dispute, and the social and economic structure of the union.
Slavery was by far the most controversial issue prior to the Civil War, and thus the main
cause of the Civil War. “In the years prior to the Civil War almost all sectional conflicts
revolved around the slave issue” (Bailey 294). Northerners wanted slavery to be abolished
because they began to realize that the treatment was unjust and that the slave trade was morally
wrong. The southerners however saw the slaves as only profits and grew angry at the increasing
abolitionist movement, especially in the newly gained Mexican territories. “Abolitionists in the
North wrote books, published newspapers spreading their ideas about slavery, and often assisted
slaves to freedom when they ran away from their masters” (Kentucky). The assisting of freeing
slaves made the southerners begin to believe that the northerners were committing treason and
were not looking out for the good will of their brothers down south. The union realized how hot
this debate was getting, so in order to try to put the fire out, compromises were written and laws
were put into effect.
One such compromise to the slavery dispute was the Compromise of 1850. The
Compromise of 1850 allowed popular sovereignty in the newly acquired states. “This meant that
the local people and their territorial legislatures would decide for themselves whether slavery
would be permitted” (Hickman). So this part of the compromise forced the slave issue to be
based on popular vote, and basically allowed the government to not make an official decision on
permitting slavery. Northerners rushed to the new land, in order to guarantee the vote went in
their favor. “Northerners began to pour into Kansas, and Southerners were outraged, since they
had supported the Compromise of 1850 under the impression that Kansas would become slave”
(Bailey). Also, the compromise was controversial in that it contained a new Fugitive Slave Act,
in order to please the southerners. “Of all the bills that made up the Compromise of 1850, the
Fugitive Slave Act was the most controversial. It required citizens to assist in the recovery of
fugitive slaves. It denied a fugitive's right to a jury trial” (PBS). Northerners were enraged at
such a law, because it upheld the law that the northerners were expected to help the southerners
bring back their slaves. It also, made the slaves look even more like property. “Inflamed
Northerners pledged not to follow the new law, and the Underground Railroad stepped up its
timetable” (Bailey). The north started the famous Underground Railroad to help slaves escape
from the south. Once the south found out about this, it only added gasoline to the fire. The lack
of stability and increase in north and south tensions made the Compromise of 1850 a
contributory cause of the Civil War.
The north and south were not only different in opinions, but also on the make up of their
economic structure. “The southern economy became a one crop economy, depending on cotton
and therefore on slavery. On the other hand, the northern economy was based more on industry”
(Hickman). The differences in economies showed the south being more prosperous than the
north because the southern economy was based on free labor and cheap foreign trade. This
disgruntled the north over time and resulted in the remote cause of the Civil War, which was the
differences in the two’s economic and social structure. Since they had different types of social
structures, many of the bills and laws were unable to be passed with the majority because it
would either favor industry or agriculture, thus causing arguments between the north and south.
It is hard to get along when there is constant argument and disagreement on all disputes.
Eventually the south became impatient with the lack of support from the United States
government. “Southerners believed that abolitionists were attacking their way of life and that
the Federal government was not doing enough to protect their "property" from running away”
(Kentucky). The south grew angry that the north was attacking their way of life, and that since
the government was not taking action, then the government was not being fair and just. It would
be the 1860 election that really put the Civil War into full effect.
Lincoln winning the presidential election of 1860 was the immediate cause of the Civil
War because, that was the last straw for the south, and they immediately seceded from the union.
“Even though things were already coming to a head, when Lincoln was elected in 1860, South
Carolina issued its "Declaration of the Causes of Secession." They believed that Lincoln was
anti-slavery and in favor of Northern interests” (Martin). The south was determined that Lincoln
would stop slavery in the south since he was a northerner and a Republican. Though the Civil
War was destined to occur from the previous causes, Lincoln’s election definitely sped up the
process, and put the country into a full on Civil War.

Works Cited
Bailey, Thomas A. ​The American Pageant A History of the Republic Eleventh Edition.​ Boston:
McGraw Hill, 1999. Print.
Hickman, Kennedy. “The Approaching Storm.” ​American Civil War: Causes.​ Web. 18 Nov.
2010.
Kentucky Educational Television. “Causes of the Civil War.” ​KET​. Web. 18 Nov. 2010.
Martin, Kelly. “Leading up to Secession and the Civil War.” ​Top Five Causes of the Civil War.​
Web. 18 Nov. 2010.
PBS Online. “The Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act.” ​Judgment Day​. Web. 18
Nov. 2010.