Christa Wiscombe

Chapter 6: Cause of Civil War

Big Picture Outline

What issues other than slavery may have led to the American Civil War?

States right was a key issue in the American Civil war. Another issue that led to the

American Civil war was land. Territorial expansion, people wanting to have more land within

their beliefs such as expanding the South to have more slavery labor. When people from the

South didn’t agree with the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 this started a secession for the

south that led people into war. Taxation on the colonies for war was to help pay for the Union

war effort.

Supporting Evidence 1: At the beginning of the 19th century, American land and

territorial expansion were part of the problem that helped grow a divide between the Southern

and Northern areas in the continent. This then led people into war by fighting for the land they

wanted or thought they owned. Chapter 6 American Expands and Divides P. 161.

file:///C:/Users/chris/Downloads/HIST_1700_Whole_3rd_Ed.pdf

Supporting Evidence 2: States right is when a state governs themselves away from the

federal government and isn't in control by the federal government. This would affect people

because a state ungoverned would cause people to eventually go back to bad habits such as

using slavery. 
https://study.com/academy/lesson/states-rights-the-civil-war.html

Supporting Evidence 3: Abraham Lincoln didn’t believe in slavery he believed it was

morally wrong and was a big problem. Southern states were not a fan of Abraham because of

his beliefs towards slavery. Abraham was clear about his morals on legal and economic laws.

“All men are created equal” this is a popular phrase that Abraham once said. 

https://www.history.com/news/5-things-you-may-not-know-about-lincoln-slavery-and-

emancipation

Supporting Evidence 4: In 1862 Abraham Lincoln imposed a 3% tax on higher income.

The first Federal income tax was created to help pay for Union war efforts. Confederacy also

collects income taxes. Taxes are always involved in wars. Tax money is a big way the army can

be supported when in war. 

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/first-income-tax
References:

https://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/feature/causes-of-the-civil-war/

file:///C:/Users/chris/Downloads/HIST_1700_Whole_3rd_Ed.pdf

https://study.com/academy/lesson/states-rights-the-civil-war.html

https://www.history.com/news/5-things-you-may-not-know-about-lincoln-slavery-and-

emancipation

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/first-income-tax