Nissa Summerlin

Ms.Thielen

AP US History

December 15th, 2010

Civil War DBQ

Although the civil war was caused my many things social and economic, there are

certain things that stand out as the most apparent causes of the war. Some say, the

economic situation in America, while others say the states in ability to agree over the

issue of slavery. After reading certain documents pertaining to that era, I have come to

my own conclusions. I believe that the civil war was greatly caused by the northern

reaction and resistance to the fugitive slave law, the inactions of congress in regards to

dealing with slavery, and finally, the southern objection to the election of Abraham

Lincoln.

The fugitive slave act was met with many mixed feelings from the American

People. Northerners were upset, and against it, where as the southern slave holders were

thrilled to have a legal way to retrieve their runaway slaves. Unfortunately Southern slave

holders had to battle northern abolitionists to reap the benefits of the Fugitive Slave Act.

Senator Daniel Webster in an address to the congress said “one complaint of the South…

that there has been found at the north, among individuals and among legislatures of the

North , a disinclination to perform fully their constitutional duties…”(Document D).

Senator Webster’s address summarized the southern frustration with the North’s

disinclination to catch and return runaway slaves. This excerpt from his address is the

perfect representation of that feeling.

Another cause of the civil war was the inactions of congress to make any

productive decisions in regard to slavery. This may have been a means to pacify

sectionalism, by not condemning or supporting the practice, but in truth it only angered

both sides. In 1836 The House of Representatives heard the report made by The Pinckney

Committee, who said this in regards to Congresses policies on dealing with slavery.” All

petitions, memorials, resolutions, propositions, or papers relating in anyway or to any

extent what so ever, to the subject of slavery or the abolition of slavery, shall with out

being either printed or referred, be laid on the table and that no further action whatever

shall be had hereon.” (Document C) This presentation formally endorses congresses

inactions in regards to slavery and it also removed the issue of slavery as a bargaining

chip between the North and The South, which frustrated many people abolitionists nd

slave holders alike.

President Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860, in 1861 he was sworn in, and the

day after his inauguration South Carolina seceded from the union. South Carolina was to

be quickly followed by Georgia, Alabama and other sates in the deep South. According to

a breakdown of the popular and electoral votes for that election, we see that Abraham

Lincoln go no electoral votes South of Illinois, and was supported by a majority of

Northern states, on both sides of the continent (Document H). President Lincoln was not
favored by Southerners, but they might have found a common bond in Lincoln belief that

slavery had to be dealt with. He did not say whether he favored or condemned slavery,

but in a speech given in Alton Illinois in 1858 he said that slavery was not just an issue

for political office seekers, but for every one because it affects everyday aspects of

everyone’s lives (Document G).

In conclusion, after reading several papers of the time, it is my opinion that the

Civil war was caused by many things, but chiefly among them was the issue of slavery.

Everything from Congresses inactions to The Fugitive Slave Act, to The election of

President Lincoln and his political policies, played a role in tearing apart this nation.