Causes of the Civil War

The civil war was an international battle fought in the United States from 1861 to 1865. The war was fought between the Union and the Confederates. The Union was the northern states, and the Confederates were the southern states. There are many explanations for the cause of the civil war, but certain reasons may have contributed more significantly to the commencement of bloodshed. 

The civil war was caused by slavery wether you agree or not. David Goldfield once said "Both northerners and southerners recognized slavery as the immediate cause of the civil war". The dispute over slavery led to the succession of the south which ignited the war. The southern part of the United States was home to fertile land, on which an agrarian society was established. Slavery was a part of life in the south. It was the reason for the economic success in the south. The northern states were far more technologically advanced. The north had a larger population than the south, they manufactured more goods, and had more railroads, which allowed for easier transport. The north was able to gradually get rid of slavery. Slavery had been interwoven in the culture in the south and without it they would've diminished. The confederates threatened to disconnect from the country if slavery was taken away.

Abraham Lincoln was a key figure during the time period. The republican won the 1860 presidential election, and southerners feared the abolishment of slavery under his power. Lincoln was strongly against the expansion of slavery, although he said he would not interfere with it where it existed. 

John Brown, who was another important figure, may also have encouraged the war through his actions in Kansas. The battles started by Brown resulted in the deaths of many pro-slavery settlers in Kansas. 

Abolitionists fought to have slavery declared illegal in the territories of the Missouri Compromise.  This lead to the supporters of slavery fearing for the abolishment of slavery all throughout the U.S.

The Dred Scott Decision also was an influence for the civil war. Dred Scott was a slave who desired freedom. He requested citizenship through the American legal system, but he was denied, this contradicted the Missouri Compromise, which restricted slavery in certain territories.      

Slavery is obviously the theme here, and the war was not caused by anything other than slavery. Some may argue that the war was about agriculture and industry or the protection of states' rights, but this was not the case. All of  the above reasons lead to the civil war. These circumstances are common to each other because they are directly related to slavery. 

Evie Peterson
Thomas
US History
December 7, 2014


The Kansas Nebraska Act

          While trying to explain the complex way in which history works nothing just happens. It's a  chain process that unravels in a complex mess that can be explained in no other way than a long explanation. History is complex and irregular, and while it can be seen from many different perspectives, the story always comes back in a morphed version of the same story.
     The Missouri Compromise involved the regulation of slavery in the western territories. It made slavery illegal in Louisiana Territory, north of the parallel 36°30′. This act, however, was repealed my the Kansas- Nebraska Act.
     Popular sovereignty is the doctrine that states that the sovereign people of a territory should determine themselves the status of slavery. This idea came into role in the creation of the Kansas- Nebraska Act.  The Kansas–Nebraska Act was created in 1854 and not only opened new lands for settlement but also created the distinct territories of Kansas and Nebraska. This act repealed the                 Missouri Compromise of 1820 because it allowed white men to determine if they would allow slavery within each area or not. Stephan Douglas was the democrat who created this act in hopes to open thousands of farms and make a Midwestern Railroad.
     The Act opened Kansas Territory and Nebraska Territory to slavery and future admission of slave states by allowing the white male settlers to make this decision through "popular sovereignty." In my opinion, these acts ultimately set up for the civil war. These are examples of the chain reaction set off by the Missouri Compromise, or possibly the even event before that.

Cause and Effect of Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Civil War

In 1852, an abolitionist woman named Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote a book called Uncle Tom's Cabin.  Now this wasn't just an ordinary book, some may say that it actually stated the Civil War. 

Harriet Beecher Stowe was born in Connecticut and had 10 brothers and sisters. Her parents had taught them from a young age to make their voice known in the world and stand up for what they believed in and that's exactly what they did. Her brother Henry was an outspoken abolitionist and helped aid the free soil cause in Bleeding Kansas. It was time for Harriet to do something. At the time, she had already written about thirty books, however none of them ever became great sellers. While she was living in Cincinnati, she had noticed and been exposed to real runaway slaves, and hearing their stories broke her heart. She began to write down the tales she had heard from the slaves and put them together into short stories.  

After visiting one afternoon and reading Harriet's stories about the runaway slaves, her sister-in-law encouraged her to make a novel out of it and publish it. In 1852 it was finally published and nearly 300, 000 copies were sold in the north alone. It was a huge hit, and even people from Great Britain were buying it. It was the first thing that really opened people's eyes up to slavery and what it really was about, not just the stereotypes. Her book portrayed slave families that were forced to cope with separation by masters through sale. Uncle Tom mourned for the family he was forced to leave. In one heroic scene, Eliza made a daring dash across the frozen Ohio River to prevent the sale of her son by slave traders. The novel shows the perspective that slavery brings out the worst in the white masters, leading them to perpetrate moral atrocities they would otherwise never commit.

Her book really changed people's minds about slavery and caused an outbreak. Stowe had the chance to meet with President Abraham Lincoln a few years later and he was quite pleased and said, "So you're the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war." This may seem like a big exaggeration but to some degree it is the reason. Her book changed so many perspectives about slavery that people began to fight for what they believed in, and without her book, they might of had no idea what was really going on with slavery. Who would of thought that one small book about slavey could actually creat a huge impact with a country and start a war?!

American Renaisance

The American Renaissance, also known as the Antebellum period, took place in the mid-19th century. An American identity was found through the arts during this time. Many major literary works were produced. Washington Irving wrote The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which was published in 1820. This is one of the earliest examples of American fiction, which gathered popularity.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a short story, and is considered to be a Romance. Romanticism valued emotions over reason. Romanticism was a new way of thinking that offered a different perspective. In his novel, Irving portrays the idea of the supernatural. A good versus evil theme is emplaced. Before Romanticism, writing focused on knowledge and religion. This reform introduced Americans to a more enjoyable style of literature.    

American Renaissance Painting - "lawn party"

    Above is the painting, "Lawn Painting" by American renaissance painter Archibald John Motley Jr.  This picture describes the American renaissance (this painting is in Harlem, New York) because it shows the new spirit of America, the New World.  Also, this painting portrays the new art that was coming about during the time period because it was painted during the renaissance (1937 is the exact date). But the main idea behind the picture is the new ways of Americans, who have started new trends and live new lifestyles.   This painting portrays the American people in a time of happiness and emphasizes the bright culture that was coming about.  Inside the painting, there is a black man featured as a servant and white people as those with freedom.  It seems to reflect the beautiful America and its fully spirited citizens who are enjoying the new trends of the country.

    I like this painting because it gives off a great message about the American Renaissance, the strive for happiness and new ways.  Also, I like all that the people are doing because it shows that everybody was taking up new things and enjoying life.  Not only telling about lifestyle but showing the new style of artwork which conveys emotions and nature of humans during this historical period.

you can read more about Archibald John Motley Jr. at : http://www.areaofdesign.com/americanicons/motley.htm

Who really won the War of 1812?

We have all heard the story of the Star Spangle Banner and the victory at the Battle of New Orleans.  We even have songs and heroes from the war.  It is know in the United States as the Second War for Independence.  But in Britain it is referred to as the forgotten war.  Why such a difference?  Why do the Canadians believe they won?  Who were the key players in the events that lead up to this battle of cousins?

Here are our class readings exploring the many voices of the War of 1812:

• The British View the War of 1812 Quite Differently Than Americans Do
• A British Perspective on the War of 1812
• A Native Nations Perspective on the War of 1812

Much of the discussion in class moved away from who won the war, being that the Treaty of Ghent was a status quo agreement.  So we moved towards asking: Why is the War of 1812 known as many different names?  America's name being the most descriptive: The Second War for Independence.

Here are a two videos that epitomizes the extreme nationalism that still exists today regarding the War of 1812

The First Americans

Our first Blog assignment is addressing the many theories on the original peopling of the Americas. You are charged with supporting or refuting one of the theories covered in our class activities.  The historical skill you will be assessed on (in addition to your display of content) is the use of evidence to support an argument.

Which of the theories on the peopling of the Americas has the most or least credence?

Construct and post your response on your personal Blog.  Post a abstract (summary) with a link to your Blog in the comments section of this post.

Welcome to Irish History

This Blog is dedicated to the study of History at Cathedral High School.  The pages that follow contain links to real historiographies created by Cathedral High School students.
Please read, comment and help in our studies!
US History A
US History X
Dennis Thomas
dthomas@gocathedral.com