The American Civil War Lesson: Causes, Events, and Consequences

Lesson Overview

• What Caused the American Civil War?
• Timeline of Major Events in the Civil War
• Who Were the Key Leaders in the Civil War?
• What Was the Impact of the Emancipation Proclamation?
• What Were the Consequences of the Civil War?

This lesson examines the American Civil War, one of the most defining events in U.S. history, exploring its root causes, key battles, and lasting consequences. You will gain insights into how deep divisions over slavery, states' rights, and economic differences sparked conflict between the North and South. 

What Caused the American Civil War?

Slavery and Sectionalism

• The North had an industrial economy and opposed the expansion of slavery.
• The South relied on plantation agriculture and supported slavery to maintain its economy.
• Abolitionists in the North worked to end slavery, increasing tensions.

Political Conflicts and Compromises

• Three-Fifths Compromise (1787): Counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation in Congress.
• Missouri Compromise (1820): Allowed Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, banning slavery north of the 36°30′ line.
• Compromise of 1850: Allowed California as a free state, introduced popular sovereignty in other territories, and passed the Fugitive Slave Act.

Key Events Leading to War

• Dred Scott Decision (1857): The Supreme Court ruled that African Americans were not citizens and that Congress could not ban slavery in the territories.
• John Brown's Raid (1859): An abolitionist led a raid on a federal armory to start a slave uprising. He was captured and executed, alarming the South.
• Lincoln's Election (1860): Abraham Lincoln, who opposed the expansion of slavery, was elected president. Southern states feared he would end slavery and began to secede from the Union.

Real Talk, Can You Ace This Quiz or Nah?

American Civil War Quiz

Timeline of Major Events in the Civil War

Here is the timeline of major events in the Civil War: 

Who Were the Key Leaders in the Civil War?

Union Leaders (North)

• Abraham Lincoln: President of the United States. Fought to preserve the Union and later focused on ending slavery.
• Ulysses S. Grant: Union general who defeated Robert E. Lee and led the Union to victory.
• William T. Sherman: Led total war tactics, destroying Confederate cities in Sherman's March to the Sea.

Confederate Leaders (South)

• Jefferson Davis: President of the Confederate States of America.
• Robert E. Lee: Confederate general who led the Southern army and surrendered in 1865.
• Stonewall Jackson: A skilled Confederate general, died in battle in 1863.

What Was the Impact of the Emancipation Proclamation?

• Issued by Lincoln in 1863, freeing enslaved people in Confederate states.
• Shifted the war's focus from preserving the Union to ending slavery.
• Allowed African Americans to join the Union Army, strengthening the North's forces.
• Prevented European nations from supporting the Confederacy.

What Were the Consequences of the Civil War?

End of Slavery and Legal Changes

• 13th Amendment (1865): Officially abolished slavery in all U.S. states.
• 14th Amendment (1868): Granted citizenship and equal protection to all people born in the U.S.
• 15th Amendment (1870): Gave African American men the right to vote.

Reconstruction Era (1865–1877)

• Southern states were occupied by Union troops to enforce new laws.
• Freedmen's Bureau helped former slaves with education, housing, and jobs.
• Southern resistance led to the rise of groups like the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), which tried to limit African American rights.

Economic and Political Effects

• The South's economy was devastated, and plantations struggled without enslaved labor.
• The U.S. government grew stronger, proving that states could not secede from the Union.
• Veterans from both sides struggled to rebuild their lives after the war's destruction.

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American History Civil War Exam!