The Election of 1860 | The Secession Crisis

Fort Sumter | The Opposing Sides | A Frightful Conflict

The Effects of the War

1. The Election of 1860 (see Goldfield, pp. 412-413)

Candidates:

• Stephen Douglas (Northern Democrat)
• John Breckinridge (Southern Democrat)
• Abraham Lincoln (Republican)
• John Bell (Constitutional Union)

2. The Secession Crisis (see Goldfield, pp. 413-415)

Southern secession

• South Carolina votes to secede—Dec 1860
• By Feb. 1861—six other states secede
• Create Confederate States of America
• Four other states threaten to secede
• Jefferson Davis chosen as president

3. Fort Sumter (see Goldfield, p. 415-418)

Fort Sumter, South Carolina

• Still controlled by Union
• Lincoln sends supplies to fort
• Confederates attack, April 12, 1861
• Lincoln calls for volunteers
• Four other southern states secede

Lincoln’s position:

• Secession is a rejection of democracy
• War to be fought to preserve Union

4. The Opposing Sides (see Goldfield, pp. 425-429)

Northern advantages

• Greater population; larger army
• Industrial production
• Transportation system

Southern advantages

• Fighting a defensive war
• Population united for cause
• Cotton

6. The Effects of the War

Impact of Civil War

• 618,000 dead
• Women involved in expanded roles
• Slavery abolished (4 million freed)
• Federal government supreme over the states
• Federal power in economic policy
• Morrill Tariff
• Homestead Act
• Transcontinental railroad
• Morrill Land Grant Act