Created by oro56 on Jan 2, 2010
Last updated: 03/11/10 at 09:10 AM
Events Leading Up to the Civil War has no followers yet. Be the first one to follow.
The Crittenden Compromise was a last ditch attempt to save the Union from dissolution. It is included in the top ten because if the South had accepted; the Union would be preserved. However, it is not ranked higher because by the time the Compromise was created; the South had already made up its mind to secede. Rank:8 The cartoon shows the Crittenden Compromise being stuffed into a Republican's mouth while the Republican clutches a No compromise sign.
I rank the election of 1860 as seventh on the scale because the election of Stephen Douglas might have delayed the secession of the South. His rhetoric and his previous Act of 1854 would probably have given the South pause. However, Lincoln's position against slavery in the territories infuriated the South and caused secession.
It is only ranked 7th because Stephen Douglas had already angered many southerners; so the secession might have ocurred anyway.
Rank:7
Do see the link: you'll like it
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/images/elections/maps/1860.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/showelection.php%3Fyear%3D1860&usg=__USqQHQ-4xyx-QU2sfqHyy085twY=&h=386&w=600&sz=52&hl=en&start=10&sig2=CFoYkvUvIHLIjyBNrcaw7Q&tbnid=OI6Unj34oVIxuM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3DThe%2Belection%2Bof%2B1860%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den&ei=5bw_S6OdB5DIlAfa_OiWBw
John Brown's raid deserves inclusion in the top 5 events leading to the Civil War because his desire to inatiate a slave uprising fufilled the worst nightmare of many Southerners. While the North hailed John Brown's heroism; the South began to believe that the North wished to destroy the South. Rank:5
I rank the election as 9th because the election showed the power of the Republicans. The Antislavery Republicans could win the White House,possibly, without a single vote from the South. This frustrated the South; because they had become the minority. Also, the South realized that it did not have enough power to advance its own interests (slavery) in the Republic. Since the North no longer, had to compromise--the South was marginalized. However, this election was not as important as the forces that shaped the new Republican party. Rank:9
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was one of the foremost causes of the Civil War. Stephen A. Douglas opened up Nebraska and Kansas to slavery through the idea of popular sovreignity. This caused "Bleeding Kansas" in which groups of pro-and anti slavery settlers fought against each other in a horribe bloodbath.This whole situation was almost a test-run of the Civil War. This Act split the North and The South with irreconciable differences. RANK:4
This book stirred Northerners to action. The book portrayed slave-owners as monstrously cruel and inhuman. The Northerners were moved to tears by the cruelt inflicted upon Tom. The abolistionists movement gained power. THe southerners believed the book was untrue and felt that the Northerners' attitudes were prejuidicial. Because of the books' polarizing effect on the North and South. it is included in the top 10. However, the book only enforced pre-existing attitudes. Rank :10
The northerners loathed this law because southerners could arrest any African American ,even free ones. Also, since the North disliked slavery; they hated abetting slavers. Finally, this law penalized many northerners who hid/aided slaves.This law was so divisive; it inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe to write Uncle tom's Cabin. This law was so divisive and infuriated the North so much, I rank it as 6th. However, it attains no higher rank because it caused no actual bloodshed. (Except that of African Americans) Rank:6
The Wilmot Proviso was one of the first attempts by the North to halt the spread of slavery. David Wilmot proposed that a tax bill be ammended to forbid slavery in the teritories. It passed the House twice but was defeated in the senate.
This proviso was important because it increased the tensions between the North and the South.It is ranked third because it was a precursor of the clash of idealogies between the North and the South.
Rank: 3
P.S.-read the link, Mr. romanksi!
http://elektratig.blogspot.com/2009/01/david-wilmot-on-creation-of-wilmot.html
The Mexican America war contributed to the Civil War immensely because the war was seen by northerns as an unfair attempt to expand slavery. Also, the war brought new territories into play like California and New Mexico. These new territories upset the fragile balance already created between slave and free states. The dispute over which territories would be free and which would allow slavery indirectly caysed the Civil War; which is why I rank the Mexican War as 1.
RANK: 1
http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/61/64961-004-0FCD63B1.gif
James K. Polk helped cause the Civil War becaus his expansionist mindset led to the divisive Mexican American War. He also provoked Mexico when he sent Zachary Taylor to territory claimed by Mexico. Furthermore,John Tyler took Polk's election as a signal to annex Texas. Texas was a slave state. Polk masterminded over the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo;Polk's desire to expand the U.S. and with it slavery, alienated the North. He also brought new territories into play, whose slave/free status would be hotly contested. I rank his election as 2nd because he caused the Mexican-American War which inflamed tensions between the North and South. RANK:2
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