Section #1 - Causal Factors
Lincoln
Lincoln’s election and his subsequent decisions make war against the South inevitable.
| Year | Event | Description | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1847 | Lincoln denounces the Mexican War. | Abraham Lincoln delivers his “spot speech” questioning President Polk’s claim that Mexico attacked on U.S. soil. | Chapter 134 |
| 1858 | House Divided Speech. | Accepting the Senate nomination, Lincoln warns that the government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. | Chapter 230 |
| 1860 | Lincoln carries the Northern states. | Lincoln becomes the 16th President with only 39.8% of the popular vote, leading to Southern secession. | Chapter 255 |
| 1861 | Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address. | Pleads for reconciliation while stating that the Union is perpetual and any act against it is “insurrection.” | Chapter 280 |