Section #4 - Source Documents
Source Document By Causal Themes
| List of Causes | How does this contribute to causing the war? | Which documents are linked to this cause? |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Sectional Economics | The South’s commitment to agriculture fights against the North’s wish for industrialization. | 1. Adam Smith Wealth of Nations essay (177) – External Link 2. James H Hammond Cotton Is King speech (1858) – External Link |
| 2. States’ Rights | The North’s call for a strong central government which conflicts with the South’s belief in state sovereignty. | 3. US Constitution 4. Bill of Rights (10th Amendment) |
| 3. Racism | Anti-black racism in the North underlies the ban on expanding slavery into the west. | 5. US Constitution (3/5th clause) 6. The Liberator 7. The Oregon Constitution 8. Fred Douglas 4th of July speech – External Link 9. JH Thornwell The Rights and Duties of Masters – External Link |
| 4. Slavery Expansion | In banning the expansion of slavery in the west, the North eliminates windfall profits on slave auctions. | 10. Talmadge Amendment 11. Missouri Compromise 12. Mexican War Declaration 13. The Wilmot Amendment 14. Compromise of 1850 15. Popular Sovereignty 16. Cooper Union Speech – External Link 17. The Republican Party Platform 18. Lincoln’s 1st Inaugural Address |
| 5. Second Awakening | The religious revivals in the North create reform missions, including an end to slavery. | 19. The Liberator 20. William Booth Salvation Army speech – External Link |
| 6. Abolition | Abolition of slavery threatens Southern wealth in slaves. | 21. The Liberator 22. Sumner “Crime Against Kansas” speech – External Link |
| 7. Black Experience | Black leaders themselves fight back against the South’s economic dependence on slavery. | 23. Sojourner Truth “Ain’t I A Woman” lecture – External Link 24. Fred Douglas 4th of July speech – External Link |
| 8. Nullification | The South’s tariff nullification tactics set the stage for secession from its contract with the Union. | 25. US Constitution 26. Calhoun speech on Nullification (1831) – External Link |
| 9. Territorial Constitutions | The battle over Free vs. Slave State designations in the western territories fuels North-South antagonism. | 27. Missouri Compromise 28. Popular Sovereignty 29. The Kansas-Nebraska Act – External Link |
| 10. Legal Rulings | Landmark decisions go for and against the South’s efforts to sustain slavery. | 30. US Constitution 31. Missouri Compromise 32. The Dred Scott ruling – External Link |
| 11. Public Violence | Attacks on abolitionists and warfare in Kansas turn verbal disputes into murderous engagements. | 33. Code Duello – External Link |
| 12. Voting Power | The South feels the loss of voting power in the House when the population grows faster in the North. | 34. Census populations: North vs. South 1820/1830/1840/1850/1860– External Link |
| 13. Political Upheaval | The rise of the Free Soil and Republican parties are an existential threat to slavery in the west. | 35. Washington’s Farewell 36. Free Soil Party Platform – External Link |
| 14. Lincoln | Lincoln’s election and his subsequent decisions make war against the South inevitable. | 37. Cooper Union Speech – External Link 38. 1st Inaugural Address |
| 15. Cultural Divisions | The aristocratic culture of the Southern slave owners clashes with the egalitarian values of the Northerners. | 39. Mary Chestnut’s Diary – External Link |