Antebellum America
America has just experienced a surge of growth, and now the North and South are developing very differently:
North:
The North developed industrially. Factories, manufacturing.
Growth of cities and towns.
More railroads, canals, roads, etc.
Population much greater than in the South.
South:
Agriculture was the key to the economy. Cash crops: cotton, rice, tobacco and sugarcane.
Most people lived on farms. Fewer cities and towns than in the North.
Cotton became King after the invention of the cotton gin. Created a greater demand for slaves.
75% of the white population did not own any slaves. Only 3% owned more than 20 slaves.
North:
The North developed industrially. Factories, manufacturing.
Growth of cities and towns.
More railroads, canals, roads, etc.
Population much greater than in the South.
South:
Agriculture was the key to the economy. Cash crops: cotton, rice, tobacco and sugarcane.
Most people lived on farms. Fewer cities and towns than in the North.
Cotton became King after the invention of the cotton gin. Created a greater demand for slaves.
75% of the white population did not own any slaves. Only 3% owned more than 20 slaves.
Slavery and the Underground Railroad
Here is a video on how slavery got started in the U.S.
Here is a video about of Harriett Tubman and the Underground Railroad.
Learn more about the Underground Railroad
National Geographic
Social Studies for Kids
Many people fought against slavery, and they were known as "Abolitionists."
Below is a link that offers more information about several prominent abolitionists:
Other Abolitionists
Frederick Douglass:
Frederick Douglass was a runaway slave who gave inspiring speeches about slave life in the south.
Click on the picture below to read his biography.
National Geographic
Social Studies for Kids
Many people fought against slavery, and they were known as "Abolitionists."
Below is a link that offers more information about several prominent abolitionists:
Other Abolitionists
Frederick Douglass:
Frederick Douglass was a runaway slave who gave inspiring speeches about slave life in the south.
Click on the picture below to read his biography.
Missouri Compromise (1820):
Grew out of disputes as to whether new states would be slave states or free states.
How could Missouri enter the Union?
The South wanted Missouri to enter as a slave state, and the North disagreed. They were afraid it would tip the delicate balance that was holding the country together. Eventually, the sides reached a compromise:
• Maine entered the union as a free state
• Missouri entered as a slave state
• Slavery is banned North of the 36/30 line of latitude,
this included the Louisiana Purchase territory that was north of Missouri's southern border.
Grew out of disputes as to whether new states would be slave states or free states.
How could Missouri enter the Union?
The South wanted Missouri to enter as a slave state, and the North disagreed. They were afraid it would tip the delicate balance that was holding the country together. Eventually, the sides reached a compromise:
• Maine entered the union as a free state
• Missouri entered as a slave state
• Slavery is banned North of the 36/30 line of latitude,
this included the Louisiana Purchase territory that was north of Missouri's southern border.
- People in the North were encouraged to return runaway slaves to their masters.
- Slavery was not prohibited anywhere, not even in the free territories.
Here's more information about the Missouri Compromise:
The Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott decision further divided the North and South and pushed them closer to war.
Read here to find out why...
Read here to find out why...
Compromise of 1850
Benefits for the North:
Benefits for the South
The Compromise of 1850 included the Fugitive Slave Act. This stated that runaway slaves must be returned to there masters. Click here to read the Fugitive Slave Act in its original working.
Benefits for the North:
- California came into the Union as a free state
- Slave trading was ended in the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.)
- Texas gave up its idea of annexing New Mexico, thus taking territory away from a slave state
Benefits for the South
- The territories of New Mexico and Utah would determine whether they wanted to be slave or free
- The residents of D.C. could keep the slaves they already had
- Congress would pass a law (the Fugitive Slave Act) stating that slaves who ran away to free states would be returned to their owners
The Compromise of 1850 included the Fugitive Slave Act. This stated that runaway slaves must be returned to there masters. Click here to read the Fugitive Slave Act in its original working.
Here is more information on the Compromise 0f 1850
Kansas - Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska act introduced the policy of Popular Sovereignty to our growing nation. This stated that it would be up to each new state to vote on whether they wanted to be a free state or a slave state. Read below to find out more about the problems that happened because of this policy.
Social Studies For Kids
The History Place
The Kansas-Nebraska act introduced the policy of Popular Sovereignty to our growing nation. This stated that it would be up to each new state to vote on whether they wanted to be a free state or a slave state. Read below to find out more about the problems that happened because of this policy.
Social Studies For Kids
The History Place
All of this and much more contributed to the four main causes of the Civil War.
Then came "the Straw That Broke the Camel's Back".
Problems were escalating around the country and it was clear that we were on the brink of war. Then two events happened that pushed everything over the edge. Read hear to find out more.
John Brown's Raid at Harper's Ferry
PBS
Library of Congress
National Parks Service
Think Quest
The Election of 1860
Background on the Election of 1860
Lincoln's Bio
Social Studies For Kids
Info from the White House
Info Please
History Central
Election Map
Problems were escalating around the country and it was clear that we were on the brink of war. Then two events happened that pushed everything over the edge. Read hear to find out more.
John Brown's Raid at Harper's Ferry
PBS
Library of Congress
National Parks Service
Think Quest
The Election of 1860
Background on the Election of 1860
Lincoln's Bio
Social Studies For Kids
Info from the White House
Info Please
History Central
Election Map