Amercan Civil War

American Civil War

No event in U.S. history evokes controversy like a discussion of the causes of

The American Civil War. From old men to great authors and politicians, the

argument rages on. "Slavery was the issue that hung the South and caused the

Civil War." Another argument: "It was because the South seceded." Yet others

argue that it was "industry" versus "agriculture" or in other words, Hamiltonians

versus Jeffersonians.

However, the Civil War was inevitable because of not only these reasons, but

many others as well. The road to war actually began years before a shot was

fired, and the political policies of the era fueled the flames of dissention.

In interviewing randomly and asking a bystander the cause of the war between

the states, a common response would be, "It was a war to free the slaves." If that

was the reason, then why were they rejected as soldiers when Lincoln proclaimed

"a state of insurrection?" One could argue the fact that the blacks weren't truly

free at all. Instead, it took the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's to set the

American Blacks free in this country; however, the fight for equality has not been

resolved fully. For example, in 1995, racial tension was at fever pitch when it

was proposed that a statue in memory of the late famous tennis champion, Arthur

Ashe, a black athlete, be erected in downtown Richmond, Virginia, his

hometown. Traditionalists, (whites) argued that it was not proper to place the

statue of a tennis star in the presence of statues honoring Robert E. Lee and

Stonewall Jackson. Black groups objected because they did not want his statue

placed in an area of town that would not welcome Ashe in his own lifetime.

(Davis, p xiii)

In 1970 another sign of the times literally was a sign erected outside

Wilmington, North Carolina, which read "The Ku Klux Klan welcomes you."

(xiii)

Politically the years leading up to the Civil War were like a volcano waiting to

Erupt between the North and South. In 1820 the Missouri Compromise was

enacted. (Catton, p 57) This act was set about to calm the tempers of both sides.

After the emergence of Texas, California, and Oregon there were no more

slavery states to be allowed to the Union. At the time there were twenty four

states; twelve pro-slavery, and twelve anti-slavery. This seemed favorable for all

concerned. It gave both sides of the slavery issue equal power in Congress. Upon

Texas ousting the Mexicans in 1836, they set about establishing themselves as a

pro-slavery republic. Once again tensions ran high as they were not allowed to

enter the Union because no one in Congress wanted to re-visit the violate issue of

slavery.

Adding to these tensions were more and more voices of dissension. Moderates

like Clay and Webster who were willing to compromise their views on the

slavery issue for the benefit of keeping the Union intact. Some wanted to let the

issue of slavery lie on the