Causes of the Civil War

Bracket 1: John Brown’s Raid

John Brown’s raid was undoubtedly more influential to the start of the Civil war than the Industrial Revolution because it was the event that solidified the South’s mistrust against the North and convinced them that that North was actively planning the murder of slaveholders and looking to destroy the Southern way of life. John Brown was a fervent abolitionist who believed that emancipation for slaves would only be brought to fruition by violence. His attempt to seize the arsenal was thwarted by U.S Marines led by Robert E. Lee. John Brown was executed for his rebellion, but his execution strengthened abolitionists feelings in the North and the abolitionists cause gained a martyr. Before the raid, the nation was divided but there was still hope for compromise. Brown’s raid crushed that hope (Martin B. Cherry). The South saw the Northern support as a clear intent to destroy their livelihoods and thus the hostile division between the North and South solidified, further intensifying the tension that eventually leads to war.

Bracket 2: Compromise of 1850

While racism was evident in every part of the country, The Civil War stemmed from the issue of slavery which makes the Compromise of 1850 a bigger, more vital cause to starting the war. California's request to be admitted into the Union sparked heated debates in Congress especially because it wanted to be a free state. Both the North and South did not want one to have more power over the other in the Senate. Henry Clay found a compromise to the issue with the Compromise of 1850 but much like the Missouri Compromise it was only a bandage solution. It increased tensions between the North and South over the issue of slavery which would eventually erupt into the Civil War. It brought the subject of slavery to the whole country and citizens who "were ambivalent about slavery now took a definitive stance against the institution" (PBS). The Compromise of 1850, unlike racism, increased animosity between the North and South and threatened the unity of the nation.

Bracket 3: Uncle Tom’s Cabin

King Cotton and Uncle Tom's Cabin both played a part in causing a great split between the North and South, but Uncle Tom's Cabin had a more significant impact. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin with the goal of writing something that would, "make this whole nation feel what accursed thing slavery is" (harrietbeecherstowecenter), and true to her goal, that's exactly the impact it made. The book describes a young slave's journey to freedom which touched the hearts of many, becoming an instant hit in the North and opening the eyes of many people who originally ignored the issue of slavery. It provided insight on the actual cruelty behind slavery and prompted more abolitionist movements. King Cotton really