American Civil War

 Reasons
 Phases
 Contribution of Abraham Lincoln

 Reasons
 Compact Sovereignty: American Colonies were superficially divided into Northern States
and Southern States having different pattern of economic structure. Northern States were
industrialized states while Southern States were having dominant agriculture economy.
This change in economic pattern led to the birth of differences in the interest of both the
groups which started with Compact Sovereignty and ended with Civil War in America.
The rift between North and South started on the issue of Compact Sovereignty. The
Southern States were of the opinion as American Federation is the outcome of voluntary
decisions of the states so states should have special rights including the Right of Secession
from Union. This was opposed by the Northern States as they wanted stronger Union. This
led to the birth of two political parties Federal Party supported the cause of Union while
Non-Federal Party supported the cause of strong states. These parties later on turned into
Republicans and Democrats’.

 Tariff Policy: The rift of American Colonies turn into struggle on the issue of Tariff Policy
because the increase in the import duty was profitable for Northern States as it would have
given protection to the local industries but Southern States where agriculture economy was
dominant still imported agriculture tools and implements slaves etc. and this was against
their economic interest.

 Struggle turned into Blast on the issue of Slavery: Northern States were industrialized
states and Free states as slavery was not accepted these states while Southern States
were slave states with dominant agriculture economy. As Northern States attacked slavery
system on the ground of Morality and Economy it appeared to be a danger for feudal lords
of Southern States and this prove to be the important cause for Civil War in America.

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 Phases:

a) Missouri
Agreement
1820

d) b) Anti
Confederation
of States
Phases Slavery
Movement

C) Violation
of Missouri
Agreement

a) Missouri Agreement 1820: With Independence of America in 1783, America adopted the
Policy of Conquest and Purchase for expansion of American territories. Example: Louisiana
was purchased from Napoleon 1803. Florida was taken away from Spain 1813. Areas of
California, Texas were taken away from Mexico after Mexican War of 1840’s. This
expansion of American Territory led to the birth of New States which raised a question in
front of American Union about the status of New States whether they will be Free states or
slave states. The infant America opted for peaceful strategy and that was Missouri
Agreement of 1820. Under this agreement it was decided that states above 36 degree 33
Minutes north will be Free states while the states below it will be slave states.

b) Anti Slavery Movement: Although Missouri Agreement made a comprise between Northern
and Southern States but it seems that capitalism adopted back door policy to fight against
slavery system. This was evident by certain developments:

 Garrison started newspaper “Liberator” declaring crusade against slavery system.

 Formation of Anti Slavery Society in 1833.
 Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a novel written by Mrs. Stowe presented the miserable condition of
slaves in America.

These developments in America alarmed the feudal lords of Slave States.

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c) Violation of Missouri Agreement: The Southern States were alarmed by the developments
in Northern States and in this situation the two incidents gave great enthusiasm to the
feudal lords of Southern States.
 Declaration of Stephen Douglas(Senator of Illinois)
 Dred Scott Episode

Note:

Stephen Douglas, the Senator of Illinois was of the opinion that the status of states should
depend on the wish or will of the people.

In Dred Scott Case, Supreme Court of America gave the judgement that slavery is a legal
institution and a person will remain slave till he is not liberated by his master. These
incidents strengthened the cause of Southern States and taking the advantage of this
situation they turned Kansas and Nebraska into slave states which were basically above 36
degree 33 minutes north. This was the violation of Missouri Agreement.

d) Confederation Of States: The violation of Missouri Agreement prepared the ground for
direct clash between both the parties and in this the developments in North deteriorated the
condition in America. Example:
 Birth of Republican Party (old name Federal Party) 1854 which was the strong supporter of
a strong Union and also declared its agenda to abolish slavery system.
 James Brown Episode: He was an anti slavery crusader who targeted Military Arsenal and
distributed arms and ammunitions to slaves to fight against the atrocities of their masters.
 Abraham Lincoln became the Republican President in 1860 and these developments were
clear cut message to the Southern States that the days of slavery were over in America.

In these circumstances, the Southern States like Florida, Texas, and Alabama etc.
separated from American Union in 1861 and formed Confederation of States. Davis
Jefferson became the President of this Confederation and he made three important
declarations:

 Slavery, a legal institution.

 Abolition of Tariff Policy.
 Special Status to the States.

This was the beginning of Civil War in America which was smartly handled by Abraham
Lincoln.

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 Role of Abraham Lincoln:

a) Changed
the issue of
Civil War

d) New
Tradition Role b) Role of
Volunteers.

c) 13th
Amendment
Act

a) Changed the issue: With the beginning of Civil War, Lincoln changed the issue when he
said that his immediate priority was protection of American Union which was achieved by
the sacrifice of our ancestors. He made it clear that slavery was not the matter of concern.
The important issue was American Union. In this way, he was successful in creating
emotional wave in America.
b) Role of Volunteers: Apart from Military Action against the rebels Abraham Lincoln took the
help of volunteers to propagate the story of birth of America in 18 th Century. These initial
steps created confusion in the rivals and Lincoln was successful in getting the support of
the masses in America.
c) 13th Amendment 1865: by which he abolished slavery in America and in this way he was
successful in getting the unconditional support of this class in America.
d) New Tradition: Lincoln started a new tradition in American Army of Moral Upliftment and
Enthusiasm to the soldiers by the presence of the leader of the State with them. This was
evident in the Battle of Orleans and Gettysburg. In this way Abraham Lincoln completed an
impossible task of abolishing slavery and protecting American Union. The Civil War proved
to be transitional phase in American History as America emerged as a powerful state which
gave promotion to economic development and played very important role in emergence of
America as a super power in 20th Century.

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 Industrialization in US

Base

Discoveries and
Opportunity
Inventions

1) Base:
The presence of sound base in Economy and Polity played important role in
Industrialization in US. Example:
 Abundance of Natural Resources like fertile plains, precious metals and the areas like
Pennsylvania were rich in resources like coal and iron.
 In 17th – 18th Century, the European Settlers of America turned it into a Area of Mines and
Plantations in which important plantations were of sugarcane, tobacco, cotton etc.
 Birth of a sound and stable political system with 3rd Philadelphia Convention in 1787.
2) Opportunity:
The base for development in America was present and in this European Crisis of 18 th and
19th Century proved to be turning point for America. Example:
 French Revolution of 1789
 Emergence of Napoleon 1799
 Emergence of Crisis from 1815 to 1915

America was born in 1787 and the economy and polity of America were in infant stage in 1787.
Before European powers would concentrate on America the French Revolution of 1789 became
the beginning of European Crisis. It raised the slogan of Liberty, Fraternity, Equality which became
the cause of concern for the Monarchies in Europe. This was followed by the Emergence of
Napoleon in France in 1799. Although he failed to turn France into a super power but in 16 years
of his rule he subjugated entire Europe and carried the philosophies of French Revolution in entire
Europe. As he declared his objective of eliminating Britain as a Super Power so Britain was
completely involved in the affairs of France and Europe. Napoleon was removed from power in
1815 but then he ignited the fire of Modern Era in Europe which led to certain important
developments like Revolution of 1830, 1848; Birth of Germany and Italy in 1870 and then finally
the Two World Wars. In this way this European Crisis of 18th, 19th and 20th Century provided
isolation to America and it also appeared as a safe destination for investments and this turned

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America into an industrialized nation in 19th Century which got momentum because of New
Discoveries, Inventions and Cotton Chain Reaction.

3) Developments in America:
 Infrastructural Revolution in America.
 Waltham System of 1812( Revolution in Textile Industry)
 Iron and Steel Industry
 Cotton Chain Reaction(Mother of all developments)

o Infrastructural Revolution in America: In the 19th Century, America went through

infrastructural revolution. Example:
Construction of Metallic Roads
Beginning of Canal age in America from 1812 i.e. connecting lakes and rivers through
canals with important urban centre’s. Eg: Erie Canal, Philadelphia Canal.
Continental Railway System which proved to be arteries of America. In this important
networks were North-Pacific Railway, South-Pacific Railway, Grand Northern Railway,
etc. Till 1850 Railway Network covered the distance of 50000km in America.
American also got the edge in shipping industry and in 2 nd half of 19th Century American
cargo ships were much superior in comparison to the cargo ships of Britain and France.

o Waltham System:
Elis Whitney in 1793 invents Cotton gin which was latter on reformed by Waltham and all
the functions of Textile Industry like spinning, weaving, dying, printing was done by a
single machine and this was called as Waltham System.

o Iron and Steel Industry:

America also became pioneer in steel industry when Fredrick in 1833 developed the art of
producing steel by melting iron ore with coal. All these developments got promotion
because of Cotton Chain Reaction.

o Cotton Chain Reaction:

Napoleon failed to defeat Britain in direct war. So he opted for proxy war against Britain
called Continental Policy. It was commercial war by Napoleon against Britain and under it
Napoleon and his European Allies like Spain, Austria, and Russia closed their doors for
Britain Goods. This became an opportunity for America to turn Europe into its market and
this led to the Cotton Chain Reaction.
Cotton and Iron were already present in America. The demand from Europe led to the
establishment of Cotton Textile Industries. This in turn gave promotion to Iron and Steel
Industry and as all these ventures required capital so this led to the establishment of
Corporations and Stock Exchange. As this entire development was based on Cotton so it

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 was called Cotton Chain Reaction. This reaction played very important role in turning US
into a industrialized nation.

Emerging America in 19th Century faced number of challenges in which the important one was
Civil War in America.

The America’s History of 18th and 19th Century is of great relevance to Modern World and in this
one of the important outcome of America Revolution was French Revolution which gave
momentum to Modern World History.

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