Causes and consequences of the Civil War

Political consequences

—Abe Lincoln's death in April of 1865 —people understood that slavery was important; it was one of the South's main resources during the civil war

Economic consequences

—Southern economy is now in ruins; running short on labor due to freedom of slaves —more battles began to take place —foreign nations learned to grow their own crops and didn't need to buy it from the south —both the north and the south are in ruins

Political causes

—State rights If states had the rights to disregard any federal law they disagree with —California becoming a free state —Popular sovereignty; slave issue in Utah and New Mexico —Most controversial was the Fugitive Slave Act —desire to spread slavery caused the southerners to push the U.S. to secure more foreign territories —Republican Party made to speak for anti-slavery activists

Social causes

—Underground Railroad: System created to bring slaves North to freedom —social division because some people wanted slavery and some did not

social consequences

African Americans could now freely progress throughout society

Economic causes

The North and the South has developed different ways of life —the North was an industrial center —the Southern economy remained rural and was based on agriculture; used rivers for transportation —South relies heavily on slave labor