Civil War Began in 1787 free essay sample

Though the Civil War itself did not begin in 1787, many events from that point lead up to it. Such events like the creation of the â€Å"Northwest Ordinance of 1787†. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was a system of government for the territory North of Ohio. In these territories slavery would be prohibited. While in the south cotton was becoming very profitable after the invention of the cotton gin in 1793. The southern economy depended solely on cotton production. They needed cheap labor, which meant a lot of slaves. Northern economy was based more on industries rather than agriculture. The north industry would buy the raw cotton and turn into finished goods. So since the south was based on a plantation system while the north was focused on city life. This meant the north’s society evolved as people of different cultures and classed had to work together, while the south continued to hold on to an antiquated social order. We will write a custom essay sample on Civil War Began in 1787? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This difference between the norths would cause problems in the future. The Missouri Compromise passed in 1820 that passed a rule that prohibited slavery in states from the former Louisiana Purchase and Main. Leaving Missouri and west of it slave states. Which later on the Southern believed that slavery would be under attack and began to build arguments to protect it. The Mexican War of 1845–1846 was fueled, in part, by the desire of the United States to annex Texas. President James Polk asked Congress in August 1846 for $2 million to help him negotiate peace and settle the boundary with Mexico. Polk sought the acquisition of Texas and other Mexican territories. Wilmot quickly offered his proposal, known as the Wilmot Proviso, which he attached to President Polks funding measure. The proviso would have prohibited slavery in the new territories acquired from Mexico, including California. The 1846 Wilmot Proviso was a bold attempt by opponents of slavery to prevent its introduction in the territories purchased from Mexico following the Mexican War. Named after its sponsor, Democratic representative David Wilmot of Pennsylvania, the proviso never passed both houses of Congress, but it did ignite an intense national debate over slavery that led to the creation of the antislavery Republican Party in 1854. Compromise of 1850 was created by Henry Clay and others to deal with the balance between slave and Free states, northern and southern interest. One of the provisions was the Fugitive Slave Act. All runaway slaves were, upon capture, to be returned to their masters. In 1852 Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Toms Cabin. Sympathy began for the abolitionists and against slavery and slave holders. In 1854 the Nebraska Act created two new territories that would allow the states to use popular sovereignty to determine whether they would free or slave. The real issues were in Kansas where proslavery Missourians began to pour into the state to help force it to be slave. These â€Å"Border Ruffians† caused a fight in Lawrence called â€Å"bleeding Kansas† John Brown was a white man who hated slavery. He was very religious and thought slavery was against what the bible says. He was a mean and violent man. He thought that the only way to end slavery was with violence. On October 10, 1856 John Brown and group of black and white people, including his sons, rode into the small village in Virginia. The village name was Harpers Ferry. They had lots of weapons and stole even more. They attacked people at railroad station and took some of them hostage. The people in town fought back and many people from Browns group were killed. The day after, Robert E. Lee brought marines to town. They arrested John Brown and killed most of his group. Brown was hanged. Attack at Harpers Ferry started a way to Civil War because it made differences between the North and the South even greater. The Final and most decisive act to infuriate the South was the election of Abraham Lincoln as President in 1860. Before 1860 many Southern states, especially South Carolina made it clear that if the North gained control of Congress they would secede. Lincoln won the election without carrying any of the Southern States, even though he had pledged himself not to interfere with slavery where it existed, but by the same token was known to be convinced that slavery should not spread to the newly acquired territories. Following the election, South Carolina adopted the Ordinance OF Secession on December 20, 1860. Within six weeks the states of Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Texas followed. When Fort Sumter was fired upon on April 12, 1861 and Lincoln called for troops to put down the rebellion, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina also decided to join the Confederacy. The American Civil War began on April 12, 1861. The Civil War ended on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox, Virginia. General Grant (North) and General Lee (South) met at the Appomattox Court House and Lee signed surrender papers. Grant gave him supplies for his soldiers and they shook hands. The war was over. The slavery was gone. The United States of America was one country again. Less than a week after the surrender, Lincoln was murdered.