If history teaches us one thing, it's that simple explanations, although easy, are misguided. None more so when analyzing the causes of the American Civil War!
Although compromises were sought, the North and the South, remained deeply divided on the issue of slavery. From an economic perspective, the Southern states relied heavily on slave labor to work in their plantations, especially cotton, while the North had developed more of a manufacturing economy.
The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, who campaigned as an abolitionist aiming to end slavery, triggered the secession of 11 of the Southern states from the Union, these States fearful of an end to slavery, and eventually led to the creation of the Confederate States of America, presided by Jefferson Davis.
With tensions high, confederate forces opened fire on Union-controlled Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, marking the beginning of the American Civil War.
👇 Scroll down for the Causes of the American Civil War timeline.
✅ Why this matters today
Learning about the past can provide keys to understanding the present. Analyzing how negotiations and compromises were attempted back in the build up to the American Civil War can provide some guidance on how the country’s political system works today.
Looking at the USA today, are there some differences that persist between the northern and southern states? What has been put in place to avoid division and find solutions to problems?
📖 The Timeline Format
There are many benefits to using timelines in a learning environment. For social studies and history study in particular, timelines are fantastic to chart events across different eras, providing a linear progression that aids understanding and the retention of information.
Timelines are more than just dates stacked up in a sequential order, they can (or should!) include context, facts, parallels with modern day events, a certain depth of knowledge that enables true understanding.
✍️ Create your own timeline
Head on over to Sutori and create a free account. Start from a blank slate, or use one of our templates.
With Sutori, you can:
🖼️ Easily add videos, images and audios
🔗 Embed any file or web link
📊 Add interactive quizzes and polls for engagement
💬 Develop peer review skills with comments
📽 Bring the timeline to life with “Presentation” mode
↪️ Share the link, export to PDF or embed it into your website
All that is required is an internet connection! Sutori works on all common web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge). There is a paying and - generous - free version of the tool 😊
