Causes of the Civil War Part 2: 1856-1860

There should be no restrictions placed on the expansion of slavery into the territories.

The Fugitive Slave Law should be strengthened.

Slavery should not be allowed to expand into the territories.

Slavery should be abolished everywhere and southern states who refuse should secede.

The Republican Party had solid support in the South.

James Buchanan lost the election because the Democratic party was not united.

Democratic candidate James Buchanan won because his opponents' votes were split between two other parties.

Every northern state voted for the Democratic candidate.

Abraham Lincoln won the election.

Stephen Douglas won the election.

Neither candidate would address the slavery issue.

Their widely publicized debates focused on the issue of slavery.

Lincoln lost, but it helped him gain a national reputation.

Brown's mission was successful.

More moderate abolitionists convinced Brown not to follow through with his raid.

Brown's raid was poorly planned and failed quickly.

Differing views of Brown further divided the nation.

Brown was executed after being found guilty of treason.

Lincoln lost the election because the Republican party was not united.

Lincoln won because the Republican party was united behind him.

Southerners votes were split between more than one party, which helped Lincoln win.

The results of the election caused southerners to be in the minority.

Slavery was immediately abolished.

South Carolina seceded.

Northern states seceded.

Black people gained civil liberties, including the right to vote.