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Hypocrisy: What Caused The Civil War

Decent Essays
Lily Lu
McBride
History 6
26 January 2016
“What Caused the Civil War?” The Civil War was caused by the idea of States’ rights, the hypocrisy of the United States in its celebration of ‘Independence Day’ while slavery existed, and the election of President Abraham Lincoln. While the United States worked hard to set up a working government, a heavily debated topic was states’ rights. “When high protective tariffs were passed by Congress in 1828 and 1832, South Carolina, led by John Calhoun, threatened to nullify them, making them null and void within that state” (What Caused the Civil War). Nullifying the law means that the state would ignore it. The Southern states were angered by the tariffs because they benefited the North and made it more difficult for the South. Hinston Helper states, “It is a fact well known to every intelligent Southerner that we are compelled to go to the North for almost every article of utility and adornment, from matches, shoepegs and paintings up to cotton-mills, steamships and …; that almost everything produced at the North meets with ready sale, while at the same time, there is no demand, even among our own citizens, for the productions of
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“Lincoln vehemently opposed the expansion of slavery into new western territories and served as one of the most influential advocates of ‘free soil’” (Shmoop Editorial Team). Although Lincoln stayed neutral on the topic of the abolitionist movement during his campaign, he was against the expansion of slavery. Because of this, the South saw him as a threat and seven southern states seceded from the Union. Works Cited
Kelley, Martin. "9 Key Events That Led to the American Civil War." About.com Education. N.p., 16 Dec. 2014. Web. 30 Jan. 2016. .
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Abraham Lincoln in Causes of the Civil War." Shmoop. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 30 Jan. 2016.
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