Geography and demographics Origins of the American Civil War

1861 united states secession crisis map.

legend:

overall, northern population growing more southern population, made increasingly difficult south continue influence national government. time 1860 election occurred, heavily agricultural southern states group had fewer electoral college votes rapidly industrializing northern states. abraham lincoln able win 1860 presidential election without being on ballot in ten southern states. southerners felt loss of federal concern southern pro-slavery political demands, , continued domination of federal government threatened. political calculus provided real basis southerners worry relative political decline of region due north growing faster in terms of population , industrial output.

in interest of maintaining unity, politicians had moderated opposition slavery, resulting in numerous compromises such missouri compromise of 1820 under presidency of james monroe. after mexican–american war of 1846 1848, issue of slavery in new territories led compromise of 1850. while compromise averted immediate political crisis, did not permanently resolve issue of slave power (the power of slaveholders control national government on slavery issue). part of compromise of 1850 fugitive slave law of 1850, many northerners found extremely offensive, , required northerners assist southerners in reclaiming fugitive slaves.

amid emergence of increasingly virulent , hostile sectional ideologies in national politics, collapse of old second party system in 1850s hampered politicians efforts reach yet compromise. compromise reached (the 1854 kansas–nebraska act) outraged many northerners, , led formation of republican party, first major party entirely northern-based. industrializing north , agrarian midwest became committed economic ethos of free-labor industrial capitalism.

arguments slavery undesirable nation had long existed, , in u.s. history made prominent southerners. after 1840, abolitionists denounced slavery not social evil moral wrong. activists in new republican party, northerners, had view: believed slave power conspiracy controlling national government goal of extending slavery.

southern defenders of slavery, part, increasingly came contend black people benefited slavery.