Scramblin' thru... Antebellum America
Where's Waldo? I want to know SO much more about what is going on in this picture. [Click picture for a larger version.]
Time to Grow Up, America...
The 13 disheveled colonies had won the American Revolution... and now reigned as the one true "America" in the Northern Hemisphere (never mind Canada... or Central or South America). But there was work to be done. No time to relax. It was time to roll up our sleeves and jump in feet first and fire up this whole "nation building" thing. Granted, there were a few "issues" lurking in the shadows... things the Founding Fathers thought would be wise to just ignore and let future generations handle. (It's the same reason why aerosol spray and plastic water bottles are so popular today... not my problem, right?!)
Thanks, Jefferson...
Nevertheless, the period of time in American history from the end of the American Revolution until the secession of South Carolina and the start of the Civil War is known as "Antebellum America". The word antebellum is Latin for "before the war" and refers to all the "stuff" that happened before the Civil War. From 1784-1860, America went through some serious growing pains... you know, the whole "Bambi walking on ice" awkward phase... and coupled this with the overly dramatic, preachy, racist, self-loathing moments you expect during your teenage years... and wound up sounding just as whiny as a particular country band that sports the same name.
Thanks, Jefferson...
Nevertheless, the period of time in American history from the end of the American Revolution until the secession of South Carolina and the start of the Civil War is known as "Antebellum America". The word antebellum is Latin for "before the war" and refers to all the "stuff" that happened before the Civil War. From 1784-1860, America went through some serious growing pains... you know, the whole "Bambi walking on ice" awkward phase... and coupled this with the overly dramatic, preachy, racist, self-loathing moments you expect during your teenage years... and wound up sounding just as whiny as a particular country band that sports the same name.
Lady (America) Antebellum
The Civil War lasted from 1861-1865 and produced 1,136,594 casualties. This is more than all prior wars combined, ranking it as the deadliest war ever waged by Americans. (Granted, Americans shooting Americans has a tendency to "pad" the stats.)
And it started over slavery.
FALSE!
While it is true that having slaves made our cries of being "enslaved by King George III" sound incredibly ridiculous... and while it is definitely true that slavery was a very divisive issue during Antebellum America, it is NOT true that slavery was the immediate cause of the Civil War. The issue of states' rights - the ability of a state to break its ties with the Union and secede - takes first prize.
Can a state secede if it no longer wants to be a part of the United States?
Nope, not anymore. (Sorry California. Sorry Texas.) But, it took four years and over 1.1 million casualties to settle the secession issue. In fact, there are 10 more reasons other than slavery that caused the Civil War.
Ironically, the seeds of secession were planted by the very men who helped create the country. The fabric of the Union ultimately tore with the formation of the Confederacy, but states' rights and secession were far from just Civil War issues. These issues embedded themselves in the minds of the public and flared up on numerous occasions prior to 1861. Without a doubt, America was already fighting its "Civil War" long before blood was shed at Bull Run.
And it started over slavery.
FALSE!
While it is true that having slaves made our cries of being "enslaved by King George III" sound incredibly ridiculous... and while it is definitely true that slavery was a very divisive issue during Antebellum America, it is NOT true that slavery was the immediate cause of the Civil War. The issue of states' rights - the ability of a state to break its ties with the Union and secede - takes first prize.
Can a state secede if it no longer wants to be a part of the United States?
Nope, not anymore. (Sorry California. Sorry Texas.) But, it took four years and over 1.1 million casualties to settle the secession issue. In fact, there are 10 more reasons other than slavery that caused the Civil War.
Ironically, the seeds of secession were planted by the very men who helped create the country. The fabric of the Union ultimately tore with the formation of the Confederacy, but states' rights and secession were far from just Civil War issues. These issues embedded themselves in the minds of the public and flared up on numerous occasions prior to 1861. Without a doubt, America was already fighting its "Civil War" long before blood was shed at Bull Run.
I've had trips to the dentist like this before...
The Road to the Civil War
10 causes other than slavery...
Political Parties (like the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans) caused the Civil War... [Click picture for a larger version.]
John Adams (and the Alien and Sedition Acts, the Kentucky Resolution, the Virginia Resolution, and nullification) caused the Civil War... [Click picture for a larger version.]
The Louisiana Purchase caused the Civil War... [Click picture for a larger version.]
The War of 1812 (and the poorly-timed Hartford Convention, Treaty of Ghent, and Battle of New Orleans) caused the Civil War... [Click picture for a larger version.]
Tariffs (like the Tariff of 1832 and the resulting Nullification Crisis) caused the Civil War... [Click picture for a larger version.]
Manifest Destiny (which drove the Indian Removal Act, the "Trail of Tears", and the Mexican-American War) caused the Civil War... [Click picture for a larger version.]
Compromises (like the Three-Fifths Compromise, the Missouri Compromise, the Compromise of 1850, and the Kansas-Nebraska Act) caused the Civil War... [Click picture for a larger version.]
The Legal System (and the Dred Scott case) caused the Civil War... [Click picture for a larger version.]
Abolitionists (like Harriet Beecher Stowe, Frederick Douglass, and John Brown and his little raid on Harpers Ferry) caused the Civil War... [Click picture for a larger version.]
Abraham Lincoln and the Election of 1860 caused the Civil War... [Click picture for a larger version.]
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Section summary in 140 characters or less:Antebellum America saw the U.S. battle its demons (slavery, expansion, secession) but eventually fail to preserve itself as one nation.
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