Why did slavery divide America and lead to the Civil War?
Slavery in the American South, the growing divide between North and South over slavery and its expansion, abolitionism, key events such as the Missouri Compromise and Bleeding Kansas, the 1860 election of Lincoln and the secession of the South.
A focused answer to the slavery crisis in OCR's Making of America period study, covering slavery in the South, the deepening North-South divide over slavery and its expansion into new territory, abolitionism, the Missouri Compromise, Bleeding Kansas, the 1860 election of Lincoln, and the secession that led to civil war.
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What this dot point is asking
This dot point explains how slavery divided America and led to the Civil War. You need to understand slavery in the South, the deepening North-South divide, especially over whether slavery would spread to new western territories, the rise of abolitionism, the key flashpoints (the Missouri Compromise, Bleeding Kansas, Dred Scott, John Brown), and how the 1860 election of Lincoln triggered secession. It links westward expansion to the war that reshaped the nation.
Slavery in the South
A divided nation
The expansion question and its flashpoints
Abolitionism
The 1860 election and secession
Try this
Q1. Whose 1860 election victory triggered the secession of the South? [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. Abraham Lincoln (of the Republican Party).
Q2. Explain why the expansion of slavery into new territories caused such conflict. [Short explanation]
- Cue. Whether new western states were free or slave would tip the balance of power in Congress between North and South, so each side fought fiercely to control the new territories, leading to crises such as Bleeding Kansas.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of OCR exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
OCR SHP 20184 marksDescribe two differences between the North and the South in the mid-nineteenth century.Show worked answer →
The period study opener (4 marks, two features, 2 marks each). Reward two distinct, developed differences.
Difference one. Economy: the South was rural and agricultural, its wealth built on cotton plantations worked by enslaved people, while the North was increasingly industrial, with factories, cities and free wage labour.
Difference two. Attitudes to slavery: the South defended slavery as essential to its economy and society, while a growing movement in the North opposed it, especially its spread into new western territories.
Top marks. Two separate differences, each with a precise supporting detail.
OCR SHP 202212 marksExplain why the divide between North and South over slavery deepened between 1850 and 1861.Show worked answer →
The period study extended "Explain why" question (12 marks). Reward a developed analysis of several reasons, with a judgement.
Reason one. The expansion question: as new western territories were settled, fierce arguments broke out over whether they would be free or slave, threatening the balance of power in Congress (the Missouri Compromise, then Bleeding Kansas).
Reason two. Abolitionism and Southern reaction: the growth of the abolitionist movement (and works such as Uncle Tom's Cabin) hardened Northern opinion, while the South felt its way of life was under attack.
Reason three. Flashpoints: events such as the Dred Scott decision (1857) and John Brown's raid (1859) inflamed both sides.
Reason four. The 1860 election: the victory of Lincoln, seen by the South as anti-slavery, was the final trigger, leading Southern states to secede.
Top band. Explain several linked reasons and judge which was most important.
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