Although the main underlying causes of the Civil War were based off of slavery and racism, not all the tension between the North and South was caused because of that. Many individuals also made a great impact.
I’m sure many of you have heard about Harriet Tubman. Originally named Araminta Ross, Tubman was born a slave (12). In 1849, she escaped from her plantation and used a system called the Underground Railroad to help slaves such as herself be safely transported to the North (12). The Underground Railroad often consisted of many houses with secret signals to inform slaves that their house was safe to stay in and that their owner would help hide the slave(s) (11). Harriet Tubman reached the North without being caught (14). Within a year of staying in the North, Tubman decided to return to her plantation to rescue her relatives (11). She successfully made nineteen trips, leading over 300 slaves to their freedom (11). Because Tubman was such a successful fugitive, a $40,000 fine was issued for her capture (14). The South was frustrated that Tubman was leading so many slaves to freedom and hated the North even more because their valuable slaves were escaping to the North.
John Brown was a very devoted abolitionist. He resorted to violence to achieve his goals (13). In 1856, Brown brutally killed 5 people living in a town that supported slavery (13). On the 16th of October in 1859, Brown led 21 men in an attempt to steal weapons at Harpers Ferry in Virginia (13). His effort failed and many of his men had been either captured or killed (13). Brown’s actions impressed the North and angered the South (13). Many abolitionists in the North supported him (13). Later, Brown was convicted for treason and hanged in 1859 (13).
One of the most important individuals was president Abraham Lincoln (19). Lincoln was part of the Republican Party (19). The Republican Party’s political goal was to restore the Union to its true mission of champion, rather than having slavery (19). Needless to say, the members were abolitionists and against slavery. After the Union soldiers drove the Confederate soldiers out of Maryland, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation (21). The Emancipation Proclamation declared all slaves outside of the Union to be set free, with the exception of the three Confederate states subjugated by the Union (21). This led to the abolition of slavery throughout all of America (7). In 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment was passed and insured that slavery would never again exist in America (7).
Ulysses S. Grant was a popular leader and commanded the Union army during the Civil War (20). After the war had ended, Grant was nominated by the Republicans as their Presidential candidate (20). He won the election with over 52% of the popular vote and became the eighteenth President of the United States (20).
Jefferson Davis was the only president of the Confederacy (9). Before he was chosen, Davis served in the U.S. House of Representatives, Senate, and was appointed as Secretary of War (9). After Mississippi seceded from the Union, Davis withdrew from the Senate (9). While serving as the Confederate President, Davis had a habit of arguing with those that had a different opinion than his (9). Davis wasn't the best president and was captured in May of 1865 by Union soldiers.
All of these individuals had some significance for either starting or ending the war. Harriet Tubman and John Brown stirred up the tension between the North and South prior to the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln helped end the war and slavery forever. Ulysses S. Grant helped end the war by leading the Union to victory, while Jefferson Davis led the Confederacy .
I’m sure many of you have heard about Harriet Tubman. Originally named Araminta Ross, Tubman was born a slave (12). In 1849, she escaped from her plantation and used a system called the Underground Railroad to help slaves such as herself be safely transported to the North (12). The Underground Railroad often consisted of many houses with secret signals to inform slaves that their house was safe to stay in and that their owner would help hide the slave(s) (11). Harriet Tubman reached the North without being caught (14). Within a year of staying in the North, Tubman decided to return to her plantation to rescue her relatives (11). She successfully made nineteen trips, leading over 300 slaves to their freedom (11). Because Tubman was such a successful fugitive, a $40,000 fine was issued for her capture (14). The South was frustrated that Tubman was leading so many slaves to freedom and hated the North even more because their valuable slaves were escaping to the North.
John Brown was a very devoted abolitionist. He resorted to violence to achieve his goals (13). In 1856, Brown brutally killed 5 people living in a town that supported slavery (13). On the 16th of October in 1859, Brown led 21 men in an attempt to steal weapons at Harpers Ferry in Virginia (13). His effort failed and many of his men had been either captured or killed (13). Brown’s actions impressed the North and angered the South (13). Many abolitionists in the North supported him (13). Later, Brown was convicted for treason and hanged in 1859 (13).
One of the most important individuals was president Abraham Lincoln (19). Lincoln was part of the Republican Party (19). The Republican Party’s political goal was to restore the Union to its true mission of champion, rather than having slavery (19). Needless to say, the members were abolitionists and against slavery. After the Union soldiers drove the Confederate soldiers out of Maryland, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation (21). The Emancipation Proclamation declared all slaves outside of the Union to be set free, with the exception of the three Confederate states subjugated by the Union (21). This led to the abolition of slavery throughout all of America (7). In 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment was passed and insured that slavery would never again exist in America (7).
Ulysses S. Grant was a popular leader and commanded the Union army during the Civil War (20). After the war had ended, Grant was nominated by the Republicans as their Presidential candidate (20). He won the election with over 52% of the popular vote and became the eighteenth President of the United States (20).
Jefferson Davis was the only president of the Confederacy (9). Before he was chosen, Davis served in the U.S. House of Representatives, Senate, and was appointed as Secretary of War (9). After Mississippi seceded from the Union, Davis withdrew from the Senate (9). While serving as the Confederate President, Davis had a habit of arguing with those that had a different opinion than his (9). Davis wasn't the best president and was captured in May of 1865 by Union soldiers.
All of these individuals had some significance for either starting or ending the war. Harriet Tubman and John Brown stirred up the tension between the North and South prior to the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln helped end the war and slavery forever. Ulysses S. Grant helped end the war by leading the Union to victory, while Jefferson Davis led the Confederacy .