Causes of the Civil War
Learning Objective
I can identify the main causes of the Civil War.
Key Concepts
Between 1860 and 1861, 11 Southern states seceded from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America in response to the growing movement to abolish slavery.
The Cornerstone of the new Confederate government was white supremacy, and the Confederate Vice President, Alexander Stephens, declared that slavery and subordination to whites was the 'natural and normal condition' for Black people.
The organization, United Daughters of the Confederacy, played a key role in passing Lost Cause ideas to future generations by monitoring textbooks to minimize the horrors of slavery and erecting Confederate monuments.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 3 practice questions to reinforce learning.
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1. According to the video, what did Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens declare was the 'cornerstone' of the new Confederate government?
2. Explain how the 'Lost Cause' narrative attempted to reframe the reasons behind the Civil War.
3. Describe the role of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) in perpetuating the 'Lost Cause' narrative, and provide specific examples from the video.
Educational Video
Debunking the myth of the Lost Cause: A lie embedded in American history - Karen L. Cox
TED-Ed