Civil War

CORE CONTENT

Why was there a civil war in the United States?

Focus Points

• How far did slavery cause the Civil War?

• What was the significance of Lincoln’s election as President?

• Why was the North able to win the war?

• Did the war change anything?

Specified Content

• Causes and consequences of the American Civil War, 1820–77:

    • differences between North and South

    • slavery, slave states and free states abolitionism

    • the 1860 election and secession of the Southern states

    • reasons for the North’s victory

    • the role of Lincoln

    • reconstruction.

Note: coverage of the events of the war is not required except insofar as they help to explain the North’s victory.