How Slavery Caused the Civil War

CrashCourse

This fast-paced educational video explores the complex causes leading up to the American Civil War, arguing definitively that slavery was the primary driver of the conflict. Host John Green breaks down the tumultuous decade of the 1850s, detailing how legislative attempts to manage the expansion of slavery—such as the Fugitive Slave Law and the Kansas-Nebraska Act—ultimately increased sectional tensions rather than resolving them. The video also examines the collapse of the existing political party system and the rise of the Republican Party. Key themes include the concept of "Slave Power" (the fear of a pro-slavery conspiracy in government), the failure of popular sovereignty, and the legal stripping of rights from African Americans through the Dred Scott decision. The narrative connects economic interests, such as the building of transcontinental railroads, to political decisions that inflamed the slavery debate. It also highlights the violent precursors to the war, specifically "Bleeding Kansas" and John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry. For educators, this video serves as an excellent synthesis of the events between 1850 and 1860. It moves beyond simple timelines to explain *why* these events polarized the nation. It provides rich opportunities to discuss the role of the Supreme Court, the impact of third-party candidates in the election of 1860, and the moral versus political arguments regarding slavery. It is an ideal resource for reviewing the antebellum period or sparking debates about the inevitability of the war.