Judging Contest Entry Form South Florida Fair West: Fill & Download for Free

Performance scholarship, full time job, several grants and what I like to call micro- scholarships, these are anywhere from $50-$500 and usually consist of writing an essay on what ever topic the club/foundation /business /charities etc wants you to talk about. There are thousands of these available but most of them are only for junior year and senior year high school students and I was in my 30's when I went back to school so it was a lot of effort to find all these opportunities.The one thing I learned from my first go round with college was DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, EVER, EVER, EVER, TAKE OUT A STUDENT LOAN! EVER.I'm 40 and we are STILL paying off my husband's student loan at $215 a month. I mean come on! That's a car payment we could be making but instead were paying off his balloon payment loan he took it in 2005.Here's a few places for you to start. Where applicable I have highlighted the link back to the original source. This should make it easier to discover and also work as my citing the original posts authors.Additionally I took all the available free classes on Coursera | Online Courses & Credentials by Top Educators. Join for Free offered by Berklee and got to know the staff and other students. This helped me find out about a lot more opportunities for funding.Here's the collection I gathered for you. Good luck!10 Words or Less ScholarshipAmount: $500Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: VariesHow to win: Basically, you just need to explain—in 10 words or fewer—why you should get this scholarship. They even let you post it as a comment on their Facebook page, for cryin’ out loud. You’re also required to “like” their Facebook page. In addition, you need to be between the ages of 14–25 and attending college in the fall. Learn more here.AFSA (American Fire Sprinkler Association) ScholarshipAmount: $2,000Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: April 1How to win: To win this scholarship, you need to read about automatic fire sprinkler systems and take a 10-question quiz about the material. Pretty easy, right? This award is only open to high school seniors on their way to an accredited two- or four-year school in the fall. Ten scholarships are available each year—which means you have 10 chances to win! Learn more here.Americanism Essay ContestAmount: Up to $5,000Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: December 1How to win: Every year the Fleet Reserve Association awards a scholarship based on a single patriotic theme. They do require an essay, but it’s only 350 words. Last year’s theme was “What Freedom of Speech Means to Me.” In addition to the $5,000 grand prize, there are awards for first, second, and third place ($2,500, $1,500, and $1,000, respectively). This scholarship is also open to students in grades 7–12. Learn more here.Beliz Law Firm Video Essay Scholarship ContestAmount: $500Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: December 3How to win: Everyone knows creating a video “essay” is more fun (and easier) than a written one. And if you can create a thoughtful three-minute-or-less video about distracted driving safety tips, you could win this scholarship. You also need to be a current college student or high school senior already accepted to a college or trade school. Learn more here.C.I.P. (College is Power) ScholarshipAmount: $1,000Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: May 31How to win: Whether you’re a full- or part-time student, whether you’re going to school online or in person, you could snag this scholarship. You need to be at least 17 years old and a US citizen, and you need to be attending school within the next 12 months. The only application requirements include a short form and a 150-word mini essay. Learn more here.Cappex Easy College Money ScholarshipAmount: $1,000Awarded: MonthlyDeadline: Last day of the monthHow to win: Register with Cappex to win. You just need to be “currently enrolled in high school or college or plan to enroll in the next 12 months.” Boom. Done. Learn more here.Christian College EDGE ScholarshipAmount: $1,000Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: May 31How to win: Just create an account with this Christian college search site. You’ll then have a chance to get information from Christian colleges and universities. It’ll enter you in their scholarship drawing and help you get recruited by those schools! This is different from their $2,500 Christian College Scholarship drawing; see below. Learn more here.Christian College Scholarship DrawingAmount: $2,500Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: May 31How to win: You need to complete the registration form for The Christian College Connector. Then winners are chosen at random, but they must be planning to enroll as a full-time freshman at a “Christ-centered Christian college or Bible college” within 16 months of winning. Learn more here.CollegeWeekLive | Join the Conversation ScholarshipAmount: $1,000Awarded: MonthlyDeadline: Last day of the monthHow to win: VR college fair site CollegeWeekLive gives away $1,000 each month to one lucky user chosen at random. You need to be registered with the site and visit five college pages (whichever schools you like) over the course of the month to be entered. Learn more here.CollegeXpress $500 Refer-A-Friend ContestAmount: $500Awarded: MonthlyDeadline: Last day of the monthHow to win: For every person who creates a free CollegeXpress account using your unique referral link, you get one entry in this monthly scholarship drawing. Winners are then chosen at random. There’s no limit to how many entries you can get—or how many times you can enter. (We’ve had people win more than once!) Learn more here.Countdown to College ScholarshipAmount: $1,000Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: May 4, 2019How to win: When you sign up to get Potential magazine’s free weekly “Countdown to College" newsletter email, you’ll not only get helpful college admission tips and a free e-book—you’ll also get an entry in their annual $1,000 scholarship drawing! It’s open to all high school students, and the winner is chosen at random. Learn more here.Courage to Grow ScholarshipAmount: $500Awarded: MonthlyDeadline: Last day of the monthHow to win: This monthly award goes out to high school juniors, seniors, and college students with a minimum 2.5 GPA. And the only thing you need to do to win is submit a short 250-word essay about why you deserve the money. (Unfortunately, “Help me, I’m poor” doesn’t meet the word count.) Learn more here.Course Hero Monthly ScholarshipAmount: $5,000Awarded: MonthlyDeadline: Last day of the monthHow to win: Course Hero gives away some serious scholarship dollars every month. To become eligible, you need to be registered on their site and submit a short “creative” answer (150 words or fewer) to that month’s question. You can also win $$$ for doing other easy things on their site, like giving course advice or sharing on social media. Learn more here.Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship ContestAmount: $10,000Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: March 1How to win: You’re already Snapchatting and Instagramming beautiful shots. Put your skills to work by creating a winning greeting card image! It could snag you $10,000, which is almost as good as getting a bajillion likes. To apply to this scholarship, you also need to be a US citizen and at least 14 years old. Learn more here.Discover Scholarship AwardAmount: $10,000Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: January 31, 2019How to win: Sign up to receive handy college money tips from Discover (you know, the credit card people) and you’re entered! Plus, you can earn bonus entries by sharing the giveaway on social media. Ten winners will be chosen at random on select dates. You also need to be a high school or college student at least 16 years old, and you have to go to an eligible college or university (although parents of eligible students can also enter on their behalf). Learn more here.Don't Wait to Reach Your Potential ScholarshipAmount: $500Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: January 4, 2020How to win: If you live in Alabama and sign up to get Potential magazine’s free weekly “Countdown to College" newsletter email, you’ll not only get helpful college admission tips and a free e-book—you’ll also get an entry in their annual $500 scholarship drawing! It’s open to all high school students residing in Alabama, and the winner is chosen at random. Learn more here.Doodle for GoogleAmount: Up to $30,000Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: March 18, 2019How to win: Who knew your doodles could earn you tons of scholarship money and money for your school, plus get you featured on Google for a day? The contest is open to all US students from kindergarten to seniors in high school. This year’s theme is “When I grow up, I hope….” You have to include the Google logo, but you can make your doodle using any medium (hand drawn, painted, using software, etc.). The grand prize is a $30,000 scholarship, but there are four national prizes for $5,000 scholarships—still a lot of money for college! Learn more here.Let's Do This! | DoSomething.org Easy ScholarshipsAmount: Up to $22,000Awarded: VariesDeadline: VariesHow to win: Okay, this isn’t a particular scholarship. That’s because Let's Do This! | DoSomething.org offers a lot of easy scholarships. And they move pretty quickly, with many lasting only a month. But, man, they are fun, creative, and fast. You typically sign up, complete a simple task, and upload a picture proving you did it. Then the winners are chosen at random. No essay, GPA, etc. The best part? These scholarships help you do some good in the world! (At the moment of this writing, it’s for boosting a stranger’s confidence with sticky notes.) So check the easy scholarships page at Let's Do This! | DoSomething.org to see what’s new. Learn more here.Dr Pepper Tuition GiveawayAmount: Up to $100,000Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: Typically in OctoberHow to win: To enter Dr Pepper’s easy and generous scholarship contest, you need to do a few things. First, describe how you’ll change the world in 350 characters or fewer. Next, get your friends to vote for your entry. If you get 50 or more votes, you’ll need to create an inspiring video. Then comes the crazy part: if you’re a finalist, you’ll compete during a Big Ten, SEC, PAC-12, or ACC football championship game. Yup, it doesn’t get much bigger than that—but neither does the prize: up to $100,000 in tuition money. Talk about the big show. Learn more here.Get Schooled $1,000 No Essay ScholarshipAmount: $1,000Awarded: MonthlyDeadline: Last day of the month (through June 2019)How to win: To enter this monthly contest, just create an account on Get Schooled - Free college prep, financial aid, and career planning for the future, log in, and consume some content: take a quiz, read an article, etc. (You can also email your entry each month to Get Schooled - Free college prep, financial aid, and career planning for the future.) Students must be US citizens between 17–24 years old and currently attending an accredited postsecondary institution in the US or planning to attend one before December 31, 2019. There are five drawings (one each month from February to June), and the winners will be selected at random. Learn more here.Plantronics Telephone Headsets, Jabra Phone Headset College ScholarshipAmount: $1,000Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: December 31How to win: You know you want to be a YouTube star; get your start by recording a short video talking about who you are, what you’ve achieved, why college is important, and what motivates you. Yeah, that seems like a lot, but since you need to fit it into a video that’s no longer than five minutes, you’ll fly through “applying” for this scholarship! You need to be at least 16 years old and a high school senior or current college or grad student with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Learn more here.New Mexico Legislative Lottery ScholarshipAmount: VariesAwarded: VariesDeadline: VariesHow to win: If you graduated from a New Mexico high school, you’re continuing your education in New Mexico, and you earned at least a 2.5 GPA your first semester in college, you’ve basically got this scholarship in the bag. There isn’t even an application! You just need to contact your college or university and ask them about it. It’s that easy. Really. Learn more here.NextStepU Win Free College Tuition GiveawayAmount: $2,500Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: February 28, 2019How to win: No essay required! Just register with NextStepU during the eligibility period. This year it runs from September 1, 2018, to February 28, 2019. You also need to opt in to the “Win Free Tuition” sweepstakes. Learn more here.Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial Haiku CompetitionAmount: $100Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: Typically in MarchHow to win: One hundred dollars may not seem like much against your college tuition payments, but every little bit helps, and this is a pretty fun and fast scholarship. High school students in any grade can submit up to three haikus. A panel of judges then picks several winners each year. Learn more here.No Essay College Scholarship™Amount: $2,000Awarded: MonthlyDeadline: Last day of the monthHow to win: Just create a free profile with Niche. And if you already have one, all you need to do is log in each month for a chance to win! One winner is chosen at random every month. The contest is open to all high school and college students (though there are other eligibility requirements). The money can be applied toward any education-related expenses. Learn more here.Odenza Marketing Group ScholarshipAmount: $500Awarded: Twice a yearDeadline: March 30; September 30How to win: Okay, this might not seem like the simplest scholarship in the world, because you technically have to write two essays. But they both call for a maximum of 500 words. So you could write 250 for each prompt—of course, you’d need to really knock them out of the park. The first essay is about where you would go to further your career, and the second is about why you deserve to win the scholarship. You also need to be between the ages of 16–25 and have at least a 2.5 GPA. Oh, and you need to like their Facebook page too, but that’s easy enough. This scholarship is awarded twice a year in the spring and fall! Learn more here.Sallie Mae®$1,000 Plan for CollegeSMSweepstakesAmount: $1,000Awarded: MonthlyDeadline: Last day of the monthHow to win: When you register to use Sallie Mae’s scholarship search tool, you’ll be entered to win their monthly scholarship sweepstakes. And since you should be searching for scholarships anyway, might as well get a shot at $1,000 while you’re at it, amirite? Learn more here.ScholarshipPoints Scholarship GiveawaysAmount: $10,000 and $1,000Awarded: Quarterly and monthlyDeadline: VariesHow to win: The “points” in ScholarshipPoints come from completing activities like taking surveys, reading emails, and playing games. Then you can use those points to enter scholarship drawings and improve your chances of winning. Pretty sweet deal, right? Well, in addition to all that pointy goodness, they randomly choose a registered user for a $1,000 scholarship each month and a $10,000 each quarter. Yes, please! Learn more here.ScholarshipPoints Seasonal ScholarshipsAmount: $1,000Awarded: VariesDeadline: VariesHow to win: Again, you can cash in your ScholarshipPoints, er, points to win these themed awards; Turkey Dinero Scholarship, Frosty the Doughman Scholarship, and Gingerbread Housing Scholarship are some of their past festive fall and winter awards! Every point is a chance to win; winners are chosen at random. Learn more here.Scholarships 4 MomsAmount: $10,000Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: March 15, 2019How to win: Are you or are you about to become a mother? You could win $10,000 for “educational purposes,” and all you need to do is register with this site. It’s quick, easy, and free, which is good, because goodness knows you have your hands full—you’re a mom! You also need to be 18 years or older and a US citizen. Learn more here.School Survey SweepstakesAmount: $1,000Awarded: MonthlyDeadline: Last day of the monthHow to win: Niche gathers reviews for all kinds of schools, from K-12 institutions to colleges and universities. They reward students, parents, and recent alumni for leaving those reviews by offering a $1,000 scholarship sweepstakes. All you have to do is leave a (legit!) review to be entered. And you know you have lots of feelings about your school anyway, so… Learn more here.School Band and Orchestra Magazine ScholarshipAmount: $1,000Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: December 31How to win: Do you play in your high school band or orchestra? Can you write 250 words about a music-related essay prompt? (You totally can.) Then you should apply for this scholarship from School Band and Orchestra magazine. Sure, learning how to play the clarinet wasn’t easy—but applying for this scholarship is. Learn more here.ServiceScape Scholarship 2019Amount: $1,000Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: November 30, 2019How to win: This scholarship contest is open to students who are attending or who will attend an accredited college, university, or trade school in 2019. Applicants should fill out the application form and submit a super-short essay (no more than 300 words!) on the following topic: “How does writing impact today's world?” New listing! Learn more here.Student-View ScholarshipAmount: Up to $4,000Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: April 22How to win: No essay. No GPA or test scores. No application, even. All you need to do is complete a 15–25-minute online survey about colleges in your area. Then winners are chosen at random. Yes, that’s winners, plural. In addition to the $4,000 top prize, two $1,000 and 10 $500 scholarships are handed out. In terms of scholarships awarded at random, those are pretty good odds! Learn more here.SunTrust Off to College Scholarship SweepstakesAmount: $500Awarded: BiweeklyDeadline: May 13, 2019How to win: SunTrust Bank is giving away $500 for college to two lucky winners every two weeks! (That’s so often!) Thirty winners will be chosen in all—at random. There is no GPA, essay, or financial need requirement. However! You need to be a resident of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, or the District of Columbia (DC). You also need to be a high school senior or college undergrad. Learn more here.Tall Clubs International ScholarshipAmount: $1,000Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: March 1How to win: If you’re exceptionally tall—at least 5'10" for women and 6'2" for men—you could win this scholarship. It’s open to high school seniors planning to attend college in the fall. Get in touch with the nearest chapter of Tall Clubs International for an application. Learn more here.The $1,000 SuperCollege ScholarshipAmount: $1,000Awarded: MonthlyDeadline: Last day of the monthHow to win: Okay, here’s how to enter this scholarship: Fill out their online application. Hit “Submit.” End of instructions. Yup, it’s that easy. Winners are chosen at random. It’s open to high school seniors, college students, grad students, and adult learners. Learn more here.UNIGO $10K ScholarshipAmount: $10,000Awarded: AnnuallyDeadline: December 31How to win: Students need to submit an online written response to this prompt: "Imagine a historical figure is brought back to life. Who is it? What's their favorite mobile app?" (in 250 words or fewer). You also need to be a legal resident of the US, at least 13 years old when you apply, and enrolled (no later than the fall of 2024) in an accredited post-secondary institution. Learn more here.VIP Voice $1,000 ScholarshipAmount: $1,000Awarded: QuarterlyDeadline: VariesHow to win: VIP Voice is another survey-taking website. To be eligible for their scholarship sweepstakes, you need to register with the site and take at least two surveys. The more surveys you take, the better your chances of winning. Learn more here.You Deserve It! ScholarshipAmount: $1,000Awarded: MonthlyDeadline: Last day of the monthHow to win: This is yet another scholarship where you only have to register on a website to enter. Plus, it’s kind of a meta award. It’s from ScholarshipOwl, and creating an account with them also helps you apply to lots of other scholarships with a single form, so you don’t need to complete a bunch of separate scholarship applications! Learn more here.Heads up! These easy scholarships are closed or no longer offeredhttp://AnyCollege.com ScholarshipChegg $1,000 Monthly ScholarshipCollect Sports Gear for Kids in Underserved CommunitiesCollege Prowler Essay CompetitionCollegeMapper’s $1,000 No Essay ScholarshipsCommon Knowledge ScholarshipsConestoga Bank “Future of Banking” ScholarshipDatatech Labs Data Recovery Scholarship YouTube ChallengeDesign-A-Sign Scholarship ContestDry Defender Protect Your Bed ScholarshipEverything Is Awesome Scholarship SlamFantasy Sports Daily ScholarshipsFastweb Invite a Friend SweepstakesGirls Going Places ScholarshipGo Ennounce Yourself ScholarshipNiche $1,000 Summer ScholarshipNiche Summer ScholarshipOP Loftbed ScholarshipPicMonkey College ScholarshipSchool Grants Blog No Essay ScholarshipFree College Scholarship Search Financial Aid Grants Scholarships College Scholarship Scholarships “Tell a Friend” Scholarship SweepstakesStay Safe on the Internet ScholarshipStudy.com | Take Online Courses. Earn College Credit. Research Schools, Degrees & Careers Tuition Won't Stop Me ScholarshipSussle Fun, No Essay ScholarshipTeens for Jeans No Essay ScholarshipThe Haiku Ninja Facebook ScholarshipThe Patrick Kerr Skateboard ScholarshipTV http://Providers.com ScholarshipZumper Apartments ScholarshipSo what's the difference between a grant and scholarship?ÚAsk Sara Lindberg Former High School CounselorHow often do you think about paying for college? If you’re like most high school seniors (and parents), the answer is likely “all the time.” That’s why learning about the different ways to fund your education is so important.Two methods of aid that need to be on the top of your list include scholarships and grants. While both are considered “gift aid” (money you don’t have to pay back), they differ in how you apply and how you receive the funds. If you have demonstrated financial need, you may be eligible for one of the grants awarded by the federal government, such as the Federal Pell Grant. This form of aid is called “need based,” since the money is awarded to students with the greatest financial need. In order to qualify for a federal grant, you must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on or after October 1. Your state government or college you plan to attend may also have grants available based on need or merit.Scholarships, on the other hand, are typically merit based or affiliated with an organization or private donor. Students are eligible for scholarships based on a variety of qualifications such as academic achievement, athletics, or extracurricular activities. You can also qualify for scholarships based on your affiliation with religious or community organizations, businesses, and alumni associations. You can find scholarship opportunities and applications at the colleges you’re applying to, online at scholarship search sites, with private organizations, and in your local community

The statues of Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson (both military heroes of the Confederacy) should stay erect because it promotes a more complete history of the United States. We shouldn’t just get rid of history because we don’t like what happened. Here is how the timeline that started the Civil War:17th CenturyWhat Caused the Civil War? The over riding issue: Slavery1607British transport white, convicted criminal to colonial Virginia sentenced to a life of slavery. First evidence of introduction of slavery to American mainland.1619Each century planted a seed to define what caused the civil war.Dutch trader introduces black African slaves into Jamestown, Virginia colony to enhance tobacco crop. Early tip to planters of the economic benefits of black slavery relative to white, indentured servitude.1660-1670British respond to need of under populated colonies (Carolina planters) and deliver African slaves to the colonists and stock black slave labor in Maryland and Virginia.18th CenturyA New Century, But the Answer To What Caused The Civil War Is Unchanged.1700'sBritish institute a “Triangular Trade” pouring African slaves into the plantations on the Caribbean islands. Think triangle- -British goods carried south to the west coast of Africa, trade goods for slaves, north to the America’s and trade slaves for sugar and back to English ports.1729English solicitor general signs York-Talbot agreement declaring slavery legal in Great Britain and influences the mind set of a generation of colonists.1774Delegates to first Continental Congress pledge to stop importation of slaves and led by George Washington, John Adams and Patrick Henry. Both Washington and Henry were slave holders.Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush found Pennsylvania Society to promote abolition of slavery. Abolition of slavery gains momentum as a national movement.British born Thomas Paine, author of “Common Sense”, the intellectual spirit of the American revolution, publishes an attack on the immorality of the slave trade.1775General Washington forms the continental army and offers freedom to slaves who serve. Estimates that both free and black slaves amounted to about 5,000 men in the ranks. Loyalist British authorities make similar counter offer.1776Second Continental Congress resolves to end all future importation of slaves.Delegates of 13 colonies sign Declaration of independence and declare “that all men are created equal”, but does not reference slavery by eliminating original Jefferson version.1777Vermont prohibits slavery.1778-1784Massachusetts follows Vermont and momentum over several years reaches other northern states, Pennsylvania and Connecticut in particular, provide for gradual emancipation of slaves.1779George Washington provides in his will for the emancipation of his slaves upon his death. “Upon the decease of my wife, it is my Will and desire that all the slaves that I hold in my own right, shall receive their freedom”. Caveat: note that Washington, as president, was not reluctant to attempt to recover one of his slaves who escaped and crossed a state line under the extant Fugitive Slave law.1785-1786Abolitionist societies formed in Maryland and Delaware.1787Northwest Ordinance creates a federal territory bounded by the Great Lakes in the north, running south to the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River. Supersedes Land Ordinance Act of 1784. Act prohibited slavery in the proscribed territory, but critically did not extend it to the future states to be created in the territory (Supreme court: Strader v. Graham 1851). Congress still operating under Articles of Confederation. Nor did it exclude slaves already held by settlers in the territory.Constitution of the United States signed by the delegates of the Constitutional Convention. Creates a congress that confirms the Northwest Ordinance. The Constitution establishes a methodology for apportioning representatives to congress based on state population and counts each slave as 3/5 of a person. Adoption of the 13th amendment, post civil war, apportionment counting provision no longer legally significant by freeing all slaves and reaffirmed under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.New congress grants itself right to revisit question of importation of slavery post 1808. Congress rejects attempts to bar slavery stirs abolitionist sentiments adding to what caused civil war.1788Federalist Papers 54- James Madison questions morality of slaves as property.Many northern states outlaw slave trade, but do not resolve ownership.1792Kentucky first slave state admitted to the Union. Another direct step adding a deed to what caused the Civil War.1793Fugitive Slave Law denies trial by jury to a run away slave. Law tested and upheld in 1842 before Supreme Court (Prigg v. Pennsylvania).Eli Whitney invents cotton gin. Technology increases profits for cotton and induces wider production of the cotton crop. Picking cotton was a labor intensive cost and hence the utilization of free labor increasing the need of African slaves. Technology directly adds to events answering the question what caused the Civil War.19th CenturyHistory Records The Definitive Response To What Caused The Civil War: Slavery1800Gabriel Prosser plot exposed. Slaves in Virginia plan uprising to murder whites. State executes 25 slaves.1807Great Britain abolishes slave trade and includes all of its possessions. Follows in 1834 total abolition of slavery, and by 1838 includes all of its colonies.1808U.S. follows Britain and abolishes international slave trade. Domestic slavery unresolved.1817Charles Osborne sets course for Quaker abolitionists and publishes newspaper supporting emancipation, “The Philanthropist”.1819Congress authorizes president to send ships to Africa to interdict slave ships.Congress repeals Act that would have prohibited slavery in Arkansas.1820Congress declares slave trade as piracy.Missouri Compromise prohibits slavery in northern part of Louisiana Purchase. A, obvious add-on to the list of what caused the civil war.1821Missouri admitted to the Union as a slave state.1825Supreme Court overturns ruling of lower court in the matter of the vessel Antelope and holds that the right of another nation to engage in slave trade must be respected and compensated for its loss. Francis Scott Key, of national anthem fame, represented the United States in losing argument before the Court.1831Nat Turner slave rebellion kills 70 whites and directly affected the Virginia debate that rejected the gradual abolition of slavery. When the reader seeks the most significant elements to answer what caused the Civil War, history will point to the Nat Turner affair as one that stiffened the resolve of southerners to maintain slavery.1833South Carolina propounds the nullification theory that a state adversely affected by federal legislation has the right to nullify same and consequently withdraw from the Union. This pitted a state against a tariff supported by President Andrew Jackson that imposed a tariff on northern goods imported into the south. A compromise backed by Senators Clay and Calhoun was ultimately passed which reduced the tariff over a period of time. “Nullification” unresolved. This theory of state sovereignty was the later under pinning to withdrawal from the union.1836In response to Senator Calhoun’s ardent support for slavery (1837- “slavery is a positive good”), congress enacted a “gag rule” which tabled abolitionist petitions to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. Closed debate on the subject. Ultimately repealed in 1841 through the efforts of John Quincy Adams.Texas declares its independence from Mexico, ultimately recognized by the United States, but the slave question is unresolved and sectional antagonism appreciates.1841United States v. The Amistad: the lower court ruling was essentially affirmed by the Supreme Court which held that the slaves on board the ship should be freed because they had been illegally obtained, “kidnapped”. The Court distinguished between the Amistad ship and the Antelope vessel case in that the latter dealt with the slaves as property which predated U.S. law declaring the trade illegal, and under the new law the slaves were individuals and not property. John Quincy Adams represented the Africans famously remarked that President Van Buren, advocating for the property rights of Spain, said that Van Buren was a” northern president with southern principles”.1845Irish potato famine introduces new immigration wave into the United States and a new labor source in conflict with the economics of slavery.Texas annexed and U.S. statehood approved with slavery over heated abolitionist voices.1846Mexican American war opens up huge territories for American expansion and extends the slavery question and leads to formation of Free Soil Party in 1848.1850Missouri Compromise: formulated by Senator Henry Clay and supported by northerners, Stephen Douglas and Daniel Webster. A package of bills provided state admission criteria for New Mexico and Utah and without reference to slavery, enforcement of stronger fugitive slave laws (impacting northern states and legalizing slave catchers), prohibiting slave trade in the District of Columbia, and California admitted as a free state.1852Harriet Beecher Stowe publishes her story; “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” infuriates the south. She meets with President Lincoln in 1862 and he remarks, “So you are the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war”.1854Congress repeals Missouri Compromise of 1820 and reopens slavery question in the northwest territories.1855Lincoln speaks abhorring negro oppression and satirically misquotes the Declaration of Independence, “All men are created equal—except negroes”.1856John Brown, radical abolitionist, kills five pro slavery advocates.1858President James Buchanan fails to admit Kansas as a slave state. Ultimately admitted as a free state in 1861.Lincoln - Douglas, in Illinois senatorial contest, debate slavery with Lincoln advocating for “ultimate extinction” of slavery.1859John Brown raids Harpers Ferry U.S. arsenal with the intent to arm slaves and create an insurrection. Plan fails and Brown executed.1860Lincoln in New York City speaks at Cooper Union school and declares that federal government has the right to exclude western expansion of slavery. Speech widely distributed and supported by Horace Greely’s Herald Tribune and Abraham Lincoln elected president.South Carolina secedes from Union.1861Florida, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana secede from Union Southern states form under the banner of the “Confederacy” and new constitution.Jefferson Davis elected president of confederacy and declares “white race is superior to Negroes”.South Carolina fires on federal facility, Fort Sumter, and its Commander, Robert Anderson, surrenders three days later to forces of General Beauregard. What caused the Civil War? This critical and concluding act caps this question that began with slavery and forced the hand of the southern states.Reasons Robert E. Lee was a War Hero even though he didn’t win the war (winning isn’t everything):First Bull Run (Manassass).July 21: General Winfield Scott commanded the Union army, whose service also included the War of 1812. He also was the hero of the Mexican American War. Scott developed a two pronged strategy that included the coastal blockade of the southern states which the press dubbed as "Anaconda" (a strangling snake), and an 80,000 man force to take the Mississippi Valley (Roughly 80 regiments). That required time to develop. President Lincoln advocated a much more rapid strike that would end the war. He ordered an advance on Confederate forces entrenched about 25 miles south of Washington D.C. at Manassas Junction, Virginia.The federal army was led by General Irvin McDowell who believed that his 30,000 men were insignificantly trained. The "rebels', 20,000 strong, were commanded by General P.G.T. Beauregard. They were dug in along Bull Run Creek a tributary of the Potomac RiverDespite the raw recruits lack of training, their relentless attacks were on the verge of victory when southern reinforcements arrived led by General Thomas J. Jackson ("Stonewall"---standing "like a stone wall"). The Union Army was subjected to their counter attack which was accompanied with the blood curdling "rebel yell". Their ranks broke, and the attack became a rout. Their fear was magnified by the sight of a huge brass barreled lens that was rumored to be a new confederate rapid firing gun. In fact, it was the first appearance of the Mathew Bradley Manhattan photography equipment on the battlefield..The Confederates had won the field, but had they thrown caution to the wind they could have marched into the Capital of the United States and easily captured it.The balance of the summer of 1861 until early autumn was filled with numerous contacts between the belligerents, but carried no decisive weight in tipping the scale of war. However, the vituperative language between north and south was heated. The north began to refer to the war as the "war of rebellion", and the south adopted the "war of northern aggression". Foreign nations more aptly described the war as "war of secession". The term "Civil War" was a much later addition to the historical record.InsurrectionOn October 16, 1859, his "army of liberation" controlled the armory and sought refuge in the fire house. In 36 hours, almost all of his force was dead at the hands of federal troops led by Lt. Col Robert E.Lee accompanied by Lt. J.E.B. Stuart. Brown's fate was a hangman's rope. The "fort" below as preserved.Robert E.Lee would ultimately lead the Confederate armies and Stuart would again serve under Lee and add valuable services as a commander of the highly regarded rebel cavalry. Lee had a Revolutionary War blood line of that war's hero, "Light Horse Harry Lee".May 31: The Army of the Potomac encamped about 6 miles south east of Richmond in an area known to the Union as Fair Oaks and referred to by the South as Seven Pines. This was the site that Gen. Johnston chose to attack the Federal troops. The alternative would have involved subjecting Richmond to the heavy Union cannons, and a siege which his army could not survive.Both armies were reinforced during the battle, and each side claimed victory. Casualties: 12,000 combined were evenly divided. General Johnston was severely wounded. President Jefferson Davis, a former West Pointer, added the duties of military commander of all his armies. entrusted Gen. Robert E. Lee with the defense of Richmond who promised that the city would not be taken.For General McClellan who claimed victory, his letter to his home may have indicated his despondency:"Victory has no charms for me when purchased at such cost".August 28: General Lee was in character when he ordered his Northern Army of Virginia to attack the Army of the Potomac now under the command of General John Pope who had relieved General McClellan. The rail lines always appeared to be a magnet for the armies. Lee's army marched north and was led by Generals Longstreet and Jackson. Pope's command included General Irvin McDowell who had commanded Union forces at the first Battle of Bull Run one year earlier (October 21, 1961). The battle began with the cavalry raid on Pope's headquarters under the fiery Gen. J.E.B. Stuart. Then Jackson moved against a Union supply depot. The food and drink captured was a bonanza for Gen. Jackson's half starved men.September 15: In this town, at the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley, was a cross road and entry point into the north and the south. It was a railroad junction, it had access to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and its arms industry supported the Union Army. All significant factors to attract attention. There is one other fact that attracted Robert E. Lee. The town is a stones throw from the Maryland border. General Lee believed his success in Virginia would continue with a more northerly drive into Maryland.Antietam (Sharpsburg)September 17: General Lee's Northern Army of Virginia crossed the Potomac after the battle at Bull Run. He was determined to give the Army of the Potomac no respite. Although his army had also suffered, he pointed his forces north into Maryland. Lee also believed that the presence of this troops would attract enlistments from Maryland and rebuild his depleted force.--an unfulfilled wish.Opposing Lee, and again leading the Army of the Potomac, was a more confident George McClellan. In the days after Second Bull Run, his army had fought at Turner, Fox and Crampton Gap (September 14). They were battle hardened veterans. His subordinate, General Hoooker, mounted several early attacks which were thwarted as Lee, cleverly, moved troops from one flank to cover the point of attack.The day began with an early morning attack on the Confederate left flank. The Union army began with a huge advantage in numbers,75, 000 men. Lee's forces began the day with one third of the Federal troop strength. Despite evidence and intelligence to the contrary, McClellan would insist the entire day that he was out numbered and therefore desisted from offensive actions, or pursuit, because of his imaginary fear of an imbalance. Some historians believe that Lee began the day with only about 20,000 men awaiting Jackson reinforcements from Harpers Ferry, which thanks to McClellan's 2 day delay to complete plans, arrived in time to augment Confederate lines leaving them with a definitive 2 to 1 man deficit.Joseph Hooker began an attack on the Confederate left flank at the Dunker Church. Men , with fixed bayonets, charged across an open cornfield that was sprayed with shells and musket balls. The Confederates broke, but reorganized when reserves arrived under General John Bell Hood. The Union line broke and began to flee the field. Hood pursued and he was met by an artillery barrage and Federal reinforcements. It was now 10 A.M. After 4 hours of battle 8,000 men lay dead and wounded. The Union advance had been halted. Hooker was wounded, but only one of 18 generals, evenly divided, to die or wounded by days end. Dunker Church, during the battle, housed Confederate armed with signal flagsNow the battle shifted to the center of the Confederate line. Five separate attacks were mounted against the Confederates who lined a sunken country lane that divided separate farms. The road, now known as "Bloody Lane", were strewn with dead and wounded in grey uniforms. One more attack would have cut the center of Lee's army. McClellan did not believe that was "prudent".The last battle of the day was the Union attack on the enemy's left flank. They were led by General Ambrose Burnside's corps. A goodly portion of the fight was to gain control over a small bridge spanning Antietam Creek. (The Union army named battle sites after the nearest landmark, and the southerners would reference the nearest inhabited area.) Four attacks with 12,000 men were held back for three hours by 400 Georgians.They were suddenly reinforced by a Jackson Division under the command of Gen. A.P. Hill. Burnside called for reinforcements. Unfortunately, his plea was directed to McClellan and rejected. He and his troops were forced to retrace their steps over the bridge they had fought so hard to win.The Confederates finally retired and joined a long line of retreating troops seeking safety on the south side of the Potomac. McClellan had his last chance to become an American idol. He failed to strike Lee's army which surely would have ended the war. Total casualties: 23,000.For Lee, his invasion of the north was aborted. He had hoped that a victory would bring aid from England and France.Their neutrality was now assured. Lee would receive less encouraging news from his Western Theater of operations, and Lincoln did not extend third chances to McClellan. But it did give the Union bragging rights after the Confederates were first to leave the battlefield.Reasons Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was a War Hero even though he didn’t win the war (winning isn’t everything):The Army of the Potomac landed near Fort Monroe, Virginia in March of 1862 with 50,000 men and heavy artillery. His forces were destined to face the Army of Northern Virginia under the command of General Joseph Johnston, a duplicate of the cautious McClellan. Northern forces were quickly augmented by another 50,000. He had expected more reinforcements from Union operations in the Shenandoah Valley, but those troops were otherwise engaged in chasing the Confederates under Gen, T.J. Jackson. McClellan would also be confronted with rain every 2 out of 3 days causing severe illness in the ranks.Seven PinesWinchesterMay 25, 1862: Winchester was strategically located on an east/west roadway ending in Washington D.C. It was a hub for several railroads in and crossing the Shenandoah Valley that was designated by the Union Army brass as the Middle Department. The Union troops were racing to occupy this important center. General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson swiftly moved his regiments, part of the the Northern Army of Virginia, to intercept the enemy. He routed the Union troops commanded by Nathaniel P. Banks, and captured a huge supply of war materiel much need by the Confederates. The Union forces barely escaped to refuge on the north side of the Potomac River thanks to the fatigue of the pursuing enemy forces.Second Battle of Bull RunAugust 28: General Lee was in character when he ordered his Northern Army of Virginia to attack the Army of the Potomac now under the command of General John Pope who had relieved General McClellan. The rail lines always appeared to be a magnet for the armies. Lee's army marched north and was led by Generals Longstreet and Jackson. Pope's command included General Irvin McDowell who had commanded Union forces at the first Battle of Bull Run one year earlier (October 21, 1961). The battle began with the cavalry raid on Pope's headquarters under the fiery Gen. J.E.B. Stuart. Then Jackson moved against a Union supply depot. The food and drink captured was a bonanza for Gen. Jackson's half starved men. One soldier reported on the bonanza:"I soon found, in one corner of the second story, a room full of officers’ rations and several soldiers supplying themselves with coffee, sugar, molasses, etc. When we had appropriated all that we could carry, we found a barrel of whiskey, which we soon tapped; but as our canteens were full of molasses, and our tin cups full of sugar, we had nothing to drink out of. We soon found an old funnel, however, and while one would hold his hand over the bottom of it, another would draw it full. In this way it was passed around".As the battle extended into a second day over the same territory as First Bull Run, it was evident that its scope would be greater than the earlier battle. Pope was now bent on catching Jackson's forces. General Pope has since been judged as always ready for the fight, but not a good tactician. He overlooked the substantial Longstreet reinforcements that reached Jackson.On the third day, the Confederates had broken the Union lines over a 2 mile front. A repeat of a Bull Run route of 1861 was barely avoided by a strong rear guard action that held the pursuing Confederates. Total casualties: 25,000.Stonewall Jackson attacked the town and blessed his Confederate cause with immense war booty and 12,000 Union prisoners. It was his misfortune that he had to abandon Harper’s Ferry to heed the call to reinforce the Northern Army of Virginia engaged in battle at Sharpsburg, Maryland.Harpers Ferry would change hands 8 times (14 times including minor incursions) during the Civil War. and finally rest in the Union camp as part of the newly created state of West Virginia.Antietam (Sharpsburg)The last battle of the day was the Union attack on the enemy's left flank. They were led by General Ambrose Burnside's corps. A goodly portion of the fight was to gain control over a small bridge spanning Antietam Creek. (The Union army named battle sites after the nearest landmark, and the southerners would reference the nearest inhabited area.) Four attacks with 12,000 men were held back for three hours by 400 Georgians.They were suddenly reinforced by a Jackson Division under the command of Gen. A.P. Hill. Burnside called for reinforcements. Unfortunately, his plea was directed to McClellan and rejected. He and his troops were forced to retrace their steps over the bridge they had fought so hard to win.The Confederates finally retired and joined a long line of retreating troops seeking safety on the south side of the Potomac. McClellan had his last chance to become an American idol. He failed to strike Lee's army which surely would have ended the war. Total casualties: 23,000.For Lee, his invasion of the north was aborted. He had hoped that a victory would bring aid from England and France.Their neutrality was now assured. Lee would receive less encouraging news from his Western Theater of operations, and Lincoln did not extend third chances to McClellan. But it did give the Union bragging rights after the Confederates were first to leave the battlefield.Overall the Civil War generals who led their men onto the major battlefields of the war reflected a range of virtues and vanities that affected the war's outcome. In the main, most were courageous; some too cautious and others too aggressive. Many were political appointees, and the few who were not competent, were quickly replaced. Nevertheless, even the best tacticians, fearless leaders, were capable of mistakes that cost lives and turned the tide of battle against them.