The Effect of Historical Figures on the Civil War

Many historical figures contributed to the start of the Civil War. John Brown, for example, attempted to lead a slave rebellion in Virginia. The Southerners referred to him as a beyond radical abolitionist and murderer who was a threat to the South--leading to secession. Likewise, Brown's execution outraged many abolitionists and free-soilers in the North, making them angrier toward the South and therefore more likely to declare war on the South after they seceded. Stephen Douglas was also influential in this respect, particularly for his approval of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which led to war in Kansas due to the disagreement between slaveowners and free-soilers. …