Background to the Civil War Political Parties Wilmot Proviso Compromise of 1850 Uncle Tom’s Cabin Kansas Nebraska Act--“Bleeding Kansas” Republican Party Dred Scott John Brown Election of 1860
Dec 15, 2015
Background to the Civil War Political Parties Wilmot Proviso Compromise of 1850 Uncle Tom’s Cabin Kansas Nebraska Act--“Bleeding
Kansas” Republican Party Dred Scott John Brown Election of 1860
Political Parties Democrats—strongest in South More democratic Generally pro-slavery Whigs—stronger in North More elitist Generally anti-spread of slavery BUT there were southern Whigs and
northern Democrats
Wilmot Proviso (August 1846)
Proposal to prohibit slavery in new territories gained from Mexico
Divided upon sectional lines Northern Democrats supported Whigs supported
Possible solutions Extend Louisiana Purchase line across Popular sovereignty (Lewis Cass,
Stephen Douglas)—but when? Cass became Democratic nominee in
1848 Whigs nominated Zachary Taylor Northern Whigs did not support Taylor Free Soil Party formed
Zachary Taylor
Southern slaveholder William Seward (antislavery) was
chief advisor Southerners regretted his election Virginia newspapers—Richmond
Whig and Richmond Enquirer
Compromise Proposal (Clay)
California admitted free New Mexico and Utah with no
reference to slavery Texas territory reduced; Texas
debts assumed Slave trade abolished in DC but
slavery itself guaranteed
Speeches
Webster: “speak as an American” Calhoun: “equilibrium destroyed” Seward: “slavery an unjust,
backward, dying institution. . . Higher law than Constitution”
Compromise of 1850
President Taylor died in July Millard Fillmore (Buffalo) becomes
president Fillmore disliked Seward (NY
factions) and favored compromise Stronger fugitive slave law added Compromise passed
William Graham (NC) to brother, Jan. 1851
“I think the settlement of the last session and the firm course of the Administration in the execution of the fugitive slave law have given a new lease to slavery. Property of that kind has not been so secure for the last twenty-five years.”
Fugitive Slave Law Most divisive of the compromise
measures Law of 1793 allowed southerners to
come North capture fugitive slaves Northern “liberty laws” gave
captives legal rights Law of 1850 gave captives no legal
rights
Prigg v. Pennsylvania (1842)
Prigg appealed conviction for kidnapping
Supreme Court ruled Pennsylvania liberty law unconstitutional
But also that enforcement of 1793 fugitive slave law was federal responsibility
Northern reaction to Fugitive Slave Law
Some northern states passed more liberty laws
Northerners formed community committees to aid runaway slaves
Underground Railroad Southerners saw vast conspiracy
Fugitive Slave Law (1850)
First 15 months, 84 fugitives returned, only 5 released
During decade, 332 returned, 11 declared free
No statute of limitations Many blacks went to Canada
Cases
William and Ellen Craft—protected by Boston anti-slavery group
Shadrach—waiter had escaped from Virginia—captured in Boston but rescued and sent to Canada
Thomas Sims—captured and sent South
Christiana, Pennsylvania (Sept. 1851)
Maryland slaveowner killed and son wounded attempting to capture slave. Resisters charged with treason, but case collapsed
Fugitive Cases
William McHenry (Jerry) rescued from police station in Syracuse
Henry “Box” Brown Henry Long Anthony Burns
Henry Long
Russell County Virginia owner Long worked in Richmond Escaped to New York Returned to Richmond Sold south Richmond Enquirer covered story
Uncle Tom’s Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe Best seller of all time in proportion
to population Southerners hated it: “detestable
and monstrous” Pro-slavery novels: Uncle Robin in
His Cabin in Virginia and Tom Without One in Boston
Kansas Nebraska Act
Stephen Douglas Transcontinental RR Popular Sovereignty Repeal of Missouri Compromise End of Whigs Formation of Republican Party Emergence of Lincoln
“Bleeding Kansas”
Anti-slavery leaders to fight there New England Emigrant Aid
Company Amos Lawrence Pro-slavery settlers from Missouri
outnumbered anti-slavery Kansans Violence broke out—1855-56
John Brown in Kansas
"These men are all talk. What we need is action - action!"
Pottawatomie massacre James Doyle and two sons (slave-
catchers and members of the Law and Order Party)
Pro-slavery MissourianDavid Aitchison
To Jefferson Davis and Robert Hunter:“We are organizing. We will be
compelled to shoot, burn & hang, but the thing will soon be over. . . .If we win we carry slavery to the Pacific Ocean, if we fail we lose Missouri Arkansas Texas and all the territories.”
Violence in Senate
Sumner caned by Brooks, May 1856
Northerners outraged Southern students contributed to
buy Brooks new cane Southern reaction outraged
Northerners even more
Republican Party
1854 Response to Kansas-Nebraska Act “Free Labor, free land, free men.” Opposed expansion of slavery
President Buchanan, 1856 Considered pro-South Accepted Lecompton Constitution
for Kansas (pro-slavery) Northerners considered it a fraud Split Democratic Party More fighting in Congress Lecompton defeated; Kansas
statehood delayed until 1861
Dred Scott
Belonged to army surgeon from Missouri
Had been taken to Illinois, Minnesota Scott sued for freedom in 1846 Went to federal court
Dred Scott
Supreme Court heard case 3 questions: Could Scott sue in federal court? Was he free from stays in free
territories/state? Was Fort Snelling in Minn. Territory
free territory?
Dred Scott Chief Justice Roger Taney issued a comprehensive pro-slavery
ruling: Blacks could not sue in federal
courts Stay in free territory did not make
him free Congress had no right to ban
slavery in territories
Reaction to Harpers Ferry Raid
Search Valley project newspapers Southerners used words like
“outrage,” “rebellion” Northerners generally supported
cause, but criticized methods
Election of 1860
Lincoln—Republican Douglas—Democrat (northern) Breckenridge—Democrat
(southern) Bell—(Constitution and Union—
mostly Whigs)