Conflict or Compromise? Events Leading to the Civil War (1850- 1861)

Conflict or Compromise?Events Leading to the Civil War (1850-

1861)

The Compromise of 1850Compromise - slave and free states both gave in . . .

•California -free state•Texas - slave state•Other territories will vote on

whether they will have slavery•Ends slave trade in Wash., DC•Fugitive Slave Law est. - Escaped

slaves must be returned

The Compromise of 1850

•As a result of the war against Mexico, the United States acquired the regions shown on this map as California, Utah Territory, New Mexico Territory, and the portions of Texas not included in the Province of Texas.

The Fugitive Slave Law of The Fugitive Slave Law of 18501850ConflictConflict

The Fugitive Slave Law of The Fugitive Slave Law of 18501850ConflictConflict

All citizens were now required to

help capture slaves or face stiff fines and/or jail time!

Escaped slaves were now

everyone’s responsibilityThe The FugitiFugitive ve Slave Slave Law of Law of 18501850

The The FugitiFugitive ve Slave Slave Law of Law of 18501850

This Creates Northern Outrage!

• Even Free Blacks now feared of being forced back into slavery!

• Thousands of African Americans flee to Canada

• Abolitionists now become a powerful force!

Leaflets Show How Many Northerners Felt

•Leaflets like this reflect the outrage many Northerners felt in response to the capture and reenslavement of African Americans that resulted from the passage of a tougher Fugitive Slave Law as part of the Compromise of 1850.

Famous Fugitive Slaves

• William and Ellen Craft• The couple who pretended to be the

wealthy white male (Ellen) and his slave companion (William)

• Anthony Burns• A visible reminder of the horrors of the

Fugitive Slave Law when arrested in Boston

Anthony Burns

•The “trial” and subsequent return of Anthony Burns to slavery in 1854 resulted in the publication of a popular pamphlet in Boston. Documents like this generated increased support—and funds—for the abolitionist cause.

Abolitionist Poster

•An abolitionist poster from Massachusetts condemns the Fugitive Slave Law and the politicians who voted for it.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)

Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)

Sold 300,000 copies in the first year!

Made brutality of slavery very personal

Sold 300,000 copies in the first year!

Made brutality of slavery very personal

Conflict

Uncle Tom’s Cabin – Harriet Beecher Stowe

(1811 – 1896)So this is the lady

who started the Civil War.

-- Abraham LincolnInfuriated Southerners – She had never visited the Deep South!

CompromiseKansas – Nebraska Act - 1854

• “Popular Sovereignty” used to decide if territory will be free or slave state

• Pro-Abolition and Pro-Slavery forces flood Kansas to sway the vote!

Leads toBLOODY KANSAS!

Nebraska is ok, but Kansas . . .

• Two territorial governments exist in Kansas by 1856

• Violence erupts in Kansas (and in Congress)

The Kansas-Nebraska Act

ConflictBleeding Kansas (John Brown) - 1856

A militant abolitionist who led a few others into a

pro slavery settlement outside

of Lawrence, Kansas. They

hacked five men to death with swords.

Dred Scott Decision (1856)Conflict

• Does taking a slave to a free state or territory free the slave?

• Could a black man sue in federal court?

Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper

•The Dred Scott case was front page news on Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper in 1857. Harriet and Dred with their two daughters are depicted sympathetically as members of the middle class rather than as abused and mistreated slaves.

Dred Scott Decision: Reaction

• Divided the country further over slavery issue

• Fifth Amendment upheld by Supreme Court - protects (white) people from loss of property without due process of the law• also secures idea of slaves as property

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates (for US Senate from Illinois) Conflict

• Stephen Douglas – running for reelection

• Abraham Lincoln• Did not believe in racial equality• Believed in the right to be paid for labor

regardless of race

• Douglas wins race, but Lincoln makes a name for himself – useful later!

• Brown determined to invade South and end slavery. Hoped to attract slaves to cause as he and “army” moved South.

• October 16, 1859, he and 21 other men -- 5 blacks and 16 whites -- raided the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry.

John Brown’s Raid - Conflict

John Brown’s Raid and Reaction

• Increased tensions, North and South

• Southerners traumatized and terrified

• John Brown is executed for crimes• Brown becomes a Northern hero/martyr• Moved South closer to secession

Election of 1860

•Abraham Lincoln runs as a Republican (birth of the party)

•Republicans win election without winning any Southern States

•The South sees this as a complete loss of political power in Washington!

Conflict

The Election of 1860

•The results reflect the sectional schism over slavery. Lincoln carried the election although he won only in northern states. His name did not even appear on the ballot in most southern states.

Disunion (As titled in textbook)

• South Carolina secedes December 20th, 1860• By February, seven Deep South states

seceded• Lincoln tried to calm southern fears

• “Only” dispute was over the expansion of slavery

• Promised to enforce the Constitution and• Not interfere with slavery where it existed• Not tolerate secession

Fort Sumter: April 12, 1861

Fort Sumter: April 12, 1861