Divisive Politics of Divisive Politics of Slavery Slavery How do the North & South differ on Slavery?
Dec 24, 2015
Divisive Politics of Divisive Politics of SlaverySlavery
How do the North & South differ on Slavery?
Life in the Antebellum SouthLife in the Antebellum SouthLife in the Antebellum SouthLife in the Antebellum South
1. Primarily agricultural (Cotton is 57% of exports)2. Slow industrialization w/ inadequate transportation systems
3. 40% of US pop with with 6 mill whites (350K S.O) & 3 mill slaves
4. See slavery as a way of life that must continue
1. Primarily industrial2. Fully industrialized with great transportation systems3. 60% of US pop, mostly White, some freed slaves
4. Abolitionists want to see an end to slavery
Life in Northern StatesLife in Northern StatesLife in Northern StatesLife in Northern States
Slave-Owning Families Slave-Owning Families (1850)(1850)
Slave-Owning Families Slave-Owning Families (1850)(1850)
Question: In 1850, the majority of slave owning families owned how many slaves?
SouthernSouthern PopulationPopulationSouthernSouthern PopulationPopulation
Question: In what states did slaves outnumber whites? In, which states were slaves over 1/3 of the population?
Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850 California & other territories want statehood Southern States believed CA should vote on slavery due to the
Missouri Compromise (most below 36/30 line) North says NO! South threatens secession (leave the US) Henry Clay creates Compromise of 1850 1) California will be a free state, New Mexico (below 36/30) & Utah
(above 36/30) can vote on slavery 2) Stronger fugitive slave laws will be written
Rebelling Against SlaveryRebelling Against Slavery Virginian slave Nat Turner rebels against slave owners killing 60 pro-
slavery whites. - Turner eventually caught Slaves escape the South via a network of escape routes called the
Underground Railroad w/ help of “conductors” like Harriet Tubman See map on page 159
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, 18521852
Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe Exposed the horrors of slavery Argued slavery was not just a political issue, but also a
moral one
Kansas-Nebraska ActKansas-Nebraska Act Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) divided the territory into two states
(both above 36/30 line), allowed a vote on Slavery in each Violence breaks out in each state as northerners and southerners
race to settle in the state
Dred Scott vs. Sanford, 1857Dred Scott vs. Sanford, 1857 A slave named Dred Scott sues his owner for freedom. Scott argues that he, with his owner, had previously lived in free territories; therefore had been illegally enslaved.
Supreme Court ruled against Scott saying he was “property,” which is protected by 5th Amendment.
Lincoln vs. DouglasLincoln vs. Douglas
Democratic Party: pro-slavery, new Republican party is abolitionist Illinois Senate race btwn Abraham Lincoln (R) & Stephen Douglas (D) Douglas favors voting on slavery, Lincoln says slavery is immoral Lincoln wins, two years later he wins Presidency Lincoln says he will allow slavery to continue but will not allow its
expansion into new states Southerners want to secede from the union