Events that Led to the Civil War

Prelude to the Civil War

Differences between the North and South

NORTH

•Economy Based Primarily on Industry

•Immigrants from Europe came in droves to work in factories

•Immigrants were opposed to slavery…

•Often competed with Slaves for jobs, feared losing jobs

South

•Economy Based on Agricultural ex. cotton

•South did NOT grow technologically as quickly as north

•Southerners feared that end to slavery would destroy the south

John C. Calhoun

…an end to slavery would condemn whites and blacks to “ the greatest calamity, and the south to poverty, “ the greatest calamity, and the south to poverty, desolation and wretchedness.”desolation and wretchedness.”

Compromise of 1850

VS.

John C. Calhoun Daniel Webster

•For states rights

•Southern interests were highest priority

•Slavery should not be extended into territories

Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850

The Terms:

•California admitted as a free state

•Utah and New Mexico territories decide about slavery (Popular Sovereignty)

•Texas-New Mexico boundary dispute resolved and Texas get $10 million

•Stricter fugitive slave law

Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850

Compromise of 1850

The problem of slavery is solved…for now….The problem of slavery is solved…for now….

Fugitive Slave ActFugitive Slave Act

Poster Warning Escaped Slaves to avoid Police

Fugitive Slave ActFugitive Slave ActTerms of New Act Were Harsh:

•No trial by jury for alleged fugitives –goes against 6th amendment

•Fugitives could not testify on own behalf

•Slave hunters got $10 for returning an alleged fugitive and only $5 if they freed the slave

•If caught helping fugitive slaves harsh punishments

•THIS INFURIATES MANY IN THE NORTHTHIS INFURIATES MANY IN THE NORTH

Escaped Slave Reward Poster

Underground RailroadUnderground Railroad•Secret network of people who his fugitive slaves at great risk to themselves

•Hid people in secret tunnels & false cupboards

•Provided Slaves with Shelter, food, and clothing

Map of the Underground Railroad Routes often Used

Underground Railroad•One of the most famous conductors on the U.R.

•Said to have helped 300 slaves escape to freedom

•Southern Authorities put $40,000 bounty on her head

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

•Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe 1852

•Brought Slavery into the homes of Americans

•Showed Slavery as a moral struggle

•Southerners criticized the book as merely attack on southern way of life

Kansas-Nebraska Act-1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act-1854

Both above Missouri Compromise Line= Free States

Decided that both territories should vote on issue

Kansas-Nebraska Act-1854Kansas-Nebraska Act-1854•This Leads to many Problems in Kansas…Would it go free or would it go Slave???

Problems:

•Sack of Lawrence 1856

•The Potawatomie Massacre- Led by John Brown

Bleeding Kansas:Bleeding Kansas: over 200 people die in fighting over the territory

Charles Sumner gets beat Charles Sumner gets beat down in the Senate…down in the Senate…

Dred Scott Decision-1857Dred Scott Decision-1857

►Slave taken from Missouri (slave state) Slave taken from Missouri (slave state) to Wisconsin (free state) to Wisconsin (free state)

►Then he is taken back to slave Then he is taken back to slave territoryterritory

►Scott Sues claiming that living in a free Scott Sues claiming that living in a free territory made him a free manterritory made him a free man

Dred Scott

Scott Takes Case to Supreme Scott Takes Case to Supreme CourtCourt

Two Key Questions:Two Key Questions:

1. Was he a citizen of the United 1. Was he a citizen of the United States?States?

2. Does residence in a free territory 2. Does residence in a free territory make someone a free man?make someone a free man?

The Supreme Court holds the fate of slaves in their hands…What will they do?????

Ruling in the Scott CaseRuling in the Scott Case

Chief Justice Roger Taney

•Question #1: NO “African Americans are a subordinate and inferior class of beings…”

•Question #2: NO Being in a free territory does NOT make a slave free

•In effect it declared the Missouri Compromise Unconstitutional, and permitted extension of slavery into new territories

Raid On Harper’s FerryRaid On Harper’s Ferry

►Led By Led By John Brown-John Brown- Oct 1856 Oct 1856

►Planned to seize a federal arsenal and Planned to seize a federal arsenal and distribute the Arms to slaves and have distribute the Arms to slaves and have them rise upthem rise up

► It doesn’t work and Brown is captured It doesn’t work and Brown is captured and Hangedand Hanged

►SouthernersSoutherners are scared of the idea of a are scared of the idea of a slave uprisingslave uprising

John Brown•Was also leader of the Pottawatomie Massacre

The Final Straw in the Road to The Final Straw in the Road to Secession…Secession…

The Election of Abraham Lincoln 1860

The Election of Lincoln-1860The Election of Lincoln-1860

►Wins the Republican nomination for Wins the Republican nomination for presidentpresident

►Pledged to halt the further spread of Pledged to halt the further spread of slaveryslavery

►BUT said that he would not interfere BUT said that he would not interfere with slaves or slavery in southwith slaves or slavery in south

►Southerners DON’T buy it…Southerners DON’T buy it…

The Election of Lincoln-1860The Election of Lincoln-1860

Result…Result…