The Road to Civil War 1787-1861 Constitutional Convention No mention of “slavery” 3/5 Comp No abolition of slave trade until 1808.

The Road to Civil War

1787-1861

Constitutional Convention

• No mention of “slavery”• 3/5 Comp• No abolition of slave trade until 1808

1. SOUTHERN SLAVERY THE PECULIAR INSTITUTION

Prior to 1791 slavery was not profitable Cotton Gin----Eli Whitney---1791

South relied on cotton and slaves.

Cotton production doubles every 10 years King Cotton “Without firing a gun, without drawing

a sword, should they make war on us, we could bring the whole world to our feet... What would happen if no cotton was furnished for three years?... England would topple headlong and carry the whole civilized world with her save the South. No, you dare not to make war on cotton. No power on the earth dares to make war upon it. Cotton is King.”

Notes 1 Senator James Henry Hammond of South Carolina famous boast in 1858:

1791: 4,000 bales of cotton are produced1849: 2, 246, 900 bales of cotton are produced

6 cents a lb. to 14 cents in 1857Expanded into Arkansas and Texas

Crop increase: 2,500,000 bales in 1850 to 5,300,000 in 1860Crop Value: In 1800, $8 million: In 1860, $250 million

Tobacco by 1860 : 200,000,000 lbs. to 430,000,000 lbs. Cotton Production

The invention which changed

the South, cotton and

slavery.

The invention which changed

the South, cotton and

slavery.

Trial of tears

•Total U.S. population

was 3.5 million…

•700,000 slaves in the U.S. at this

time.

•Still bought slaves

through the slave trade.

Trial of tears

•Total U.S. population was 18

million

•2 million slaves in the U.S. at this time.

•1808, importation of slaves was illegal

•Slave trade within the U.S.

•Increase of slave population was

from natural reproduction

Map/Cotton Belt

COTTON BELTCOTTON BELT, Cotton Kingdom, Cotton Kingdom

Federal

•Southern society was Southern society was similar to a similar to a Feudal systemFeudal system

that existed in Europe that existed in Europe during the Dark and Middle during the Dark and Middle Ages…..(Ages…..(Manorial System)Manorial System)

•Caste systemCaste system and difficult and difficult to move up the social to move up the social

ladder.ladder.

•Based on white supremacy Based on white supremacy and the slave was inferior.and the slave was inferior.

Plantation Plantation owners owners

AristocracyAristocracyMiddle Middle ClassClassSmall Small

farmersfarmersPoor Poor

WhitesWhitesFree Blacks, 2Free Blacks, 2ndnd class citizens class citizens

Slaves---no rights, considered Slaves---no rights, considered propertyproperty

No No political political or civil or civil rights.rights.

Upper Upper classclass

Owned some Owned some slaves. Achieve slaves. Achieve

American American DreamDream

Owned no Owned no slaves….Hated white slaves….Hated white

upper class…upper class…American American DreamDream

•90% of Europe’s cotton came from the South by 186090% of Europe’s cotton came from the South by 1860•1/2 of U.S. exports were from cotton1/2 of U.S. exports were from cotton•More money invested in slaves than land and tools---$2 More money invested in slaves than land and tools---$2 billionbillion

Facts on Slavery

Conditions on a slave ship were horrible. This was called the Middle Passage.

Conditions on a slave ship were horrible. This was called the Middle Passage.

•Slaves resorted to revolts in the 13 colonies and later in the southern

U.S.

•Gabriel Prosser•Denmark Vessey

•Nat Turner Slave Revolts

Nate Turner Rebellion

• Virginian Slave• Believed he was chosen by God• 1831• Killed 60 whites (beginning with his master &

family• 100+ slaves murdered in retaliation• South outraged*Leads to stricter “slave codes” and Gag Rule in

Congress

Nat Turner Nat Turner RebellionRebellion

Arrest of Nat Arrest of Nat TurnerTurner

Tree Nat Tree Nat Turner was Turner was

hung onhung onSlave Revolts/Turner

Besides slave revolts, slaves Besides slave revolts, slaves resorted to other ways to resorted to other ways to

revolt…..revolt…..

•Wouldn’t work hard.Wouldn’t work hard.

•Would sabotage equipment or break Would sabotage equipment or break tools.tools.

•Sometimes poisoned their master’s Sometimes poisoned their master’s food.food.

•Tried to escapeTried to escapeSlave Revolts

•Slaves were not taught to read or Slaves were not taught to read or writewrite

•Restricted to the plantationRestricted to the plantation

•Slaves could not congregate after Slaves could not congregate after darkdark

•Slaves could not possess any type of Slaves could not possess any type of firearmfirearm

•A larger slave plantation than white A larger slave plantation than white in some statesin some states

Slave Laws

•Gag ruleGag rule was passed in Congress which nothing

concerning slavery could be discussed.

•Under the gag rulegag rule, anti-anti-slavery petitionsslavery petitions were

not read on the floor of Congress

•The rule was renewed in each Congress between

1837 and 1839.

•In 1840 the House passed an even stricter rule, which refused to which refused to accept all anti-slavery accept all anti-slavery

petition.petition. On December 3, 1844, the gag rule was

repealed

Missouri Compromise (1820)

Wilmot Proviso, 1846Wilmot Proviso, 1846 Provided, territory from that, Provided, territory from that, as an as an express and fundamental condition express and fundamental condition to the acquisition of any the to the acquisition of any the Republic of Mexico by the United Republic of Mexico by the United StatesStates, by virtue of any treaty which , by virtue of any treaty which may be negotiated between them, may be negotiated between them, and to the use by the Executive of and to the use by the Executive of the moneys herein appropriated, the moneys herein appropriated, neither slavery nor involuntary neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part servitude shall ever exist in any part of said territoryof said territory, except for crime, , except for crime, whereof the party shall first be duly whereof the party shall first be duly convicted.convicted.

Provided, territory from that, Provided, territory from that, as an as an express and fundamental condition express and fundamental condition to the acquisition of any the to the acquisition of any the Republic of Mexico by the United Republic of Mexico by the United StatesStates, by virtue of any treaty which , by virtue of any treaty which may be negotiated between them, may be negotiated between them, and to the use by the Executive of and to the use by the Executive of the moneys herein appropriated, the moneys herein appropriated, neither slavery nor involuntary neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part servitude shall ever exist in any part of said territoryof said territory, except for crime, , except for crime, whereof the party shall first be duly whereof the party shall first be duly convicted.convicted.

Rep. David WilmotRep. David Wilmot(D-PA)(D-PA)

Rep. David WilmotRep. David Wilmot(D-PA)(D-PA)

Most intense debate in U.S. HistoryMost intense debate in U.S. History•John C. CalhounJohn C. Calhoun•North should honor the Constitution and enforce the Fugitive Slave Law•South wanted California•threatened to secede from U.S.•U.S. should have two Presidents---one from the North and one for the South

Comp of 1850

•Daniel WebsterDaniel Webster•Secession is impractical & impossible•How would we split the land? •The military?•Compromise at all cost•Preserve the Union

•Henry ClayHenry Clay•The Great Compromiser, with

John C. Calhoun, Daniel Webster and Stephen Douglas, propose

this compromise.

Compromise of 1850

•U.S. Senator from the state of U.S. Senator from the state of IllinoisIllinois

•Solve the slavery issue was Solve the slavery issue was through through Popular SovereigntyPopular Sovereignty

•let the people in each territory let the people in each territory decide through the process of decide through the process of voting whether they want slavery voting whether they want slavery or not.or not.

•Along with Henry Clay, Daniel Along with Henry Clay, Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun Webster and John C. Calhoun they proposed the they proposed the Compromise Compromise of 1850of 1850

•Calif. A free stateCalif. A free state

•enforce Fugitive Slave Lawenforce Fugitive Slave Law

•Popular SovereigntyPopular Sovereignty

•stop slave trade in Washington, stop slave trade in Washington, D.C.D.C.Picture/S.Douglas

Map Comp of 1850

Popular Popular SovereigntySovereignty

Allow the people in a territory to vote on whether

they want slavery to exist or not in their

state.

ABOLITIONISTS RESPONDDenounced by

AbolitionistsHarriet Beecher Stowe’s,

Uncle Tom’s Cabin is published

Abolitionists refuse to enforce the law

Underground Railroad becomes more active

RESPONSE BY ABOLITIONISTSRESPONSE BY ABOLITIONISTS“An immoral law makes it a man’s duty to break it, at every hazard. For

virtue is the very self of every man. It is therefore a principle of law that an immoral contract is void, and that an immoral statute is void. The Fugitive

Slave Law is a statute which enacts the crime of kidnapping, a crime on one footing with arson and murder. A man’s right to liberty is as

inalienable as his right to life……” Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson

“3 millions of the American people are crushed under the American Union! The government gives them no protection– the government is their enemy, the government keeps them in chains! The Union which grinds them to the

dust rests upon us, and with them we will struggle to overthrow it! The Constitution which subjects them to hopeless bondage is one that we

cannot swear to support. Our motto is, ‘No Union with Slaveholders’….We separate from them, to clear our skirts of innocent blood….and to hasten the downfall of slavery in America, and throughout the world!” William William

Lloyd GarrisonLloyd Garrison

Fugitive Slave Law

SOUTHERNERS SOUTHERNERS RESPONDRESPOND

Southerners Southerners threatened secession threatened secession

and warand warBelieved it should be Believed it should be enforced because the enforced because the Constitution protects Constitution protects property and Federal property and Federal law is over State law.law is over State law.

55thth Amendment AmendmentSupremacy ClauseSupremacy Clause

Jerry Rescue: Syracuse, NY

• William Henry AKA “Jerry” was a runaway slave that lived in Syracuse.

• Arrested on October 1, 1851.

Anthony Burns

• Runaway slave at the age of 19. Escaped from Richmond to Boston in 1853.

• May 24, 1854 he was discovered and arrested.• President Pierce wants the Fugitive Slave Act

strictly enforced. • Many New England Abolitionists are outraged

and attempt to storm the court house and free Burns.

Symbol of Resistance

Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)

Harriet Beecher Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811 -1896)Stowe (1811 -1896)

"So you are the little woman who "So you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this wrote the book that started this great war!"great war!" --Abraham Lincoln on meeting Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1862

Ostend Manifesto

• 1854• Franklin Pierce • Attempt to buy Cuba from Spain accompanied

by threats• Anti-Slavery pressure to halt• Leads to heightened tensions N v S• Pierre Soule’

•Build a transcontinental Build a transcontinental connecting California to the connecting California to the East Coast either in the East Coast either in the South or NorthSouth or North

•Stephen Douglas wanted Stephen Douglas wanted the railroad built in the North the railroad built in the North but had to convince the but had to convince the South otherwise.South otherwise.

•Proposed a plan that Proposed a plan that Kansas and Nebraska Kansas and Nebraska territories be opened up to territories be opened up to slavery in return for building slavery in return for building the railroad in the North.the railroad in the North.

•Popular SovereigntyPopular Sovereignty

Kan. & Neb Act

Map Kan/Neb Act

Popular Popular SovereigntySovereignty

Allow the people in a territory to vote on whether

they want slavery to exist or not in their

state.

Map Bleeding Kan

Attacks by free-states

Attacks by pro-slavery states

(Led by John Brown)

•Kansas/Nebraska Act Kansas/Nebraska Act led to several acts of led to several acts of

violence between pro-violence between pro-slavery settlers and slavery settlers and anti-slavery settlers.anti-slavery settlers.

•First violent outbreaks First violent outbreaks between North/South.between North/South.

•John BrownJohn Brown

•First battles of the Civil First battles of the Civil War begin in Kansas in War begin in Kansas in

1856.1856.

•Over 200 killedOver 200 killed

Bleeding Kan

Bleeding Kan

After the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, the Kansas territory became a battleground. Pro-slavery and antislavery supporters rushed to settle in Kansas. The territory was torn by battles and massacres. The issue also bitterly divided the nation and led to the formation of the Republican Party. The first shots of the Civil War were in

Bleeding Kansas.

After the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, the Kansas territory became a battleground. Pro-slavery and antislavery supporters rushed to settle in Kansas. The territory was torn by battles and massacres. The issue also bitterly divided the nation and led to the formation of the Republican Party. The first shots of the Civil War were in

Bleeding Kansas.

REPUBLICAN PARTYREPUBLICAN PARTY

Formed to stop Formed to stop the expansion of the expansion of slaveryslavery

National Republican National Republican which become the Whigs.which become the Whigs.

Free Soil Party Free Soil Party against the against the expansion of expansion of slaveryslavery

Democrats Democrats opposed the opposed the expansion of expansion of slaveryslavery

AbolitionistsAbolitionists

Chart/Rep. Party

Know Nothing PartyKnow Nothing Party

against immigrationagainst immigration

“The Crime Against Kansas”

“The Crime Against Kansas”

Sen. Charles Sen. Charles SumnerSumner

(R-MA)(R-MA)

Sen. Charles Sen. Charles SumnerSumner

(R-MA)(R-MA)

Congr. Preston Brooks(D-SC)

Congr. Preston Brooks(D-SC)

Douglas (who was present in the chamber) was a "noise-some, squat, and nameless animal...not a proper model for an American senator." Butler was a pimp who took "a mistress who, though ugly to others, is always lovely to him; though polluted in the sight of the world, is chaste in his sight—I mean, the harlot, Slavery."

William Walker’s Filibustering Frenzy for Slave Empire in Central America Between the Years

1853 and 1860• Pro-Slavery prodigy from Tennessee• Invaded Baja California in 1853 and est. the Republic

of Sonora (defeated w/in months)• Nicaragua 1855-57

– Accessory Transit Company– Defeats “Legitimists” on behalf of the “Democratic” Party– Declares himself President– Gov’t recognized by Pierce but later lost under pressure from Vanderbilt – Defeated by Central American alliance in ’57– Several other attempts to form slave republic failed– Executed by Honduran gov’t in 1860

1856 Presidential Election

1856 Presidential Election

√ James Buchanan John C. Frémont Millard Fillmore Democrat Republican American

√ James Buchanan John C. Frémont Millard Fillmore Democrat Republican American

1856Presidenti

al

Election

Results

1856Presidenti

al

Election

Results

•Slave from Missouri traveled with his owner to Illinois & Minnesota both free states.•His master died and Scott wanted to move back to Missouri---Missouri still recognized him as a slave.•He sued his master’s widow for his freedom since he had lived in a free state for a period of time.•Court case went to the Supreme Court for a decision-----National issue

•Can a slave sue for his freedom?•Is a slave property?•Is slavery legal?

Picture/Dred Scott

Chart/Effect of Scott

•Supreme Court hands down the Dred Scott decision

•North refused to enforce Fugitive Slave Law

•Free states pass personal liberty laws.

•Republicans claim the decision is not binding

•Southerners call on the North to accept the decision if the South is to remain in

the Union.

•Slaves cannot sue the U.S. for their freedom because they are property.

•They are not citizens and have no legal right under the

Constitution.•Supreme Court

legalized slavery by saying that

•Congress could not stop a slaveowner from moving his slaves to a new

territory•Missouri

Compromise and all other compromises

were unconstitutional

•Violent abolitionist•Involved in the Bleeding Kansas•Murdered 5 pro-slavery men in Kansas

•Wanted to lead a slave revolt throughout the South by raising an army of freed slaves and destroying the South.

Picture/J.Brown

Harper’s Ferry 1859

•Unsuccessful and captured by USMC under the leadership of Robert E. Lee•Put on trial for treason. Picture/J.Brown

•He was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death.

•His last words were to this effect: “I “I believe that the issue of slavery will believe that the issue of slavery will never be solved unless through the never be solved unless through the

shedding of blood.”shedding of blood.”•Northerners thought of John Brown as a martyr to the abolitionist cause.

•Southerners were terrified that if John Brown almost got away with this,

there must be others like him in the North who are willing to die to end

slavery.•South’s outcome: To leave the U.S.

and start their own country.Picture/J.Brown Hanging

•Lincoln and Douglas both running for the U.S. Senate in Illinois.

•The debates were followed by the country because both candidates were interested in running for the

Presidency in 1860.•Slavery was the issue

•Lincoln stated:Lincoln stated: A House Divided against itself cannot stand. Either we become one or the other.

•was against the expansion of slavery•Douglas believed that slavery should be decided by

the people.•Popular sovereignty

Chart/L&D Debates

Republican Party Platform in 1860Republican Party Platform in 1860Republican Party Platform in 1860Republican Party Platform in 18601. Non-extension of slavery [for Free-

Soilers].

2. Protective tariff [for No. Industrialists].

3. No abridgment of rights for immigrants [a disappointment for the “Know-Nothings”].

4. Government aid to build a Pacific RR [for the Northwest].

5. Internal improvements [for the West] at federal expense.

6. Free homesteads for the public domain [for farmers].

1. Non-extension of slavery [for Free-Soilers].

2. Protective tariff [for No. Industrialists].

3. No abridgment of rights for immigrants [a disappointment for the “Know-Nothings”].

4. Government aid to build a Pacific RR [for the Northwest].

5. Internal improvements [for the West] at federal expense.

6. Free homesteads for the public domain [for farmers].

1860Presidenti

alElection

1860Presidenti

alElection

√ Abraham LincolnRepublican

√ Abraham LincolnRepublican

John BellConstitutional Union

John BellConstitutional Union

Stephen A. DouglasNorthern DemocratStephen A. DouglasNorthern Democrat

John C. BreckinridgeSouthern Democrat

John C. BreckinridgeSouthern Democrat

Election 0f 1860

Lincoln by Alexander Gardner, 1861Photographer Mathew Brady captured this image of the solemn president-elect on February 23, 1861, a few weeks after the formation of the Confederacy and shortly before Lincoln's inauguration. (Library of Congress)

Lincoln by Alexander Gardner, 1861

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Lincoln’s Inauguration, March 4, 1861

Fort Sumter: April

12, 1861

Fort Sumter: April

12, 1861

Secession