The Road to the Civil War Conflict triumphs over compromise.

The Road to the Civil War

Conflict triumphs over compromise

The Union in Peril

“The real issue in this controversy—the one pressing upon every mind—is the sentiment on the part one class that looks upon the institution of slavery as a wrong, and of another class that does not look upon it as a wrong.”

Abraham Lincoln, 1858

Issues left over from the early days of the republic & Constitution What is exact status of slavery in US?

Ends importation of slaves in 1808 3/5 clause

State powers vs. national powers

Increasing economic conflict running along sectional lines BUS (both 1st & 2nd) Tariff controversies (multiple) Foreign policy interests (mostly over Europe)

Territorial expansion & rapid growth of US Pace of expansion How to distribute land What land is fair game to acquire next?

Development of transportation/communication infrastructure

Regional social divisions

Emergence of cotton as a economic engine

The Compromise of 1820aka “The Missouri Compromise”

Goes back to LA Purchase in 1803 Territory in becoming populated MO applies for statehood Starting with admission of VT & KY (1791-92), Congress had tried to maintain balance between slave

and free states Rapid pop. growth in north put House at 105-81 in favor of North; Senate 11-11 tie Issue & debate largely political & economic

SO…what’s the immediate issue? If MO enters as slave state tips the balance to the South Since 1st of LA Purchase to enter, sets precedent for rest of region

Tallmadge Amendment Gradual emancipation of slaves in MO; MO enters as free state Defeated BUT enrages many southerners as an attack on their livelihoods

The Compromise (Drafted by Henry Clay) MO comes in as a slave state ME enters as a free state 36o30’ would be dividing line in rest of LA territory (Free above, slave below)

Outcome Preserves sectional balance for 30 years Increases tension between nationalism & sectionalism (regionalism)

Views on Slavery in the Territories Free-Soil Movement

Northern Dems. & Whigs Did NOT demand end of slavery “Free soil, free labor, free men”

Southern Position Some wanted no restriction Some wanted extension of 36o30’ line

Popular Sovereignty Lewis Cass, (Sen., MI) Good, but problem with “squatters”

Compromise of 18501. Admission of CA as a free state

2. Division of Mexican territory into NM and Utah (& let them choose -- popular sovereignty)

3. Settlement of TX-NM border

4. Federal govt. assumes TX debt ($10m)

5. Abolish slave trade in DC

6. Create a more effective fugitive slave law & ENFORCE IT RIGOROUSLY

In this debate, the Congressional giants Clay (KY), Webster (MA), and Calhoun (SC) gave the greatest speeches of their lives. All three would die within the two after the Compromise.

Map 14.1: The Compromise of 1850

Results Opponents made headway UNTIL death of Pres. Taylor

in 1850 (very sudden) VP Millard Fillmore takes over – supports compromise Stephen Douglas (IL) created coalitions to pass each

part of the deal separately

Did not make sectional divisions go away North won free states South won idea of popular sovereignty

Congress cannot dictate on slavery New Fugitive Slave Act created controversy

Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 Took away rights of fugitive slaves Put all fugitive salve cases under federal jurisdiction

Persons claiming to be free blacks were denied trial by jury Allowed slave hunters to look for slaves in North Made slavery a national problem

North was complicit in slavery Growth of anti-slavery movement in North

Bitter resentment (sometimes forcibly) among abolitionists Underground Railroad – mostly run by free blacks and

runaway slaves, not abolitionists and whites Harriet Tubman made at least 19 trips to rescue 300 slaves

Growth of Southern belief that North was against them

Northern perceptions

Southern encouragement

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Slave = Tom; Owner = Simon Legree Fairly brutal; made many northerners & Europeans

visualize all slave owners as virtually inhuman and monstrous

Northern view Showed the moral injustice of slavery Sympathy for fugitive slaves

Southern view Unfair portrayal of plantation life

“So you’re the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war.”

-- President Lincoln to Harriet Beecher Stowe

Collapse of Second Party System Election of 1852 is beginning of end for Whigs Difficult to appeal to entire nation

Nominated Winfield Scott (of Mex. War fame) Ran on improving roads & harbors – IGNORED SLAVERY

ISSUE!!! Franklin Pierce (Dem) – compromise candidate Last president until 1932 to win majority of both

popular & electoral votes in North and South

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Division of Nebraska pits pro-slavery versus anti-slavery

Which will be law: popular sovereignty or 36°30 Missouri Comp. line?

Act passes, but clearly with sectional divide. Popular sovereignty is allowed in both KS and NE

Map 14.2: The Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854

“Bleeding Kansas”

Kansas becomes battleground over slavery Tainted elections Outrageous anti-slavery laws Rival legislatures

John Brown He and seven followers kill two pro-slavery

legislators in Kansas

The problem with expansion… Where will slavery be allowed? Does Congress have the right to decide?

Election of 1856

Three parties Democrats win as

only national party James Buchanan

elected

Dred Scott Case

Dred Scott sues for freedom after traveling to a free territory

S.C. decides Slaves are property, not citizens Scott is not entitled to his freedom Congress cannot prohibit slavery in territories Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional

A blow to abolitionist cause

Harper’s Ferry

John Brown and followers hoped to encourage slave revolt

Raided a federal arsenal in Virginia Rumors that abolitionists supported the raid

financially outraged and scared the South

Lincoln and Douglas

Douglas = Dem., Lincoln = Rep. in race for Illinois senate seat

Physical differences Ideological differences

Douglas loses popularity Lincoln gains popularity

Lincoln and Douglas

“House Divided” speech “this nation cannot exist permanently half slave

and half free”

Free soil vs. popular sovereignty Neither was an abolitionist

Lincoln’s Rise to Power

Lincoln runs as the Republican candidate in 1860

The Democratic Party splits between two candidates

Lincoln wins 40% of the popular vote and 180 electoral votes

Votes are divided sectionally

Map 14.4: The Election of 1860

Secession

After Lincoln’s election, seven southern states secede, believing that the government no longer represents their interests

They base their argument for secession on the idea of nullification advocated by John Calhoun during the tariff controversy

These states call their new nation the Confederate States of America and elect Jefferson Davis as their president

Map 14.5: Secession

The First Shots of the Civil War Lincoln keeps control of government forts in

the South Confederacy attacks Fort Sumter in

Charleston, SC in April, 1861 Lincoln takes this as an act of war…the Civil

War begins

Fort Sumter, South Carolina