Slavery and the West
Essential Question: Did the compromises that Congress made
effectively address slavery and sectionalism? Why or Why not?
American Diary
On May 24, 1854, the people of Boston erupted in outrage. Federal officers had seized Anthony Burns, a runaway enslaved African American who lived in Boston, to return him to slavery. Abolitionists tried to rescue Burns from the federal court house, and city leaders attempted to buy his freedom. All efforts failed. Federal troops escorted Burns to a ship that would carry him back to Virginia and into slavery. In a gesture of bitter protest, Bostonians draped buildings in black and hung the American flag upside down.
Missouri Applies for Statehood
Missouri applied for statehood in 181911 states are free states11 states are slave statesAdmission of Missouri would upset
balance in the Senate Differing economic systems and
sectionalism create much tension between North and South
Missouri Compromise
Admitted Missouri as slave state and Maine as a free state
Banned slavery in the Louisiana Purchase north of the 36 30’N latitude ⁰line
Preserved balance between slave and free state in Senate
The Compromise of 1850
Addressed slavery in the territories when Southerners threatened to secede from the UnionAdmitted California as a free stateStronger laws that required states to
return fugitive slavesNew territories would have no limits on
slaverySlave trade banned in Washington D.C.
Making Connections
Answer the Essential Question: Did the compromises that Congress made effectively address slavery and sectionalism? Why or why not?
Compromise of 1850North’s GainsSouth’s Gains
The Fugitive Slave Act
Required all citizens to help catch runaway slaves
Many Northerners refused to cooperatePooled money to buy freedomNorthern juries refused to convict those
in violationUnderground Railroad
The Kansas-Nebraska Act Proposed that Kansas and Nebraska be admitted
to the Union Located North of the 36 30’N latitude, the ⁰
Missouri Compromise would deem them free statesSouth would not agree to thisNorth would then have more votes in the Senate
Kansas-Nebraska ActSenator Stephen A. Douglas proposed abandoning the
Missouri CompromiseSuggested popular sovereignty decide the issuePassed in 1854
Conflict In Kansas
Pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups rushed into Kansas
Border Ruffians swayed the vote and Kansas became a slave state
Anti-slavery people refused to accept the new slave lawsArmed themselves and held electionsAdopted constitution that banned slavery
January 1856 – rival governments existed in Kansas
Bleeding Kansas
May 1856 – slavery supporters attacked Lawrence, Kansas
Abolitionist John Brown retaliatedKilled 5 supporters at Pottawatomie
CreekArmed bands soon roamed the territory
Making Connections
1. How did Northerners defy the Fugitive Slave Act?
2. How would the issue of slavery be decided under the Kansas-Nebraska Act?
3. Answer the Essential Question: How did popular sovereignty lead to violence in Kansas?
Election of 1854
Antislavery Whigs and Democrats join the Free Soil PartyFree Soil Party: “Free Soil, Free Speech,
Free Labor and Free Men”Whigs, antislavery Democrats and Free
Soilers form the new Republican party Congressional and state elections divide
the country politicallyNorth: RepublicansSouth: Democrats
The Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott: enslaved African American owned by a Missouri (slave state) army doctorFamily moved around a lot to areas
where slavery was prohibited Returned to Missouri and the Dr. died1846 – Scott sued for his freedom
The Court’s Decision Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott was still
an enslaved personEnslaved people are not citizens and cannot bring
suitEnslaved people are property and property cannot
be taken away without due processRuled the Missouri Compromise and popular
sovereignty unconstitutional The decision meant that the Constitution protected
slaveryAnti-slavery groups were outraged and country
became even more divided
Congressional Election of 1858
Senate race between Democrat Stephen A. Douglas and Republican Abraham LincolnDouglas: disliked slavery but believed in
popular sovereignty Lincoln: saw slavery as morally wrong
and it should not be allowed to spread
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Lincoln challenged Douglas to a series of 7 debates on the issue of slaveryDouglas wins the electionLincoln gains national reputation as a
man of clear thinking who could argue with force and persuasion
The Raid on Harpers Ferry Abolitionist John Brown led a raid on
Harpers Ferry, VATargeted an arsenal to arm enslaved
African Americans to start a rebellionRaid was defeated by local citizens and
federal troopsConvicted of treason and executedHis death rallied abolitionists and put the
nation on the brink of war
Making Connections
1. How did the Lincoln-Douglas debates benefit Lincoln?
2. Answer the Essential Question: What was the significance of the Dred Scott decision?
Secession
Lincoln wins presidential Election of 1860 over Stephen A. Douglas
South Carolina voted to secede from the Union
Compromise was attempted but no agreement over slavery could be reachedBy 1861, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Alabama, Florida and Georgia seceded and formed the Confederacy
The Confederacy Confederate states of America elected
Jefferson Davis president Southerners argued that the Union had
violated their states’ rights byRefusing to enforce the Fugitive Slave ActDenying Southern states equal rights in the
territories Many Southerners welcomed secession Many Northerners thought the Union
should be preserved
Lincoln Takes Office In his inaugural speech, Lincoln stated that
secession would not be permitted Warned the South against the
consequences of Civil War Asked the South to reconsider April 12, 1861: Confederate forces attacked
the Union held Fort Sumter and took the fortVirginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and
Arkansas joined the ConfederacyCivil War had begun