ANTEBELLUM AMERICA
Lead up to the Civil War
Manifest Destiny The belief that it was God’s will that
America spread west to the Pacific Ocean Most people believed this The country spread west with…
Texas Mexican American War California Gold Rush Presidents supported people moving west
Annexation of Texas Annexation- the process where a territory
or country is added to another country Texas was part of Mexico
White settlers outnumbered Hispanic citizens Texas declared independence and fought a
war with Mexico Alamo
Texas asked Congress to become a state Congress added Texas as a state in 1845.
It took a while because Texas allowed slavery
Mexican-American War Mexico was upset over the United States
annexing Texas They invaded Texas
The United States invaded Mexico The United States won the war (1846-
1848) Results
United States got the Northern territories of Mexico Make up all or parts of 7 states today
The United States now stretched to the Pacific Ocean
Manifest Destiny
California Gold Rush In 1848, Gold was
discovered in the new California Territory
In 1849, many people moved west to get rich from the gold
Helped to settle California In 1850, California had
enough people to become a state Problem- would it allow
slavery or not?
Sectionalism Sectionalism- the belief by a people in a region
that their ideas or interests are more important then others
Around 1850, it was clear America was divided into 3 sections with 3 different views of the country Most noticeable were between North and South
States rights- the belief that a state’s interests should be more important then the national interests
States rights concerns: Slavery and Tariffs (taxes on goods from other countries)
North-South DivisionWho would control the new states in the west?
Differences between the north and south were many. The big issues were:
SLAVERY
STATES’ RIGHTS
TARRIFS
The Southern culture was very different from the north as well
Southern Culture Planters- plantation owners who
owned most of the slaves, top of the social ladder, only about 3% of population
Yoeman farmer- poor white farmers, did NOT own slaves (too poor), made up about 75% of the population
Free blacks- only 6% lived in the south
Slaves were at the very bottom of society, but not all slaves had the same life
Slave society Overseer- the person who
managed the slaves on a plantation. Usually white
Driver- the person who usually worked the slaves in the field. Usually black
House slaves generally had a more comfortable life and were generally treated better
Field hands had the hardest life and generally treated worst
Issues leading to the Civil WarEconomy Slavery
What would new states support?
Southern Economy By 1800, the economy in
the south wasn’t growing Tobacco was hurting the
soil Eli Whitney’s cotton gin
helped make cotton a money making crop
As cotton production increased… The economy of the south
grew The cost of slaves increased The number of slaves needed
by planters increased
Abolitionists Abolition- the movement to end
slavery Abolitionists supported it Most were in the North The movement started with religious
movements The movement angered many
southerners Frederick Douglass
Famous abolitionist, orator (public speaker), and newspaper editor
Freed black who worked to end slavery
Efforts to avoid war The differences between the north and south
were growing Many efforts were made to avoid a “civil war Efforts to avoid the Civil War include:
The Missouri Compromise Compromise of 1850 The Kansas-Nebraska Act
Some factors continued to lead to war Factors leading to the Civil War
Dred Scott Decision Activities of abolitionists and spread of abolitionism The Republican party and Lincoln’s election
Missouri Compromise In 1819, there were 22 states
11 free states- states that outlawed slavery 11 slave states- states that allowed slavery
Missouri applied for statehood as a slave state A compromise was reached
Missouri was allowed as a slave state
Maine was allowed as a free state
No states above Missouri’s southern border were allowed to have slavery
Kept the peace for a while
Dred Scott Decison In 1834, Dred Scott, a slave,
traveled with his master from Missouri (a slave state) to Wisconsin (a free state)
In 1857, Scott, after he and his master returned to Missouri sued for his freedom (since he had lived in a free state (Wisconsin)
The case went to the Supreme Court The Supreme Court ruled:
Dred Scott could not sue because he was a slave and slaves are NOT citizens
This angered many in the north and got both sides closer to war.
Compromise of 1850
California enters as a “Free State”
Slave trade ends in Washington DC
Texas will not annex western territories
Utah & NM territories decide their own “slavery” issues
Fugitive Slave Law inacted …runaway slaves must be returned
Kansas-Nebraska Act
New territories will test the concept of popular sovereignty …The idea that the population vote on their own future of slavery
1st tested in 1854 when the Kansas population grew high enough to consider applying for statehood
Pro-slavery people from the South & Abolitionists from the North moved into the territory to shift the vote their way
People brought their weapons & began open conflict …This “mini Civil War” became known as BLEEDING KANSAS
SLAVERY
Marriage was encouraged, but not legally recognized
Religious practices were allowed, but education outlawed
Planters & politicians feared slave rebellions
SLAVE CODES were established … these rules regulated almost every aspect of slave life. EX: A slave leaving the plantation MUST have documents stating their business, destination, time frame, etc
Help for SlavesJohn Brown was hanged as punishment for unsuccessful raid on a federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, VA … & became a martyr
Nat Turner led the bloodiest slave revolt in US history … 1831, VA, about 80 dead … he was captured & hanged
Underground RR … a secret series of safe houses where escaping slaves could rest on their journey to freedom in the north
Harriet Tubman escaped, but returned to help others do the same
Sojourner Truth was freed when NY abolished slavery & spent her life preaching to others about the horrors of slavery
ANTEBELLUM GA.Series 1
Category 1Category 2Category 3Category 4
1860 – 100%+ increase in cotton production in the past 20 years
Only 236 owned more than 100 slaves
Over 50% of all state wealth ($ 400 million) was in slaves alone
Most farms had less than 100 acres
Most GA industry was cotton mills
1850 – EDUCATION: 20% of white Georgians could NOT read or write
RELIGION : Only VA had more churches
POLITICS: Democrats & Whigs = major parties
Stephens & Toombs (Whigs) supported the “GA Platform”… Our state (to remain in the union) should support the 1850 Compromise
1860 ELECTION 1854- Republican Party founded
(abolitionists) Democrats could not agree on a single
candidate & so ran against each other Abraham Lincoln gets less than 40% , but
wins Southern states threaten to secede Lincoln promised NOT to impact slavery Stephens asked GA politicians NOT to
secede Dec. 20, 1860 SC secedes … leaves the US 1/19/61: GA votes (2:1) = Independent
Republic 2/4/61 … Confederate States of America
formed {SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, & TX} … Davis
(MS) = Pres., Stephens (GA) = VP, Toombs (GA) = Sec St
CIVIL WAR
Chapter 8