Secession and War

Secession and War 15.4

1860 Election • One HUGE question • Would the Union break up? • Issue of slavery was rearing its ugly head again

Candidates • A northern wing of the Democratic party nominated Stephen Douglas • What did Douglas believe in? • What was his nickname?

I vow too…….Uphold Slavery • Southern Democrats nominated John C. Breckinridge • Supported Dred Scott decision • Youngest Vice President (James Buchanan) • Buried in the same cemetery as Henry clay

One of a kind • John Bell • Constitutional Party • No position on slavery • Die-hard former Southern Whigs and Know Nothings who felt they could support neither the Democratic Party nor the Republican Party

Abraham Lincoln • Republican • Leave slavery where it existed but exclude it from territories • Southerners feared slave revolts • What is a revolt?

Introducing our new President….. • LINCOLN!! • 180 electoral votes out of 303 • 40% of popular vote • Won every Northern state

Opponents Outcome • And the damage is… • Douglas 30% of popular vote • Won Missouri and 3 of the 7 electoral votes • Breckinridge took the South • Bell took most border states • Basically the North outvoted the South

Going, going, going,….. • December 20, 1860 • South Carolina voted to secede • Leaders in Washington worked frantically to make a last-minute compromise

Compromise • Amendments to the Constitution • Protect slavery south of the 36* 30 n. latitude line • What compromise does this remind you of? • in all territories “now held or hereafter required.”

Republicans Southerners • Angry • Slavery is unacceptable • Lincoln “now we are told” • believed the government would be broken up • “the government shall be broken unless we surrender to those we have beaten.” • Rejected the plan • “we spit upon every plan to compromise.” • “no human power can save the Union.”

….Going GONE! • Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia • New Nation • New government • Confederate States of America

Confederate President • Democratic Party • Married to Zachery Taylor’s daughter • Burped a lot

South’s reasons for succession • States’ rights • States argued that they voluntarily entered the Union • Constitution was a contract among independent states • National government violated the contract • Refusing to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act • Denying southern states equal rights in the territories

Positive Reactions • Southerners welcomed secession • People rang Church bells • Fired cannons • Celebrated in the streets • The South “will never submit”

Negative Reactions • Some Southerners were alarmed • Robert E. Lee “I see only that a fearful calamity is upon us.” • In the North some abolitionists wanted the southern states to leave

What’s going to happen? • Before Lincoln was inaugurated • Buchanan sent a message to Congress • The states had no right to secede • But he had no power to stop them

Lincoln’s address • People from North and South wondered what Lincoln would say at his inauguration • Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas • Secession would not be permitted • Enforce the laws of the United States and hold federal property • “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Through passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.”

And so it begins… • After the address…. • Confederate forces seized some forts in the U.S. • Lincoln did not take the forts back….. WHY? • However, allowing them to keep the forts would be admitting their right to secede.

Fort Sumter • Day after inauguration • Commander at Fort Sumter sent a message (Charleston Harbor) • Supplies are low • Confederates are demanding surrender • Lincoln sent an unarmed expedition with supplies • Confederate president Davis attacked the fort • April 12, 1861 • High seas prevented Union ships from reaching the fort

Aftermath • Lasted 33 hours • Surrendered April 14 • Thousands of shots were fired • No one died • Confederate flag was raised

The Civil War had begun

Secession and War