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Causes of the Civil War. 1850-1861. Compromise of 1850 . Stalls trouble Components: California admitted free Popular sovereignty in New Mexico Tougher fugitive slave law Abolition of slave trade in DC. Vigilance Committees. Northern cities swear to protect freed and fugitive slaves.
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Causes of the Civil War 1850-1861
Compromise of 1850 • Stalls trouble • Components: • California admitted free • Popular sovereignty in New Mexico • Tougher fugitive slave law • Abolition of slave trade in DC
Vigilance Committees • Northern cities swear to protect freed and fugitive slaves. • Anthony Burns example • Violence common.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin • Published in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe. • Told the story of Uncle Tom, a kind slave who is physically and emotionally terrorized by sadistic overseer Simon Legree. • His death and the story shock Northern readers.
Transcontinental Railroad • Franklin Pierces initiative… • Gadsen Purchase designed to add remaining continental territory as to build a southern route from coast to coast.
Quiz: 10.2 • Discuss the causes of violence in Kansas. Discuss the violence that occurred in Kansas in 1854.
Kansas-Nebraska Act • To support a railroad, the remaining territories need to be “organized into statehood” for the purpose of having the railroad. • Native Americans need to be relocated • Stephen A. Douglas emerges to prominence… • Principal of the act: If South is to accept the Northern railroad route, they must get something…what do they get? Popular Sovereignty in Kansas/Nebraska
Slavery in Kansas/Nebraska? • Douglas thought the idea absurd, it was geographically impossible for slavery to exist there? So his thought, we need a railroad, so who cares if they want to have slaves in a northern climate…it will die out? • Result: wrong. This became a fury!
The race is on… • Populate Kansas as quickly as possible with free soilers and pro slavery forces. • Congressional quotes! • “There are 1,1000 coming over from Platte, Co. to vote and if that ain’t enough we can send 5,000-enough to kill every #$%# abolitionist in the territory.”
Quotes: • “Come on Gentleman of the slave states, since there is no escaping your challenge,, I accept it on behalf of freedom. We will engage in competition for the virgin soil of Kansas, and God give victory of the side which is stronger in numbers as it is in right”.
Impacts of Kansas/Nebraska Act • The reopening of the slavery question in the territories with almost immediate tragic results in “Bleeding Kansas” • The president's hope for reelection dashed • The complete realignment of the major political parties • The Democrats lost influence in the North and were to become the regional proslavery party of the South • The Whig Party, which had opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, died in the South and was weakened in the North • A new Republican Party emerged as an immediate political force, drawing in anti-Nebraska Whigs and Democrats.
Bleeding Kansas Defined • The Raid on Lawrence, Kansas. In May 1856, a band of Border Ruffians crossed the border from Missouri and attacked the free-soil community of Lawrence, looting and burning a number of buildings. Only one person was killed (one of the Ruffians), but the door to violence had been breached. • The Pottawatomie Creek Massacre. A few days later, in retaliation for the Lawrence raid, abolitionist forces under the zealot John Brown attacked a small proslavery settlement on Pottawatomie Creek. On Brown’s orders, five men were executed with a scythe.
Election of James Buchanon • Northern “doughface”. Northern (Penn) man able to move in Southern political circles…
The most shocking event? • Charles Sumner is beaten to within an inch of his life for slandering a relative of Preston Brooks and his pro slavery views. • Problem…the beating occurred in the US Senate!
Scott was transported from slave Missouri, to Wisconsin, sued for his freedom as he entered into free territory he must be free. Dred Scott
Impact of Dred Scott • North outraged • Slavery rendered possible everywhere, Mo. Compromise and Great compromise abolished. • Slaves now have constitutional protection thanks to a vile 7-2 decision led by Southerner Roger B. Taney • Dred Scott was labeled “property”.
LeCompton Constitution • A proslavery constitution that…was arrived at illegally. • When passed by the pro-slavery forces illegally it was backed by President Buchannan! Outrage. • Even some southern senators insisted on a more democratic process. • Result: the constitution was defeated by a 6-1 margin! Buchannan shamed and humiliated.
Excerpts • “The legislature shall have no power to pass laws for the emancipation of slaves without the consent of the owners • Free negroes shall not be permitted to live in this State under any circumstances.”
Lincoln-Douglas Debates • Senate seat in Illinois, young representative and lawyer Abraham Lincoln v. Stephen A. Douglas.
“I will say then that, I am not nor have ever been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the black and white race”. Election of 1860
Secession • South Carolina – Dec. 20, 1860 • Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas – Feb. 1, 1861 • “Confederate States of America” • President Jefferson Davis
Order of secession • South Carolina (December 21, 1860), • Mississippi (January 9, 1861), • Florida (January 10, 1861), • Alabama (January 11, 1861), • Georgia (January 19, 1861), • Louisiana (January 26, 1861), and • Texas (February 1, 1861).
Lost Tennessee Virginia North Carolina Arkansas Preserved Maryland Delaware Kentucky Missouri Border States?
Challenges • Missouri-Border Ruffians • Maryland-suspension of Habeas Corpus • Delaware-only 2% slave • Kentucky-”losing Kentucky is like losing the whole game” Abraham Lincoln.
Antebellum Review: 1848-1860 • What are the primary causes of the Civil War? • What were the key events during the Antebellum that fostered the coming of war? • What could have been done during the Antebellum to stop the war? • Some have argued that the civil war had been coming since 1776…would you agree?
Theatres of War 1861-1865
Northern Advantages Industry Executive Leadership Naval superiority Ability to supply armaments. Number of fighting men European relations Stability of political system Southern Advantages Caliber of fighting men Military leadership Defensive war “King Cotton Diplomacy” Don’t have to win the war? Tale of the Tape
Fort Sumter • Lincoln made two promises at his innauguration that are vital… • He would be “friends of the South” and not invade or pursue unprovoked military action. • He had a duty to protect Federal property.
Bull Run (Manassas) • Federals named things after geographic features, rivers, etc…Confederates after civic sites like railroads or cities (Manassas Junction Railroad)
All myths about the war dispelled • This is not the Mexican American War • Lincoln’s initial call for 75,000 men seems feeble. Issues a new call for 500,000 men. The war will be unlike any that we have seen. • It appears clear as Irving McDowell is routed by Pierre Gustave Toutant (PGT) Beauregard that the confederates will have a distinct advantage in military leadership.
Manassas • Casualties were light for a civil war battle, 2000 confederates, 1600 union. • Southerners lauded it as “one of the decisive battles of the world”. • McDowell replaced with young bravado George McClellan who despised Lincoln and will contest his leadership in the election of 1864.
May 1862: Union Offensive • Siege on Richmond • Peninsula Campaign May, 1862. McClellan moves, hammered by Johnston and then Lee. • Lee/McClellan contrast. • Battle of Seven Days: 30,000 lost. McClellan replaced with John Pope.
Bloodiest Day in US History • McClellan’s big break. • 23,000 dead (several fields of battle) • McClellan’s failure proves costly. • Emergence of Ambrose Burnside.
Fredericksburg • One of the worst union defeats. An attack on a Confederate stronghold. Several day totals: 13,000 Union, 5,000 Confederate.
Western Theatre • Issues: control of Border States • Mississippi River and its control would sever the confederacy. • Battle of Pea Ridge