CH. 10-2 SECTIONAL CONFLICT AND NATIONAL POLITICS

CH. 10-2 SECTIONAL CONFLICT AND NATIONAL POLITICS AMERICAN HISTORY

THE STRUGGLE FOR KANSAS • Slave-related lawlessness in the Kansas Territory • 1856—so much violence and bloodshed that Kansas was referred as “Bleeding Kansas” • Northerners and Southerners realized how important the decision on Kansas slavery was • Pro-slavery vs. Free Soil forces

POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY • Settlement of the slavery question by popular sovereignty did not require a direct vote. • The question was settle indirectly • Voters will elect territorial legislators who in turn would pass laws on the subject • November 1854—Kansas territory delegate chosen • 1700 armed Missourians crossed into Kansas and threatened violence if they weren’t allowed to vote.

A pro-slavery delegate was elected as the result of voter fraud • Voter fraud continued in March 1855 during voting for the territorial legislature • There were twice as many votes cast as voters • Legislature—36 pro-slavery & 3 free soil people elected • Legislature meets and passes a strict slave code

Free-soilers refused to accept the new government • They elected an anti-slavery governor & legislature and set up their own government • 1856—2 governments were passing and enforcing laws • THE SACK OF LAWRENCE • 1855—Lawrence , KS was the center of anti-slavery activity

November 1855—shootings of pro-slavery people brought 1500 Missourians across the border • Federal troops waited for the President’s order to keep peace. No order was issued. • President Franklin Pierce (NH) seemed to be influenced by pro-slavery elements • May 21—pro-slavery sheriff and 800 men road into Lawrence to arrest free-soilers

THE POTTAWATOMIE MASSACRE • John Brown (56) was an abolitionist • Participated in the Underground Railroad • Brown followed his sons to Kansas in 1855 • They hoped to obtain land and help make the territory free • Brown was outraged by the Sack of Lawrence • May 24, 1856—Brown and a small group of followers dragged 5 pro-slavery settlers out of their cabins on Pottawatomie Creek and executed them

“BLEEDING KANSAS” • A civil war erupted in KS that lasted 4 months • In September federal troops brought the major fighting to an end • Peace did not return • A GUERRILLA WAR (fighting marked by sabotage, ambushes, and other surprise attacks) continued

“THE CRIME AGAINST KANSAS” • May 1856—Sen. Charles Sumner (MA) delivered an angry 2-day speech called “The Crime Against Kansas” • Sumner’s speech targeted Sen. Andrew Butler (SC) • 2 days later Congressmen Preston Brooks walked into the Senate. The chamber was nearly deserted. He attacked Sumner with a heavy walking stick. Sumner collapsed covered in blood

Sumner was so badly injured he did not return to the Senate for 3 years. • Northerners left his chair empty as a reminder • Southerners sent Brooks hundreds of canes to replace the one broken in the attack

THE ELECTION OF 1856 • Some southern democrats favored President Pierce. Others favored Stephen Douglas. • The Democratic Party candidate was James Buchanan • The new Republican Party nominated John C. Fremont • Buchanan won the election for 2 main reasons • 1) The North’s heavily immigrant population was repelled by the Know-Nothing’s nativism

2) The Democrats painted the Republicans as extremists on the issue of slavery • Buchanan was the voters’ choice in both the north and south • Fremont won all the states of the Upper North

BUCHANAN’S PRESIDENCY • Buchanan supported popular sovereignty for the territories • People hoped the violence had passed • THE DRED SCOTT DECISION • Scott v. Sanford • Scott had sued for his freedom • Scott lived on free soil during the 1830s • Since he lived in free territory, he should be free

A deeply divided Supreme Court ruled against Scott in 1857 • Chief Justice Roger Taney noted that the Vth Amendment stated that the property rights of persons who held slaves should be protected • THE LECOMPTON CONSTITUTION • State constitution outlawing slavery • Pro-slavery leaders refused to allow a vote

They proposed voters only decide on the special provision involving slavery • If it was defeated future slavery would be banned but slaves already in KS would stay slaves • Stephen Douglas thought the proposal was a mockery of popular sovereignty • Buchanan let the vote proceed • It passed because free-soilers didn’t participate

Buchanan submitted the Lecomption Constitution to Congress calling for the admission of KS as a slave state. • The Senate approved it but the House blocked it. • May 1858—Compromise—Congress requires KS to vote on the state constitution again. If it passed KS would be a slave state, otherwise statehood would be delayed until the population reached 90,000. • It was defeated

JOHN BROWN’S RAID • John Brown said there had been enough talk and that action was needed. • Brown and some followers wanted to set up a nation of freed slaves in the southern Appalachian Mountains. • Theodore Parker and others agreed to finance a raid on a US Arsenal to get weapons to help set up a slave revolt

Brown rented a farm in MD, across the river from Harpers Ferry • Fredrick Douglas tried to tell Brown it would not work. Brown didn’t listen. • October 16, 1859—Brown and 21 followers (including 5 African Americans) easily captured the arsenal. • Brown sent followers to spread the word to area slaves to rise up in revolt, but no slaves did.

In the morning of Oct. 17th, locals with guns trapped Brown inside the arsenal. • Some people were killed and others escaped • A company of US Marines arrived under Col. Robert E. Lee • Oct. 18th—The Marines stormed the arsenal and captured everyone there. • Brown and the followers were tried in VA

They were found guilty and sentenced to hang. • John Brown’s sentence was carried out on December 2, 1859. • He remained committed to his cause to the very end. • THE END

CH. 10-2 SECTIONAL CONFLICT AND NATIONAL POLITICS