Lincoln and the start of the Civil War

1. Lincoln and the start of the Civil War

2. The Early Years • Born February 12th, 1809 • In a log cabin near Hodgenville, Kentucky • Son of Thomas and Nancy Hanks Lincoln • Moved to Indiana at age 7 • Mother dies in 1818 from milk sickness • Father remarries to Sarah Bush Johnston

3. Serving the State of Illinois • 1832 – Lincoln unsuccessful in run for Illinois legislature • 1834, 1836, 1838, 1840 – won these races for Illinois legislature • Member of the Whig party (remained a Whig until 1856) • Studied law in spare time, became lawyer in 1836

4. Congress • 1846 – Lincoln elected to the House of Representatives • Opposed the Mexican War • Opposed slavery • After his term was over, he returned to Illinois to practice law

5. Washington Cont’d • Made unsuccessful attempt for seat in the Senate in 1854 • 1856 – received support for Republican Vice-Presidential nomination • Opposed the Dred Scott decision

6. Lincoln-Douglas Debates • 1858 – Lincoln challenges Stephen Douglas (Compromise of 1850) for Illinois US Senate seat • Debated Slavery

7. Stephen Douglas “The Little Giant” 5’ 1” tall Freeport Doctrine – slavery decided by popular sovereignty Slavery was not morally wrong Abraham Lincoln Little known lawyer Abolitionist 6’ 4” tall Slavery was morally wrong Issues and Ideas

8. Importance • Lincoln is thrust into the national spotlight as a abolitionist leader • Leading Republican

9. Election of 1860 • 4 Major Candidates John Breckinridge (KY) – Southern Democrat Stephen Douglas (IL) – Northern Democrat Sen. John Bell (TN) – Constitutional Unionists (Whigs)

10. Republicans • Nominate Abraham Lincoln (R – Illinois)

11. ELECTION OF 1860 • Unique in American history because came down to two separate races: Lincoln vs. Douglas in the North and Breckinridge vs. Bell in the South • in 10 southern states, Lincoln did not even have a ticket and in 5 remaining slave states received 4% of popular vote • Lincoln won by carrying northern states plus OR and CA—purely sectional victory with less than 40% of popular vote

12. What is secession? • Leave the Union • Southern State Legislatures vote to pass “Articles of Secession” • 7 states secede before Lincoln’s Inauguration • 12/20/1860 – SC • 1/9/1861 – MS • 1/10/1861 – FL • 1/11/1861 – AL • 1/19/1861 – GA • 1/26/1861 – LA • 2/1/1861 – TX • 3/4/1861 – Lincoln is Inaugurated

13. Lincoln’s Inaugural • “…We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battle-field, and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearth-stone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”

14. Confederate States of America • On December 20, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede. • They were followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. • The eleven states that had seceded formed the Confederate States of America. • They named Jefferson Davis as president. • They wrote a new Constitution which made slavery legal.

15. CSA Organization • Government similar to the Union • Constitution nearly identical, except: • State Sovereignty • Slavery as a right of whites • President limited to one six year term • President had “Line-Item” veto

16. The President and VP Alexander Stephens Jefferson Davis

17. North Factories Population Railroads (70%) Telegraph Money Navy South Great Leaders (Robert E. Lee, “Stonewall” Jackson) Home Field Advantage Southerner’s believed in the cause Defensive War Indian Tribes Did not have to win, only tie Cotton and Tobacco Advantages

18. Causes of the Civil War • Increased Sectionalism • Tariffs • State’s Rights • Preservation of the Union • Westward Movement • Slavery • Election of 1860