The Gathering Storm

1. The Gathering Storm

2. The US after Polk

3. Zachary Taylor • 1849-50 • Whig • No political experience • Mexican War Hero • “Old Rough & Ready” • Opposed Compromise of 1850 • Died from gastroenteritis in 1850 • After consuming cherries, milk, and other July 4th dishes

4. Millard Fillmore • 1850-53 • Whig • Took over after Taylor’s death • Never chose a VP • Fired Taylor’s cabinet • Reversed the administration’s stance on the Compromise of 1850 • It was passed by the end of his first year • Failed to win the Whig nomination in 1852

5. Compromise of 1850 • Written by Henry Clay • “Great Compromiser” • 5 parts • California enters as Free State • Mexican cession would become a territory and popular sovereignty would decide whether slave or free • Utah and New Mexico Territories • Settled land dispute b/w Texas and N. Mexico • End to slave trade in DC • New Fugitive Slave law

6. Compromise of 1850

7. Fugitive Slave Law • Made it a crime to help fugitive (runaway) slaves • Allowed Slave owners to go to court in their own states to report fugitive slaves • US Marshals would then go to hunt down fugitive slaves • Even in free states/territories • Paid $10 for each returned slave, only $5 if the slave was not the fugitive • Court officials determined whether or not the slave was the fugitive in question • Out of 343 cases, only 11 fugitives were declared free • Outraged many abolitionists

8. Anti-Slavery Literature • Anti-Slavery literature opened up the eyes of many northerners to the injustices of slavery • Frederick Douglass • Narrative of Frederick Douglass • Sojourner Truth • Narrative of Sojourner Truth • “Ain’t I a Woman?” • Harriet Beecher Stowe • Published Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1852 • 2 million copies sold by 1862

9. Franklin Pierce • 1853-57 • Democrat • Sociable, well-liked • Two events ruined his reputation • Ostend Manifesto • State Department document declaring intentions of buying Cuba from Spain or taking it by force • Was leaked to press • Was seen as an attempt to extend slavery • Supported Kansas-Nebraska Act • Persuaded by Stephen Douglas

10. Stephen Douglas • Efforts began for a Transcontinental railroad to link these new western lands with the east • Southerners wanted the line to run through the South • Gadsden Purchase – 1853 • Jefferson Davis convinced Pierce to buy a small part of Mexican territory near the Gila River in preparation for the line • Northerners wanted a line from Chicago • Stephen A. Douglas, A Democratic senator from IL, knew that the proposed line would run through unorganized Indian lands • He needed to make this land a federal Territory • Also needed to give concessions to the south for their support The Famous Lincoln-Douglas debates during the 1858 election for Senator

11. Kansas Nebraska Act • Proposed in 1854 by Douglas • Created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska out of the Louisiana Purchase • Use of Popular Sovereignty to decided whether the new territory would be slave or free • The people in each territory would choose • Abolished Missouri Compromise

12. Kansas Nebraska Act

13. “Bleeding Kansas” • The Kansas-Nebraska Act created a rush of slavery supporters and abolitionists to Kansas • Armed settlers • Pro Slavery government was created • Due, in large part, to pro-slavery Missourians crossing into Kansas to vote • Passed harsh pro-slavery legislation • Death to those helping fugitive slaves • Unofficial anti-slavery government was created in Lawrence, KS • Sack of Lawrence • Riots, destruction of property

14. John Brown • Abolitionist from New England • Extremist • Moved to Kansas and convinced abolitionists to use violence to combat slavery • "These men are all talk. What we need is action - action!" • Lincoln called him a “misguided fantatic”

15. Pottawatomie Massacre • May 24, 1856 • John Brown and 7 other abolitionists killed 5 pro-slavery men • Along Pottawatomie creek • Kansas collapsed into Civil War • 200 killed on both sides in ensuing riots

16. Bleeding Kansas

17. Congress Heats Up • The violence in Kansas causes spirited debates in Congress • May 22, 1856 • Charles Sumner of Mass. Is assaulted in the Senate by Preston Brooks of S.C. • Left unconscious after beating with walking stick • After Sumner’s speech “The Crime against Kansas”

18. Republican Party • The Kansas Nebraska act and the violence that followed spurred Whigs, Free-Soilers, and Northern Democrats to form new Political Party • The Republican Party was created primarily to oppose slavery • John C. Fremont lost the 1856 election to Democrat James Buchanan

19. James Buchanan • 1857-1861 • Pro-slavery Democrat • Former Secretary of State under Polk • Gay? • Usually ranked as worst president • Utah War • Support for Kansas pro-slavery government • Pushed for their admittance to the Union as a slave state • Rejected by Congress

20. Dred Scott Decision • Dred Scott was a slave from Missouri who had traveled with his master (army surgeon) to Illinois and Louisiana • Sued in 1846 for his freedom • Felt that spending time in free territories/states had made him free • Reached Supreme Court in 1856 • Supreme Court decision in 1857 • Chief Justice Roger Taney ruled that • Scott could not sue (was a slave, not a citizen) • Time on free soil did not make him free; he was under Missouri laws • Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional because of 5th amendment • It deprived slave holders of life, liberty, property

21. Harpers Ferry • In 1859, John Brown gathered 21 men to attack Federal arsenal in Harper’s Ferry, VA • Arm blacks to gain freedom • Took arsenal, but were attacked by locals • Brown retreats to Fire House • Federal troops under Robert E. Lee arrive and capture Brown and his men • 10 killed • Brown was tried and hanged

22. Election of 1860 • Republicans nominate Abraham Lincoln • He runs to stop the expansion of slavery • Lincoln wins with NO Southern votes • South Carolina votes to secede from the United States on Dec. 20, 1860 • By Feb, 1861, MS, FL, AL, GA, LA, and TX secede and form the Confederate States of America • Elect Jefferson Davis as President