Compromises & Events that Led to the Civil War

1. Compromises & Events that Led to the Civil War

2. Slavery – What is it?

4. What is slavery?

9. Resisting Captivity • 1831 – Nat Turner’s Rebellion • Lead followers near Richmond, VA • Want to capture armory, gain weapons • Slaughter whites along the way • Stopped by local militia • Captured, killed 6 weeks later Southerners are scared Pass tougher laws to control slavery Make it illegal to read, gather in groups

10. Free African-Americans • 1807 – slaves can no longer be imported • Their value increases SIGNIFICANTLY • Child rearing is encouraged…necessary to keep labor force • 1840s – Northern states gradually outlaw slavery • Free to organize churches, schools • Impact on Northern culture and society is undeniable • Writers, speakers • Most become advocates for freeing of slaves Remember: not all African-Americans were slaves!

11. Abolition movement • Abolition – immediate END of SLAVERY • William Lloyd Garrison – printer • Founds The Liberator – first newspaper devoted to abolishing slavery – demands emancipation

12. Abolition movement • Runaway Slaves • Frederick Douglass is a freedman – former slave • Lectures about his difficult life as a slave • Many others follow in his footsteps: become writers, lecturers for the abolitionist cause • First hand testimony of evils of slavery • Underground Railroad • Secret network of safe houses and hideaways • Levi Coffin – “President” of the Railroad • Originally a Quaker movement • Abolitionists and people sympathetic to the movement • Harriet Tubman – 19 trips into South, frees over 300 slaves

14. Underground Railroad • Effectively moves slaves North • Escape from slave owner (rely on own resources) • OR “conductors” pose as slaves – enter plantations, guide runaways • Move at night • While waiting, messages are sent to the next “station” Travel on foot, by boat/train…..need money

15. Election of 1848 • Free-soil party emerges • “free soil, free speech, free labor, free men” • Keep slavery out of western territories • Democrats and Whigs split on expansion of slavery • Embrace idea of popular sovereignty • Voters in a territory decide on slavery • Whigs – General Zachary Taylor • Democrats – Governor Lewis Cass • Free-Soil – former president Martin Van Buren

16. COMPROMISE OF 1850 – Henry Clay • California is admitted as a free state • New Mexico and Utah organized territories • when they apply for statehood they would decide to be a slave or free state (Popular Sovereignty) • Slave trade is outlawed in D.C. • Fugitive Slave Act • it was now a CRIME to help runaway slaves even in the North • Texas gives up claims to New Mexico for $10 million to pay off debt

18. Fugitive slave act • Fugitive Slave Act: stringent amendments to previous law • requires all private citizens to assist with apprehending runaways • Anyone that helps runaways can be fined, imprisoned (targets the Underground Railroad)

19. Personal Liberty laws • Northerners are angered by Fugitive Slave Act • Some states pass Personal Liberty Laws • Don’t want to assist with catching and returning slaves • Not just abolitionists – citizens feel like they must support system of slavery • NULLIFIES Fugitive Slave Act • Allows states to arrest slave catchers for kidnapping

20. Uncle Tom’s Cabin - 1852 • Harriet Beecher Stowe: a white northern woman • Controversial story: a slave owner is forced to sell his slave. Follows Uncle Tom… who is nice, kind, despite losing his family and being sold to a mean owner. • Condemns slavery • People begin to question: Perhaps slaves are people, not possessions • Further infuriates the South

21. Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854 • Area above Texas was ready to be recognized as a territory – preparation to become a state • North of 36x30 line - revives issue of slavery! • 1854 Congress passes bill creating 2 territories: Kansas and Nebraska • Stephen Douglas sponsors this bill • popular sovereignty • Belief that Kansas will be a slave state and Nebraska will be a free state

22. Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854 • Nullifies the Missouri Compromise of 1820 • Allows the potential for slavery to spread into areas where it had been banned for 30 years • People from surrounding states flood the territories: swing the vote the way they want to go • Democrats: Pro slavery • Republicans: Anti slavery • Many killed over the issue – “Bleeding Kansas”

25. The Birth of the Republican Party • Political parties reflect growing tensions • Republican Party emerges, formed by former Whig Party members • OPPOSES SLAVERY • Prompted by introduction of Stephen Douglas Kansas-Nebraska bill • Attracts other antislavery believers – Democrats, Whigs, and Free-Soilers…

26. Dred Scott Decision 1857 • Dred Scott was an African American slave who belonged to an Army officer. • He traveled with his owner and lived in 2 free states for several years. • At one point he even traveled alone through free territories to join his master in the South. • He never sued for his freedom while his master was alive. However, shortly after the Army officer died, his widow hired Scott out to someone else. At this point, Scott tried to buy his freedom. He was denied.

28. DRED SCOTT DECISION The Supreme Court of 1857 ruled that people of African ancestry were not citizens and could not sue in Federal Court for freedom or anything else. They also ruled that the Missouri Compromise was not legal. They stated the government can not tell states they have to be slave or free.

29. The raid on Harper’s Ferry • John Brown – abolitionist who wanted to use violence to achieve goal • 1857 plans attack – solicits recruits/money • 1859 – “Men, get your arms!” • 21 men set out to seize federal arsenal in Harper’s Ferry • Hopes to start a slave revolution in the South • BACKFIRES – Colonel Robert E. Lee overruns the building. Brown is convicted of treason and hanged • America reacts – cracks in union deepen

30. Presidential Election 1860 • Democrats split: • Southern Democrats: John C. Breckenridge • Northern Democrats: Stephen Douglas • Moderate southerners: John Bell • Republicans: Abraham Lincoln • Republican Abraham Lincoln wins Presidency • Wins only 39% of popular vote! • Promised to: • End spread of slavery • Impose tariffs to protect US businesses • Give free land in the West to settlers

31. In the South: • There were no votes for Lincoln-they feared he would end slavery • Southern states started seceding- beginning with South Carolina • In Texas, Sam Houston and other Unionists urged Texans not to secede Unionist=Southerner who wanted to stay with the Union • February 23, 1861-Texas secedes from the Union. They join other states to form the Confederate States of America=Confederacy • Sam Houston is removed from the office of governor after he refuses to take the Oath of the Confederacy=promise to support and defend the Confederacy • April 12th 1861 – Fort Sumter taken by Confederate States of America