“A House Divided”

1. “A House Divided” American Studies I (Honors) Mr. Calella

2. Part I “The Bitter Fruits of War”

3. The Wilmot Proviso • 1846, Rep (PA) David Wilmot attached amendment to a bill before Congressto prohibit slavery in all territories ceded by Mexico • Which territories are we speaking about? Reactions in N and S? • Why did it pass in House? Why not in Senate? Pair-Share • Sen. Lewis Cass (MI) proposes compromise-Popular Sovereignty; Pros and cons of Popular Sovereignty? • Congress fails to pass, so becomes issue in 1848 Election • Zachary Taylor wins (“Old Rough and Ready”)

4. The Compromise of 1850 • 5 Major SECTIONALIST Issues that Divide North & South • 1. California, free or slave? • 2. Texas (slave state) border dispute with NM (undecided) • 3. North wants abolition in Washington, D.C. WHY? • 4. South wants North to enforce Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 • 5. Utah and New Mexico territories to become free or slave? • Compromise of 1850 • Proposed by Henry Clay to prevent the South from seceding from the Union; he wanted to preserve the Union • “Great Compromiser”; saved the Union 3 times • SEE HANDOUT ACTIVITY-COMPROMISE OF 1850 • Stephen Douglas gets its through Congress piece mail

5. The Compromise of 1850

6. Part II The Sectional Balance Undone

7. The Fugitive Slave Act • Most controversial part of Compromise of 1850 • Where did runaways have to flee to escape law’s reach? Why? • Due Process? • Could not testify, no counsel, no public trial-WHY IMPORT? • Affidavit of owner-OPEN TO CORRUPTION? WHY? HOW? • Northern states respond with Personal Liberty Laws • Right to counsel & public trial; draw out proceedings • What about federalism and the Supremacy Clause?

8. Uncle Tom’s Cabin • Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1852 (later a play & movie!) • Fanned the fires of sectionalism by rallying Northern abolitionists; portrayed slaves as “people” not property • No firsthand knowledge of slavery; relied accounts of her abolitionist friends • Bestselling novel of the 19th Century; melodramatic • South called it an unfair characterization and slanderous • Slave owners depicted as both good and evil

9. Stephen A. Douglas (“The Little Giant”) • Dem. Sen. from IL; got Comp. of 1850 thru Congress • 2 Main Political Goals • Expansion (“manifest destiny”-he supported War with Mexicowhile Lincoln did not) • Popular Sovereignty on slavery issue • Wanted R.R. from Chicago to San Fran (his real estate) • He needs to promote settlement of Nebraska Territory • What about the Gadsden Purchase?

10. Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 • Democrat Franklin Pierce wins in 1852 • Provisions of Douglas’ bill • Spilt Neb. Terr. In 2 (Neb. & Kan) • Popular Sovereignty to both on slavery issue • What did Douglas think final result would be? • How will it make matters worse? • President Pierce signs it; Violate the Missouri Compromise? How? • South’s reaction? North’s reaction? THINK-PAIR-SHARE • Country is dangerously close to civil war

11. Sketch map into your notes

12. Part III Realignment of the Party System

13. The Whigs • Slavery splits the party in two • Southern Whigs: Backed the Compromise of 1850 because it allowed them to be both pro-slavery and pro-union; EXPLAIN! • Northern Whigs: Strongly opposed to the Fugitive Slave Act, so also opposed to the Compromise of 1850 • Because of South’s lack of support, Whig Scott loses to Democrat Pierce in 1852 • Sectionalism eventually destroys the party, and its members join other parties

14. The Free-Soilers • Opposed extension of slavery into the territories, but not necessarily abolition • What is the difference? Why is the difference important?-Think-Pair-Share • Concerned mainly with labor issues; did not want the spread of the slavery into the North because it would take away jobs • HOW?

15. The Know-Nothings • A.K.A. the “American Party”-story of name • Why the response? Why membership not ever grow large? • NATIVISM-main platform • Middle-class Protestants who feared the “hordes” of Catholic immigrants (like the Irish) coming to US • Fear of Pope gaining eventual control of U.S. government • Immigrants backed Democrats • Party splits in 1856 (North and South)

16. The Republicans • 1854-N. Whigs, anti-slavery Dems and Free-Soilers • Why were called the “Big Tent Party”? • Platform-stop spread of slavery (e.g., Kan-Neb Act) • Why? Would an abolitionist join the party? • Full spectrum-from radical to conservative • Pros and cons of having this wide range of support? • Main competition was Know-Nothings • Support after “Bleeding Kansas” and “Bleeding Sumner”

17. The Democrats • Strong support for state rights and limit federal power • Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, and Polk • National party, but dominated by SOUTH-WHY? • Dem. James Buchanan wins in 1856 b/c nat’l support • Northerner but support came from the South (many friends) • What does it mean to be a national candidate?

19. Part IV Freedom under Siege

20. Bleeding Kansas • Kan-Neb Act of 1854 gives Kansas pop. sov. on slavery • Free-soilers and slave supporters wanted Kan.-WHY? • 1854 Election-MO Border Ruffians corrupt the vote • Pro-slavery gov’t wins and set up capital at Lecompton • Free-Staters don’t recognize it; set up capital at Topeka • Pro-slavery supporters and Free-Staters get into series of violent confrontations (about 55 people were killed)

21. Violence on the Senate Floor • Heated debates in Senate over events in Kansas & slavery • Sen. Charles Sumner (MA) multiple speeches, and in one personally attacks Sen. Andrew Butler (SC)-not cool! • Rep. Preston Brooks (SC) seeks out Sumner to maintain family and South’s honor • Brooks canes Sumner over head repeatedly; breaks cane • Rep. Laurence M. Keitt (SC) blocks way with pistol • Sumner suffers head injury & PTS disorder (3 years) • How did the South view this incident? • How did the North view this incident?

23. John Brown & Pottawatomie Massacre • John Brown-abolitionist, God told him end slavery • Firm believer in racial equality • Rumor that 5 abolitionists killed when pro-slavery raiders sacked Free-Stater town of Lawrence; revenge • Brown also angered by violence on Senate floor • Night raid of pro-slavery town Pottawatomie Creek • 5 men-hands cut off, hacked to death w/ broad sword • Terrorist or hero?THINK-PAIR-SHARE

25. Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857) • Facts of the case and Dred Scott’s (slave) claim • Visits Wisconsin Territory(free)-north of MO Compromise • Returns to MO (slave state); master dies; lawsuit • Issue: Congress outlaw slavery in territories? • Holding: Scott loses, stays a slave • CJ Taney wrote decision (slave owner, but did not like it) • Blacks not citizens, so Scott did not have standing to sue • Home state laws apply-MO is slave, so Scott stays one • Residence in free territory did not matter because MO Comp. unconst. (Congress cannot outlaw slavery in terr.) • 5th Amendment Due Process Clause argument

26. Honest Abe Lincoln • Born in KY, 1809; successful lawyer • 1846, Whig elected to Congress (1 term) • Becomes Republican in 1855 after Kan-Neb Act • Felt slavery wrong, but compassionate to slave owner • White supremacist view like 99% of population • “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” • Wanted to stop spread of slavery b/c felt that would stifle westward expansion and “American Dream”

27. Lincoln-Douglas Debates • 1858 IL Senate Race • 7 Debates • 2 distinct personages • Neither wanted slavery in territories and neither wanted it abolished • Both point the finger

28. Part V The Union Collapses

29. John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry • Federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, VA (present-day WV) • John Brown leads band and take arsenal • Plan-distribute weapons to slaves and start rebellion that would spread throughout the South • No slaves showed up, but Lee and the Marines did • Murder, treason, slave rebellion-hanged • Thoreau and Emerson (“Courage”) • At first Northerners condemned his acts, but eventually started to be seen as a Christian hero, martyr

30. Election of 1860 • Republicans-Chicago Convention nominate Lincoln • Lincoln’s moderate views won him the day • South did not believe in these promises; famous quote • Lincoln wins-carries North but not one Southern state • Carries North and wins election-WHY? • Southern Democrats-John Breckinridge (wins South) • Constitutional Union-John Bell (VA, TN, KY) • Northern Democrats-Stephen Douglas (MO, ½ of NJ) • Lincoln wins and did not carry majority of popular vote • Does that matter? Should it matter?PAIR-SHARE

32. The Secession Crisis • Dec. 20, 1860-SC secedes from Union (days after Lincoln announced winner of 1860 Election) • Buchanan a “lame duck” • 6 other states follow suit • February 4, 1861 create Confederate States of America • Constitution • Each state “sovereign and independent”-Familiar? Problems? • Jefferson Davis (former MS Senator) 1st president • What did the South fear in Lincoln and the Republicans? • 7 Southern states seceded leaving 8 slave states in the Union and Lincoln has yet to be sworn in