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Growing Crises and Divide

Growing Crises and Divide. Chapter 6, Sections 1-3 . Division Over Slavery. The major question after the Mexican-American War was whether or not slavery should be allowed in the new territories. The North viewed slaves as inferior, but that slavery was morally wrong and should be ended.

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Growing Crises and Divide

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  1. Growing Crises and Divide Chapter 6, Sections 1-3

  2. Division Over Slavery • The major question after the Mexican-American War was whether or not slavery should be allowed in the new territories. • The North viewed slaves as inferior, but that slavery was morally wrong and should be ended. • The South viewed slavery as a necessity, and more civilized than the northern system of labor found in factories.

  3. Division Over Slavery • Both Democrats and Whigs were split over the issue, dividing instead along regional lines. • A new political party formed with anti-slavery members of each party. It was known as the Free-Soil Party. • The main goal of the party was to keep slavery out of the territories completely (sound familiar?) • Both the Whigs and Democrats chose a more moderate solution of popular sovereignty– allowing the voters to decide whether or not to allow slavery.

  4. Compromise of 1850 • When California applied for statehood in 1849, it threatened to disrupt the balance between slave and free states. • Once again, the Great Compromiser (Henry Clay) came up with a middle ground. • California would be admitted as a free state; • The voters in a territory would decide via popular sovereignty whether or not to allow slavery; • Slave trade would end in D.C. • Congress would pass a stronger Fugitive Slave; • Texas would give up claims to New Mexico for $10 million

  5. Protest and Violence • A series of homes was established to help slaves escape from the South to the North. • This was known as the Underground Railroad. • One of the most famous ‘conductors’ was Harriet Tubman, a.k.a. ‘Black Moses’. • In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe published the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin to provide Northerners with an image of slavery. • Many Southerners were angry by the publication because they felt it portrayed all southerners as evil.

  6. Kansas-Nebraska Act • In 1854, Stephen Douglas proposed a bill to organize the Nebraska Territory into a state. It was believed that popular sovereignty would decide whether slavery would be allowed or not. • Douglas amended the bill to split the Nebraska Territory into two– Nebraska and Kansas. • Many believed one would be a free state (Nebraska) and the other (Kansas) a slave state.

  7. Response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act • A flood of settlers rushed to Kansas to sway the voting in their favor. • Two governments were established. • Border Ruffians came from Missouri to form a pro-slavery government; northern abolitionists the other. • Both governments applied for statehood in 1856. • A series of violent battles took place between the two sides, earning the state the nickname of ‘Bleeding Kansas’. • Border Ruffians attacked the anti-slavery town of Lawrence and John Brown, an abolitionist, retaliated by executing pro-slavery settlers.

  8. Violence in the Senate • In 1856, Charles Sumner (Massachusetts senator) delivered a speech entitled “The Crime Against Kansas”. • Southerners were angered by Sumner’s speech, and further agitated by his personal attacks against Southern representatives. • Preston Brooks, the nephew of SC representative Andrew Butler attacked Sumner by beating him with a cane. • Both sides (North and South) stood by their representatives, electing them as a symbol for their causes.

  9. More New Political Parties • Millard Fillmore served as the last Whig president due to his lack of support over the issue of slavery. • Growing immigration prompted the formation of the Know-Northing Party. • Their platform focused on anti-immigration and pro-slavery ideas. • The Republican Party attracted members from all parties– Democrats, Free-Soilers, Whigs and Know-Nothings. • The changing political scene demonstrated the opposing viewpoints that emerged over slavery.

  10. Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) • In 1857, the Supreme Court ruled on the case of Dred Scott v. Sandford. • Dred Scott, a slave sued for his freedom when his slavemaster took him to the free territories of Illinois and Wisconsin. • In these areas, slavery was banned, so Dred Scott argued he had become a freedman. • The court ruled that slaves and their descendants were property and therefore were not entitled to sue in courts like a citizen. • It also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.

  11. Response to Dred Scott • In 1858, Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln had a series of debates while vying for the Illinois Senate seat. • The two had opposing views of slavery– Douglas was sympathetic to slavery, while Lincoln was against both popular sovereignty and the Dred Scott decision. • While Douglas won the Senate seat, Lincoln gained a widespread reputation for his honesty. • This would help him in the upcoming presidential election.

  12. John Brown’s Raid • John Brown continued his violent methods to end slavery by leading a group of men to the arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, VA. • He hoped to recruit local slaves to join his efforts. • He chose Harper’s Ferry because it was a transportation hub, and its proximity to PA and MD. • Brown was captured and while some viewed him as a martyr, others viewed him as fanatical and Southerners started preparing for war.

  13. Review Today’s Topics • Which of the following was NOT a part of the Compromise of 1850? • California would be admitted as a slave state; • A stronger Fugitive Slave Law; • Popular sovereignty would be used in the territories; • Slave trade would end in D.C. • Why were Southerners upset over the publication of Uncle Tom’s Cabin? • It portrayed slavery as morally right; • Slaves read the novel and started widespread escapes; • Southerners felt it cast them in a negative opinion; • The book was only accessible to Northerners

  14. Review Today’s Topics • Which of the following was NOT a response to the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act? • Widespread immigration into Nebraska; • The caning of Charles Sumner by Preston Brooks; • John Brown’s raid and execution of pro-slavery settlers; • California was admitted as a free state. • Which piece of legislation did the case Dred Scott v. Sandford make unconstitutional? • Compromise of 1850; c) Missouri Compromise • Kansas-Nebraska Act; d) Fugitive Slave Act

  15. Ticket-Out-the-Door: How did the debate over slavery lead to the formation of new political parties?

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