Background to the Conflict: Pre-Civil War Days

1. Background to the Conflict: Pre-Civil War Days

2. What Will I Learn? SS8H6a. Explain the importance of key issues & events that led to the Civil War; include slavery, states’ rights, nullification, Missouri Compromise, Compromise of 1850 & the Georgia Platform, Kansas-Nebraska Act, Dred Scott case, election of 1860, the debate over secession in Georgia, & the role of Alexander Stephens.

3. CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR • Two types of causes • Cause Category #1 Fundamental– underlying causes that develop over a long time • Differences between North and South • Economic • States Rights • Slavery

4. CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR • Cause Category #2 Immediate causes come into being just before the event occurs • John Brown’s 1859 raid at Harpers Ferry in Virginia • Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860 • Secession of Southern States

5. TARIFFS • Tariff – a tax on goods imported from other countries • 1828 – Congress passed a huge increase on tariffs • This increase was passed to protect Northern industries • Southern agricultural interests were hurt by the increase by limiting the amount of cotton Britain imported from the South

6. Nullification Crisis • South Carolina threatened to secede, because of the high tariffs. (1832) • John C. Calhoun, who was from South Carolina and Andrew Jackson’s Vice President, believed a state had the right to nullify, or reject a federal law. – another states’ rights issue. • Henry Clay of Kentucky convinced Congress to enact a new Tariff that imposed lower taxes over the next 10 years. South Carolina withdrew its threat of nullification • At this point and time, cooler heads prevailed.

7. Differences Divide North and South Regional Differences North More factories People began moving to the cities to work Less people were farming People from other countries moved to the North Population grew rapidly to over 19 million PEOPLE!!!

8. The South Farming remained the main way to earn a living Most were small one family farms Cut lumber, raised cattle, and raised just enough food for their own families Population was a lot smaller (11 million) than in the North (19 million)

9. Plantation Life • Huge plantations • Needed a lot of workers • Used slave labor

10. North and South Disagree States’ Rights Southern states wanted their own laws & did not want federal (national) laws to overrule the laws of the states Northern states believed all states should follow laws made by Congress Southern states wanted to NULLIFY any law they didn’t agree with!!

11. Slavery Issue Slavery Settlers from the South who moved west took their slaves Settlers from the North didn’t own slaves and thought slavery was wrong. WHO would WIN Would there be slavery in the new territories or NOT??? What vocabulary word means the people will decide an issue such as allowing slavery?

12. Africans in Slavery Life Under Slavery Slave Codes Laws for slaves Slaves could not leave owners’ land Could not buy or sell goods Not allowed to learn to read or write Treated as property with very few privileges

13. WHO OWNED SLAVES? • Only 25% of Georgians owned slaves • Only 236 Georgians owned more than 100 slaves • Slaves cost $1,800 in 1860 – up from $600 in 1845 • A persons worth was often measured by how many slaves he owned

14. Antislavery Sentiment in Georgia • In 1798 the Georgia Constitution outlawed the introduction of any foreign slaves into the state. • Many Georgians hoped to find a practical way to end slavery • Some slave owners made provisions in their wills for their slaves freedom • Others brought their slaves to a free state and granted them freedom • No freed blacks were allowed to enter GA.

15. Fighting Back Fighting Back Most resisted slavery ( act against) Quiet ways they resisted Broke tools, left gates open to let the farm animals out, let boats drift away, hid stuff the owners needed and acted like they knew nothing about it at all

16. Violent Resistance Violent ways to resist Nat Turner’s Revolt Led an attack killing 57 people He and others were caught, tried in court, and hanged

17. Running Away Running Away Many chose to run away Found safe places to hide Indians protected some Hid in forest, swamps, and mountains Some made it to the free North, some to Canada and others went south to Mexico Many were helped by the Underground Railroad Many were caught and punished for trying to escape.

18. The Underground Railroad System of escape routes leading to freedom Members were called conductors Hiding places were called stations Harriet Tubman was most famous An escaped slave Returned to the South over 20 times to help others

19. Free Africans Not all Africans were slaves Some were former slaves freed by their owners Others had bought their freedom Some had escaped to freedom Many lived in the cities where they had a better chance to work

20. Life for Africans… Life for most Africans, free or not, was still hard because: Unwelcome in many places Often treated unfairly Had little freedom Not allowed to vote or meet in groups Could not attend school or have certain jobs Whites Only

21. John Brown’s Rebellion John Brown’s rebellion at Harper’s Ferry A white abolitionist Stole guns from Harper’s Ferry warehouse to give to slaves Caught, tried, and hanged

22. The Missouri Compromise • Asked to join the U.S. as a slave state • This would make more slave states than free. • Missouri would join as a slave state AND Maine would join as a free state. • Imaginary line would be drawn through the rest of the Louisiana territory

23. Solutions to the Problem • North of the line = Free States • South of the line = Slave states

24. Results of the Missouri Compromise • Kept the peace for nearly 30 years • Kept a balance between the number of free states and number of slave states AND THEN along came…California

25. The Compromise of 1850 • California entered Union as a free state • Texas entered the Union as a slave state • Slave trading was ended in the District of Columbia • New Mexico and Utah territories= people would decide • Fugitive Slave Act – runaway slaves would be returned

26. Compromise of 1850

27. The Georgia Platform • Compromise of 1850 caused division in the South • Congressman Alexander Stephens secured support for the compromise • Georgia Platform was adopted • GA accepted the Compromise of 1850 & would stay in the Union • Would resist any effort by Congress to outlaw slavery in the new territories

28. Hopes for Peace Fade • KANSAS-NEBRASKA ACT • Gave people living there the choice by voting (popular sovereignty!!!) • Hundreds moved in to “vote” on whether to be a free or slave state. • Tempers FLARED and over 200 people were killed in the dispute • Nicknamed “ Bleeding Kansas”

29. Dred Scott Case • Dred Scott was a slave from Missouri who traveled with his owner to the free states of Illinois & Wisconsin. • He sued for his freedom based on the fact that he had lived in free states • The case went to the Supreme Court • The court ruled against him stating that he was NOT a citizen of the U.S. • Also said Congress had no right to outlaw slavery because the Constitution protects people’s right to own property & slaves were PROPERTY!!!

30. Abraham Lincoln works for Change • Violence because of the Kansas-Nebraska act got everyone’s attention • Abraham Lincoln was against the SPREAD of slavery • Republican Party formed to fight the spread of slavery. • Lincoln ran for Senator • Stephen A. Douglas, author of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, was his OPPONENT! The battle is ON………

31. Douglas • Each new state should decide the slavery question for itself.

32. Lincoln • “The framers of the Constitution intended slavery to end.” • The problem is that slavery is WRONG!

33. Senate Winner • Stephen Douglas was re-elected to the Senate. • But….now everyone knew who Abraham Lincoln was!!! Douglas Wins!

35. The Election of 1860 • Democratic Party candidate: Douglas • Democratic Party south: Breckinridge • Republican Party: LINCOLN

36. Stephen A. Douglas • West should decide for themselves about slavery – popular sovereignty States' Choice

37. John Breckinridge • Democratic candidate popular with southerners • Government should allow slavery everywhere in the West. Slavery Everywhere

38. Abraham Lincoln • Republican candidate • Against the SPREAD of slavery • Promised not to stop slavery in the South where it was already practiced. • Said he hoped it would one day END there, too. • Lincoln was not on the ballot in Georgia and other southern states No Slavery beyond this point!

39. Worried White Southerners • Many in the South were afraid if Lincoln were elected, slavery would be outlawed. • Some even said they would LEAVE the Union if Lincoln was elected. Lincoln In...We're OUT

40. Lincoln Elected President • November 6, 1860 • December 20, 1860 South Carolina’s leaders seceded from the Union. • Later SIX other southern states seceded: • Mississippi • Florida • Alabama • Georgia • Louisiana • Texas

41. GEORGIA REACTS • On January 16, 1861 Georgia’s Secession Convention meets in Milledgville • Convention delegates were divided; by January 19th, voting 208 to 89 the Ordinance of Secession was adopted

42. GEORGIA REACTS • Ordinance of Secession • Georgia’s 1788 ratification of the U.S. Constitution was repealed • Georgia’s membership in the union of states known as the United States of America was now dissolved • Georgia would now enjoy all rights that belong to any free and independent nation

43. The Confederate States of America • South Carolina • Mississippi • Florida • Louisiana • Alabama • Georgia • Texas Jefferson Davis

44. Fort Sumter • Some advised Lincoln to “Let the states go” • Others said, “Give in on the slavery question.” • Still others said, “Use the ARMY to end their revolt!” Give In FIGHT Ignore

45. Lincoln’s Choices • He wanted to prevent war. • “We are not enemies, but friends.” THE VERY NEXT DAY An important message came from Major Robert Anderson commander at Fort Sumter:

46. Urgent! • Message from Commander Anderson Supplies at the Fort are almost gone. If new supplies are not sent soon, we will be forced to surrender the fort to the Confederacy.

47. What to Do??? • If I send supplies…Southerners might attack. • If I send troops….Southerners WILL attack. • If I do nothing…the commander will have to surrender. ? ? ?

48. Decision • Lincoln decided to send supply ships • And see what the Southerners would do

49. Confederate President Davis • Davis decided to take over the fort BEFORE the supply ships arrived. • Demanded them to surrender. • NEVER! • The Confederate troops FIRED on the fort, Major Anderson and his men ran out of ammunition and had to give up.

50. The Civil War has Begun! • Lincoln called for Americans to join the army to stop the rebellion. • Frightened southern states not in the Confederacy now joined with the other 7 states. • Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina • 11 States Strong