Divisions over Slavery: Compromise and Violence

1. American History—Chapter 10

2. Division over Slavery • Wilmont Proviso • Proposal: Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist in any territory acquired by war (Mex-Am) • California/New Mexico Territory • Congressman Issues • North mad at South b/c they would not vote for things to make the country better (RR/Roads/Proviso) • South was made at North b/c they felt as if the slaves were their property • California • Gold Rush caused it to become a state right away • Outlawed Slavery

3. Divisions over Slavery • Compromise of 1850 • Created by Henry Clay, attempting to end fighting (N v S) • Compromise of 1850 • California would be a free state • New Mexico/Utah would vote to decide if they want slaves (Popular Sovereignty) • North would help South catch runaway slaves • No more slave trade in Washington DC • REJECTED BY THE SENATE • Secession • State leaving the USA, starting to become a popular idea • Popular Sovereignty • States would vote to determine if it would have slaves

5. Passing of the Compromise • Stephen Douglas • Senator from Illinois • Broke the Compromise of 1850 into smaller parts, able to get them passed by the Senate • Millard Fillmore • President during this time • Able to convince Southerners that passing the parts of the Great Compromise was a good idea

6. Opposing Views on Slavery • Fugitive Slave Act • Law that helped the South catch run-away slaves • Slaves had no trial/people got $1000 for catching (corruption) • North passed laws that prohibited this=controversy • Underground RR • Secret network of tunnels, houses, etc that helped run away slaves escape • Harriet Tubman • Famous “conductor”, led over 300 people to freedom

9. Opposing Views on Slavery • Uncle Tom’s Cabin • Book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe • Showed how bad slavery was; convinced people that slavery was a moral issue that needed to be addressed • Over 1,000,000 sold • Northerners loved the book, hated in the South • Stephen Douglas • Wanted to expand a RR through Kansas/Nebraska • Wanted the land to be free of slaves

11. Kansas/Nebraska Act • Kansas/Nebraska Act • Split Nebraska territory into 2 territories (Kan and Neb) • Got rid of 36’30 Line • Each state would vote on the slavery issue • What happened • Settlers from both North and South moved into Kansas to vote on slavery • Vote was not fair, thousands came from Missouri (slave state) just to vote, then went back home • Kansas became a slave state: • Kansas became a slave state due to illegal voting • Anti-slavery people would not leave Kansas and they would not follow the laws of the Kansas government

13. Violence • John Brown • Abolitionist who believed God told him to personally fight slavery in Kansas • He led a revolt against the government in Kansas • 200 people died, known as Bleeding Kansas • 1854—Preview of the Civil War • Violence in Senate • Charles Sumner (Sen/Mass) was giving a speech that ripped on Andrew Butler (Sen/SC) • Preston Brooks (Rep/SC)—Butler’s nephew, went to Sumner’s office a beat him with a cane • Caused severe brain damage • North thought this was savage, South thought this was a good thing because he was defending family

16. Political Parties • Whig Party • Divided over slavery; fell apart after 1852 • Know Nothing Party • White Protestants that were against Catholics/Immigrants • Nativism • Divided over Slavery • Free-Soil Party • Against slavery expanding into territories • Very popular in the North

18. Republican Party • Republican • Formed by Horace Greely • Combination of Northern Whigs, Free Soilers, and Anti-Slavery Democrats • Popular in North • Election of 1856 • Fremont (Rep) vs James Buchanan (Dem) • Buchanan won a close election, country was still very divided. • North was way more Republican/South was Democrat

20. Slavery Issues • Dred Scott • Slave from Missouri that sued to get his freedom back • Supreme Court ruled that slaves did not have the same rights as citizens • Also said that Congress could not forbid slavery anywhere (would hurt popular sovereignty) • 1858 US Senate Race (Illinois) • Abraham Lincoln (Rep) vs Stephen Douglas (Dem) • Lincoln was unknown, Douglas was very popular

21. Lincoln-Douglas Debates • Debates • Lincoln challenged Douglas to a series of 7 public debates • Every debate was about slavery, popular everywhere • Lincoln (tall and calm) vs Douglas (short and angry) • Douglas believed in Popular Sovereignty, Lincoln thought slavery should be abolished • Freeport Doctrine • Slavery could not exist without laws to support it • Lincoln tricked Douglas into saying this, thus giving every state a way to get around the Dred Scot Decision

23. More Violence • Harpers Ferry • John Brown and followers stole weapons from a federal arsenal and tried to create a slave rebellion. • Brown was captured and killed • North viewed him as a hero for trying to free slaves, South became more violent in opposition to anti-slavery ideas

24. Election of 1860 • Election of 1860 • Abraham Lincoln (Rep), Douglas (N Dem), Breckenridge (S Dem), Bell (Know-Nothing) • Lincoln won the election without receiving any electoral votes from the South. • In many states, Lincoln did not even appear on the ballot in the South.

26. Secession • Secession (Leaving the USA) • Dec. 20th 1860—South Carolina became the first state to leave the USA. • Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and Louisiana all followed. • Confederacy • Confederate States of America was the new government formed by the South. • Capital was in Montgomery, Alabama • Jefferson Davis—elected President of Confederacy