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The 1850s:. Road to Secession. The Missouri Compromise (1820). Manifest Destiny. Texas Annexation and the War with Mexico. Wilmot Proviso, 1846. “ neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of said territory ,”
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The 1850s: Road to Secession
Wilmot Proviso, 1846 “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of said territory,” (Ultimately killed in the Senate—but had broad popular support) Congr. David Wilmot(D-PA)
Compromise of 1850 • New, strengthened, Fugitive Slave law. • CAFree State. • Settled New Mexico/TX border dispute. • Abolished slave trade in D.C. 5. Popular sovereignty to determine status of NM and UT
Rising Tensions and the End of the Second Party System The Fugitive Slave Act • No trial by jury for accused blacks • Fines and prison sentences for those who resisted the act
HarrietBeecherStowe(1811 – 1896) So this is the lady who started the Civil War.-- Abraham Lincoln
Uncle Tom’s Cabin 1852 • Sold 300,000 copies inthe first year. • 2 million in a decade!
Undoing the Missouri Compromise:Kansas – Nebraska Act • Causes & Motivation • Transcontinental Railroad contest • Initial bill for a northern RR route met with Southern opposition Stephen Douglas—Senator from Illinois • Compromise
Impact of Kansas – Nebraska Act • Free-soilers and abolitionistsnewRepublican Party ban slavery from territories republican values of liberty and individual improvement -Republicans were primarily a northern party . . .
Republican Party Platform Election 1856 - denounced K-N Act - prohibit slavery in all territories (- federal subsidies for RR)
Democratic Party Platform, 1856 - popular sovereignty - pro- K-N Act
1848-Taylor (Whig) 1852-Pierce (Democrat) Election 1856 √James Buchanan Democrat John C. Frémont Republican Millard Fillmore Whig Restructuring of parties became increasingly apparent . . .
Bleeding Kansas • Tested Popular Sovereignty • Missouri natives rushed to Kansas to vote—set up gov’t in Lecompton, KS • Pierce’s Role (Buchanan not in office yet)/Fed. Gov’t • Pres. recognized questionable pro-slavery “Lecompton Government” • local opposition/refusal to recognize Lecompton government /Constitution • Outbreak of Violence • Lawrence, Kansas free-soilers attacked • John Brown “fighting fire with fire” at Pottawatomie Creek @200 would ultimately die in “Bloody Kansas”
“Bleeding Kansas” Border “Ruffians”(pro-slavery Missourians)
Buchanan’s Presidency “The fate of the republic hinged on the ability of President Buchanan to diffuse the passions of the past decade and devise a way of protecting free soil in the West & slavery in the South” - Pursued a primarily pro-slavery agenda -Recommended Kansas be admitted as slave state - Pres. during Dred Scott case… split widened
Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857) • Scott taken by owner to Wisconsin, free territory—sued for freedom • Taney’s Decision (SC ruling 9—7): • 1) Scott denied rights of citizenship • 2) Fifth Amendment, property rights, protected Scott’s owner • 3) Northwest Ord./Missouri Comp. unconstitutional all along • 4) No authority for Congress OR local gov’t to limit slavery in a territory undermined Republican Platform Other implications???
John Brown: Madman, Hero or Martyr? Mural in the Kansas Capitol buildingby John Steuart Curry (20c)
Dred Scott & Harpers FerryRise of Radicalism In the South: Moderates (Jeff Davis) looked for federal commitment to protect slavery ”Fire-eaters” promoted secession John Brown fueled southern fears of a Northern led slave uprising In the North: Abolitionists outraged by Dred Scott decision
The Emergence of Abraham Lincoln Childhood & Family Background -modest upbringing, Indiana born Early Political Career -ambitious, passed bar exam in 1837 -entered Congress as Whig 1846, lost re-election bid -joined Republicans after K-N Act Position/Stance on Slavery?
Lincoln Douglas Debates • Ran for Senate vs. Douglas 1858 • Hot Topic: Slavery & the Territories Douglas • “This government was made by our fathers, by white men for the benefit of white men and their posterity forever” • Freeport Doctrine Lincoln • “a house divided against itself cannot stand” • Equal economic opportunity for all free blacks (not political equality) • Against Dred Scott decision Douglas narrowly wins senate seat…Lincoln now a national figure. Republicans win control of Congress
1860PresidentialElection Abraham Lincoln Republican no slavery in the territories (Lincoln chosen as “moderate”) John BellConstitutional Union Preserve Constitution & Union above all John C. BreckinridgeSouthern Democrat Unrestricted extension of slavery Stephen A. DouglasNorthern Democrat Pop. Sov. & Fugitive Slave law
Republican Party Platform in 1860 - Non-extension of slavery [for the Free-Soilers]. - Protective tariff [for the No. Industrialists]. - Government aid to build a Pacific RR [for the Northwest]. - Internal improvements [for the West] at federal expense. - Free homesteads for the public domain [for small farmers].
1860 Election Results