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The Road to Secession: The 1850’s

The Road to Secession: The 1850’s. A. Election of 1848. Candidates. Zachary Taylor “Old Rough & Ready” Whig. Lewis Cass Democrat. Results. Taylor wins. B. The Importance of the year 1850. The Statehood of CA. Applied to be a free state in 1850 Problems? Upset the sectional balance

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The Road to Secession: The 1850’s

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  1. The Road to Secession:The 1850’s

  2. A. Election of 1848

  3. Candidates Zachary Taylor “Old Rough & Ready” Whig Lewis Cass Democrat

  4. Results • Taylor wins

  5. B. The Importance of the year 1850

  6. The Statehood of CA • Applied to be a free state in 1850 • Problems? • Upset the sectional balance • 15 free & 15 slave • Influence UT & NM to become free as well

  7. North: CA admitted as a state Abolishment of slavery in Washington, DC South: Maintain sectional balance The end to runaway slaves Wishes of the North & South

  8. The Compromise • Written by Henry Clay • Provisions: • CA admitted as a free state • Abolition of the slave trade in DC • Popular Sovereignty in NM & UT • A stringent Fugitive Slave Law passed

  9. Why it passed • Taylor opposed • But he died July 9, 1850 • Millard Fillmore became president • Congress eager to end sectional crisis

  10. Popular Sovereignty • Autonomous people of a territory should determine themselves the status of slavery in their territory • Proposed by Stephen Douglas (IL) • Became a major political issue of the 1850’s

  11. Fugitive Slave Law (1850) • Provisions: • Law enforcement everywhere had to assist with runaway slaves • Those that helped runaway slaves would be fined and jailed • Captured slaves were not entitled to trials/juries • Many free blacks conscripted back into slavery • Problems for the North: • Called it the “Bloodhound Bill” • Some states refused to enforce • Major boost for Abolitionist movement

  12. Harriet Beecher Stowe • In 1852 she wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin • Anti-slavery novel • Inspired by the Fugitive Slave Law (1850) • Became a bestseller • Sold 300,000 copies in the 1st year • Over 2 million within a decade • Helped focus Northern anger against slavery • South angry that it was so popular

  13. C. Election of 1852

  14. The End of the Great Triumvirate • The three great statesmen from the three areas of the country • Had managed to reach compromises and maintain harmony in the country John C. Calhoun – South Died 1850 Daniel Webster – North Died 1852 Henry Clay – West Died 1852

  15. Candidates in 1852 Franklin Pierce Democrat Winfield Scott “Old Fuss & Feathers” Whig

  16. Results • Pierce wins

  17. Death of the Whigs • Main personalities have passed away • Party split in election of 1852 because of Scott’s stance on slavery • North somewhat supported, wanted Fillmore to be nominee • South did not support • 1852 was last Whig nominee for president

  18. D. The Debate Over Kansas & Nebraska

  19. The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) • Stephen Douglass proposed • Wanted to build a transcontinental RR • Never passed because of North vs. South issues • The law passed and created 2 new territories, Kansas & Nebraska • Slave issue determined by Popular Sovereignty • Assumed NE would be free & KS would be slave

  20. Problem? • It repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820

  21. Northern Reaction:

  22. Impact on Democrats • Begins to splinter the party • Northern Democrats do not want to see the expansion of slavery • Southern Democrats happy about the possibility of expanding slavery

  23. Formed in reaction to Kansas- Nebraska Act Mutt group: Whigs Some Northern Democrats Free-Soilers Know Nothings Opponents of K-N Act Formed around an issue SLAVERY Outlawed south of the Mason-Dixon Line Became main party of the North almost overnight Birth of the Republican Party (1854)

  24. KS ready to become a state in 1855 Election held to decide Pro or Anti Slavery Anti-slaverites flood the region from the North Called “Free Soilers” Pro-slaverites pour in from MO Called “Border Ruffians” Border Ruffians won Free Soilers establish their own government Bleeding Kansas

  25. Bleeding Kansas • 1856, the two groups began to attack one another • Civil War in Kansas over slavery • Only 2 slaves lived there • Statehood denied

  26. Caning of Charles Sumner • Violence in KS spills into U.S. government • Charles Sumner is an abolitionist senator from MA • Gives a speech “Crime against Kansas” condemning violence & slavery • Also insults Senator Andrew Butler (SC) • 2 days later, Preston Brooks attacked Sumner

  27. E. Election of 1856

  28. Candidates James Buchanan Democrat Popular Sovereignty John C. Fremont Republican End the Expansion of Slavery Millard Fillmore American Anti-Immigration Policies

  29. Results • Buchanan wins

  30. F. Dred Scott Decision

  31. Who is Dred Scott? • Slave who traveled with his master into North several times • While in the North, he legally married & had children • In 1846 in MO, he sued his master for freedom

  32. Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) • Case goes to the Supreme Court • Decision handed down in 1857 by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney • Main theme of his tenure in office was the defense of slavery • Wanted to end the debate about slavery once and for all • Provisions: • No African-American (free of slave) were citizens of the U.S., they were property • Therefore no right to sue • Ruled the MO Compromise unconstitutional • Congress could not restrict the expansion of slavery

  33. Reaction • Northern proponents of Popular Sovereignty: • Horrified • No stopping the expansion of slavery • Republicans: • Entire party platform is now illegal • Refused to honor decision because the Supreme Court is controlled by the South • Democrats: • Split apart into 2 factions • North vs. South

  34. Lecompton Constitution (1858) • Two Constitutions written in KS in 1855 • Lecompton Constitution was for a Slave KS • Topeka Constitution was for a Free KS • Buchanan in favor of the Lecompton Constitution • Tried to bring KS in as a Slave State in 1858 • Created a huge controversy in Congress • More fighting • KS still not made a state

  35. G. Lincoln-Douglas Debates

  36. Illinois Senate Seat • Lincoln nominated by Republican party • Makes famous “House Divided” speech • Running against Stephen Douglas • Lincoln challenges Douglas to a series of debates A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free.

  37. Freeport Doctrine • Most famous debate • Lincoln challenges Douglas on Dred Scott decision • Douglas issues his “doctrine” • Territories can vote against having slavery • Angers Southern Democrats • Loses chance for becoming president • Douglas wins election

  38. H. Harper's Ferry

  39. John Brown • Fervent abolitionist • Wants to make VA a free state • Attacks armory in Harper’s Ferry Oct. 1859 • Fails & is hung • Seen as a martyr in the North • Seen as a huge problem in the South

  40. I. Election of 1860

  41. Candidates Stephen Douglas Northern Democrat Abraham Lincoln Republican John Bell Constitutional Union Party John Breckenridge Southern Democrat

  42. Results • Basically two elections – one in the North, one in the South • Lincoln wins

  43. Crittenden Amendments • Proposed by John Crittenden Dec 1860 • Last attempt at compromise • 36º 30’ extended to Pacific • North of line no slavery • South of line popular sovereignty • Rejected by Lincoln • No compromise, but wanted to avoid war

  44. Southern Secession Begins • SC begins the exodus in Dec 1860 • Pres. Buchanan does nothing

  45. War begins April 12, 1861

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