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Slavery in the Territories

Slavery in the Territories. Missouri Compromise. Missouri entered as a slave state Maine entered as a free state No slavery above the 36° 30´ line ( Except MO itself). Missouri Compromise (1820). Compromise of 1850. Californians requested statehood in 1850 as a free state

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Slavery in the Territories

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  1. Slavery in the Territories

  2. Missouri Compromise • Missouri entered as a slave state • Maine entered as a free state • No slavery above the 36° 30´ line • (Except MO itself)

  3. Missouri Compromise (1820)

  4. Compromise of 1850 • Californians requested statehood in 1850 as a free state • Fear of upsetting the fragile balance of free and slave states • Henry Clay of Kentucky proposed a plan • Sought a middle ground • 5 separate laws

  5. Compromise of 1850 • Congress would admit California as free state • People of N.M. and Utah would decide • Congress would abolish the sale of enslaved people, but not slavery, in D.C. • Texas would give up claims to N.M. for $10 million • Fugitive Slave Act • All citizens of the U.S. ordered to assist in the return of escaped slaves • Would deny a jury to escaped slaves

  6. Debating the Compromise • The “great and primary” cause of the crisis was that the North now had “the exclusive power of controlling the government.” - South Carolina’s John C. Calhoun • How so? North had larger population, more seats in House and more votes in the electoral college

  7. Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) • Stephen Douglas of Illinois proposed creation of two new territories • People in territories would be permitted to decide whether slavery would be allowed • Both territories would be above 36 30’N • A repeal of the Missouri Compromise? • Attempt to please both North and South

  8. Changes in Political Parties • By end of 1850s, Whig party had largely disappeared • Unhappy with its leaders’ compromises on slavery • Rise of American Party (“Know Nothings”) • Promoted nativism • Republican Party (1854)

  9. “Bleeding Kansas” • Free-soilers sent to Kansas from Northeast • Many proslavery settlers crossed into Kansas to vote illegally • By 1855, Kansas had antislavery capital at Topeka and slavery capital at Lecompton • Tensions led to violent raids and counter-raids that won the territory the grim nickname

  10. Election of 1856 • Democratic candidate James Buchanan • Supported compromise of 1850 • Republican candidate John Fremont • First republican • First to run in opposition to slavery

  11. Buchanan Wins • Northern President (PA) with Southern sympathies • Pledged to his supporters in South that he would stop “the agitation of the slavery issue” in the North

  12. Violence Reaches Congress…Literally • 1856, Senator Charles Sumner (MA) gave speech “Crimes Against Kansas” • Criticized Stephen Douglas (IL) and Andrew Butler (SC) • Butler’s nephew (Preston Brooks) brutally beat Sumner with a cane

  13. Dred Scott Decision (1857) • Scott v. Sandford • Scott, enslaved man in Missouri, filed suit against his owner • Argue he and his wife had once lived in free territories/states where slavery was illegal

  14. Court, under Chief Justice Roger Taney • Ruled 7 to 2 against Scott • Scott (and all slaves) are not citizens • Living in free territory doesn’t make you free • Congress did not have the power to ban slavery anywhere (private property)

  15. Lincoln / Douglas Debates (1858) • “A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved-I do not expect the house to fall-but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other.” – Lincoln, Speech in Springfield, 1858

  16. Lincoln Douglas Debates (1858) • Illinois Senate race • Stephen Douglas (“Little Giant”), Democrat • Slavery in new states should be determined by ‘popular sovereignty’ • Avoid angering South • Abraham Lincoln, Republican • Stop spread of slavery • Says Blacks should have basic human rights, but doesn’t advocate social, political or economic equality

  17. John Brown (1859) • John Brown attacks Harpers Ferry, VA to incite slave uprising • Robert E. Lee, then a Federal Army Colonel, leads troops to capture Brown • John Brown is hanged • The South becomes obsessed with security

  18. Election of 1860 • Democrats Split • Southern Democrats – Breckenridge • Northern Democrats – Douglas • Constitutional Union Party – John Bell • Republican Party – Abe Lincoln • Lincoln carries every northern state but New Jersey (split w/ Douglas)

  19. Last Effort for Compromise December 18, 1860 • Crittenden Compromise (Kentucky Senator) • Constitutional amendment to guarantee right for southern states to maintain slavery • Reinstate Missouri Compromise line, extend it across country • Rejected by Republicans

  20. Frederick Douglass’ Escape

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