How did we get to the Civil War?

1. How did we get to the Civil War? U.S. History Summer School

2. Blame Jefferson! • Why? • Expansion ideas • Ideals of Farming • Didn’t leave Anti-slavery ideas in Dec of Independence

3. Northwest Ordinance 1787 • Established that no state Northwest of the Ohio River could be a slave state. • This agreement works • Then the rapid expansion of the early 1800s begins. • The first trouble is in 1819

4. Missouri Territory • Due to its location on the Mississippi River Missouri grows very quickly. • By 1819 it is large enough and organized to be admitted as a state. • Those in the north did not want Missouri admitted as a slave state. It was not Northwest of the Ohio River however. • In the original statehood bill, an amendment was added calling for the gradual ending of slavery in Missouri. • This riled up the states rights and slavery issue.

5. Missouri Compromise - 1820 • Three Parts • Slavery would not be restricted in Missouri and become a state. • The area of Northern Massachusetts would become the new free state of Maine. • This keeps the balance of power in the senate 12-12. • Congress agrees that in further expansion in the Louisiana purchase, All territories north of 36 30’ would be free territories. • Problem Solved?

6. Jackson’s Dilemma with South Carolina 1832 • Tariff of 1828 • Heavy Tax on imports designed to boost American manufacturing • Benefits the Industrial North – Forces Southerners to pay more for manufactured goods. • South Carolina says states have the right to challenge the Federal Government when they think the Fed has exceeded its authority. • S.C. says that states have the right to “Nullify” federal laws they feel are unconstitutional. • 1832 another Tariff is passed and S.C. nullifies it and threatens to secede from the Union if the government does not respect its rights. • Jackson, a Southerner, is angry with S.C. and threatens to send 50,000 troops to make sure the tariffs are paid. • Through a series of compromises S.C. finally agrees.

7. Wilmot Proviso • Central Issue facing the Country in 1840s and 50s was the issue of slavery in the territory claimed from Mexico. • In 1846 David Wilmot attempts to attach a small proviso to a spending bill stating “As a condition of obtaining land from Mexico, Slavery shall not be permitted in any of that land.” • The bill does not pass and Wilmot attempts to attach the proviso to several other bill s and all fail. • Result – Brings the issue of Slavery back into the Congresses eye and gets everyone thinking about it again.

8. The California Gold Rush 1849 • Due to the gold rush, California grows very quickly and asks to be admitted as a free state in 1850. • This would change the balance of power in the Senate. • There were no possible slave states ready to become states. • South did not want California admitted, Government wants California Tax Dollars. • Missouri Compromise did not apply

9. The Compromise of 1850 • 5 Parts created by esteemed Senators Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster. • California admitted as Free State • New Mexico and Utah territories would decide using popular sovereignty • Congress would abolish sale of slaves but not slavery in Washington D.C. • Texas gives up claims to New Mexico for 10 million • Fugitive Slave Act – Orders all citizens of U.S. to assist in the return of enslaved people to their owners and denies a trial by jury to escaped slaves. • Now the issue of Slavery is done right?

10. Personal Ambitions hurt U.S. • Senator Stephen Douglas from Illinois has a problem. He wants more westward development so Chicago can continue to grow and become an important Railroad Hub. • He also wants to run for President but needs to support of the southern Democrats. • If he pushes the statehood of Kansas and Nebraska he improves power of Chicago, but loses support in the south because according to the Missouri Compromise they would be Free states. • He comes up with the Kansas-Nebraska Act

11. Kansas-Nebraska Act • 1854 – Kansas-Nebraska Act in reality repeals the Missouri Compromise. It states that Kansas and Nebraska should use popular sovereignty to decide whether to be free or slave. • Douglas does not think the states will vote to be slave due to the harsh weather conditions. • It will make southerners happy because it gives slavery the opportunity to expand. • He also thinks Northerners will support it. • He was wrong!

12. Bleeding Kansas Last Straw • Due to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Slavery expansion becomes a hot topic. • The Free Soil Party, founded in 1848, moves to Kansas to prevent Slavery in the territory. • Organized Pro-slavery groups in Missouri, organize secretly to oppose the free soilers. • By 1855 Kansas had two competing capitals • Topeka, Antislavery • Lecompton, Proslavery • By 1856 there was open violence. • Proslavery groups loot free soil offices and homes in Lawrence Kansas. • Antislavery advocate John Brown and his supports go to proslavery settlement at Pottawatomie Creek, take 5 men from their beds and murder them in front of their families

13. Violence extends to Capital • Antislavery Senator Charles Sumner from Mass. Gives speech “The Crime Against Kansas” • In speech he insults Sen. Andrew Butler from South Carolina. • Butler’s Nephew, Representative Preston Brooks, goes to defend his Uncle and the Honor of the South. • Brooks approaches Sumner at his desk and beats him with his cane nearly to death. • Brooks resigns in H.O.R. but re-elected 6 months later. • Brooks becomes a hero to the South • Sumner becomes a martyr in the North

14. Election of 1856 • Two Major Parties are Democrats and newly formed Republicans • Buchanan for Democrats • Freemont for Republicans • Democrats supported Kansas-Nebraska Act. Republicans denounced it. • Buchanan wins due to winning all of the South and a few key northern states. Republicans have strong support in North but become a major party. • Buchanan pledged he would stop “Northern agitation of the slavery issue” • He also expected the Supreme Court to finally decide the issue once and for all. • The opposite happens!

15. Dred Scott Decision 1857 • 1857 – Dred Scott v. Sandford • Dred Scott was slave in Missouri. He filed a lawsuit against his owner. He states because he and his wife once lived in states and territories where slavery was illegal, then the couple was in fact free. • Decision 7-2 Against Scott - 3 parts • Slaves were not citizens and had no right to sue in court. • Living in a free state or territory, even for many years, did not make you free. • Declared the Missouri Compromise Unconstitutional because slaves were property and Govt. could not deprive citizens of life liberty or property without due process according to 5th amendment.

16. Lecompton Constitution • 1857 small proslavery group get together and write a constitution so Kansas can become a state. • Most Kansans were opposed to slavery and refused to vote for constitution because both options on ballot guaranteed slavery. • Buchanan hoping the slavery issue would go away when Kansas became a state ENDORSES the Lecompton Constitution! • Disregarding Popular Sovereignty causes northern Democrats to leave party. • In 1858 the Constitution is returned to Kansas for a final vote and it is soundly defeated. • But due to the Dred Scott decision, Slavery is now open to all territories!

17. Lincoln-Douglas Debates • Douglas had annoyed many of his moderate supporters due to the Kansas-Nebraska Act and Republicans felt they could win his Senate seat in the 1858 congressional elections. • Republicans nominate Lincoln to run against Douglas. • In a series of 7 debates the two discuss the issue of slavery in the states and territories. • The debates are legendary at times going on for 4-5 hours drawing huge crowds. • Lincoln loses to Douglas in the election but gains national attention through these debates. He also states his opinion on what he believed was the coming confrontation of slavery. • “A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free.”

18. John Brown’s Raid • October 16th, 1859 • Attacks Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry • Hoped to seize weapons so slaves could rebel. • They fail with half of the men being killed including Brown’s sons. • Brown is convicted and hanged for Treason • Worst fear for the south and they get more paranoid • Brown becomes Martyr in North

19. Election of 1860 • Democrats split into Northern and Southern factions. • Republicans only on ballot in Free States • Older moderate Whigs in middle states form new party Constitutional Union. • Republicans expected to nominate Seward, but as convention goes along they feel his anti-slavery views are too extreme. They decide they need a more moderate voice. • Abraham Lincoln

20. Results

21. Election of 1860 - Results • Proves division in country is beyond repair • Lincoln wins by winning nearly all free states • Democrat split causes them to lose • Lincoln wins without nearly a single vote in the south • Gains only 39 percent of popular vote • Lincoln wins 180 electoral votes which is majority needed. • It was a decisive win, but a sectional one • South outraged a man could be elected without any Southern votes. Calls for secession begin!

22. Secession • South Carolina secedes December 20th 1860. • 6 more secede over the next 2 weeks. • Before Lincoln is inaugurated, S.C., Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia. • They meet February 1861 in Montgomery, Alabama and create new nation. • The Confederate States of America • Elect former Senator Jefferson Davis President