The Nation Breaking Apart 1846–1861

1. The Nation Breaking Apart1846–1861

2. Chapter 15: The Nation Breaking Apart, 1846–1861 • Essential Question • What issues and events shattered the nation’s unity and led to civil war? • Why It Matters Now • The tension between government power and states’ rights remains an important feature of American politics.

3. The Nation Breaking Apart, 1846–1861 • Rising anger over slavery increased tensions between the North and South and led to violence, a realignment of political parties, and secession.

4. Tensions Rise Between North and South • Key Ideas • Before, you learned • The North and South tried to reach a compromise in their disagreements over slavery. • Now you will learn • Rising anger over slavery increased tensions between the North and South and led to violence.

5. Tensions Rise Between North and South • TERMS AND NAMES • Wilmot Proviso — 1846 proposal that outlawed slavery in any territory gained from the War with Mexico • Free-Soil Party — political party dedicated to stopping the expansion of slavery • Stephen A. Douglas — Illinois senator who backed the Compromise of 1850 • Compromise of 1850 — series of laws intended to settle the major disagreements between free states and slave states • Fugitive Slave Act — 1850 law meant to help slaveholders recapture runaway slaves

6. Tensions Rise Between North and South • TERMS AND NAMES {continued} • Harriet Beecher Stowe — abolitionist; author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin • Uncle Tom’s Cabin — novel published by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852 that showed slavery as brutal and immoral • Kansas-Nebraska Act — 1854 law that established the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and gave their residents the right to decide whether to allow slavery

7. North and South Follow Different Paths • Key Question • How did the economies of the North and South differ? • THINK ABOUT • Northern industry drew immigrants to cities • Easterners, immigrants built farms in Midwest • most Southern whites were poor farmers

8. Slavery and Territorial Expansion • Key Question • How did territorial expansion inflame sectional conflicts? • THINK ABOUT • Wilmot Proviso tried to outlaw slavery in lands acquired from Mexico • Free-Soil Party formed, made slavery an issue in national politics • how did the Compromise of 1850 temporarily end sectional bickering? What is bickering?

9. The Crisis Deepens • Key Question • How did the Fugitive Slave Act deepen the crisis? • THINK ABOUT • accused fugitives could be held without warrant • Northerners were required to help recapture runaways • increased support for abolition, inspired Stowe to write her novel

10. Violence Erupts • Key Question • Why did violence erupt in Kansas and Congress? • THINK ABOUT • 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act lets popular sovereignty decide slavery • illegal voters help make Kansas legislature pro-slavery • Sumner insults Butler in Senate; Brooks beats Sumner in retaliation

11. Slavery Dominates Politics • Key Ideas • Before, you learned • Rising anger over slavery destroyed compromise between the North and South and led to violence. • Now you will learn • The formation of the antislavery Republican Party further divided the country.

12. Slavery Dominates Politics • TERMS AND NAMES • Republican Party — political party formed in 1854 by opponents of slavery • John C. Frémont — Republican presidential candidate in 1856 • James Buchanan Democratic presidential candidate in 1856 • Dred Scott v. Sandford — 1856 Supreme Court case in which a slave, Dred Scott, sued for his freedom; the Court ruled against Scott

13. Slavery Dominates Politics • TERMS AND NAMES {continued} • Roger B. Taney — Supreme Court Chief Justice who judged the case of Dred Scott v. Sandford • Abraham Lincoln — Illinois Republican who ran against Stephen A. Douglas in 1858 • Harpers Ferry — federal arsenal in Virginia; captured in 1859 during an antislavery revolt

14. Slavery and Political Division • Key Question • How did the issue of slavery affect political parties? • THINK ABOUT • Kansas-Nebraska Act split the Whig Party • Republican Party founded—antislavery and pro-North • anti-immigrant Know-Nothing Party divided over slavery, had little strength

15. The Breaking Point • Key Question • What events brought the nation to a crisis? • THINK ABOUT • Chief Justice Taney’s ruling in Dred Scott affected slaves, Congress • Lincoln-Douglas debates publicized arguments on expansion of slavery • North and South reacted differently to John Brown’s death sentence

16. Lincoln’s Election and Southern Secession • Key Ideas • Before, you learned • The formation of the antislavery Republican Party further divided the country. • Now you will learn • The election of Abraham Lincoln as president in 1860 led seven Southern states to secede from the Union.

17. Lincoln’s Election and Southern Secession • TERMS AND NAMES • Confederate States of America — confederation formed in 1861 by the Southern states after their secession from the Union • Jefferson Davis — first president of the Confederate States of America • Crittenden Compromise — compromise introduced in 1861 that might have prevented secession

18. The Election of 1860 • Key Question • How did the 1860 election reveal the divisions in the country? • THINK ABOUT • what disagreement did Democrats have over the party platform? What does platform mean here? • Northern and Southern Democrats nominated different candidates • in North, Lincoln defeated Douglas; in South, Breckenridge beat Bell

19. Southern States Secede • Key Question • How did seven Southern states justify their decision to secede? • THINK ABOUT • Southern view: states chose to join Union and could choose to leave • Northern view: federal government sovereign, secession unconstitutional • majority rule became issue between North and South