Presentation Transcript

1. The Union in Peril

   Events leading to the American Civil War
2. North vs. South The North and the South had developed completely different ways of life by the 1850s North: Urban, Industrial, immigration, railroad, telegraph Many immigrants were opposed to slavery: it was a threat to their wages and their job security Abolitionists: morally opposed to slavery South: Rural, agricultural, river transportation, slavery Many southerners feared that an end to slavery would lead to a social and economic revolution that would be catastrophic to the southern way of life
3. Slavery in the Territories Missouri Compromise initially decided what to do with slavery in the territories Missouri= slave state, Maine= free state No slavery north of 36 30 War with Mexico: new land will be added Essential Question: Should this new territory be slave or free?
4. David Wilmot: Towanda PA’s Claim to Fame David Wilmot was a lawyer from Towanda PA who was a member of the House of Representatives Proposed the Wilmot Proviso in 1846 “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist” in any territory that the US might acquire in a war with Mexico Meant that California, Utah, New Mexico, and any other territory would be closed to slavery forever
5. Sectionalism (again) The Proviso further divided congressmen along sectional lines Northerners supported the proviso Slave territory would upset balance of power in Congress and deny economic opportunities to free workers Southerners opposed the proviso Considered slaves to be property, and the right to own property was protected by the Constitution Also feared a shift in the balance of power to the North The House approved the Proviso, but the Senate rejected it
6. California Gold rush caused the population to rapidly expand Applied to become a state in late 1850 under a constitution that forbade slavery Pres. Zachary Taylor approved the application, but Southern congressmen did not
7. Congressional Tensions Rise Should California be a free state? Should slavery be abolished in Washington DC? Southerners accuse Northerners of not enforcing the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 These issues caused some Southern congressmen to threaten secession: the formal withdrawal from the Union.
8. Compromise of 1850 Henry Clay worked out a Compromise that delayed secession and helped keep the union together California admitted as a free state Popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico (let the people of the territory decide on slavery) US gov. pays Texas to surrender its claim to New Mexico Sale of slaves banned in DC, but slavery continues Fugitive Slave Act: people in free states required by law to help capture and return escaped slaves
9. Northern Resistance to Slavery Fugitive Slave Act set up to deny slaves any Constitutional rights, and encourage people to kidnap African Americans (get $10 for returning them to slavery, only $5 if they freed them) Some people set up vigilante councils that helped freed slaves escape to Canada Harriet Tubman: conductor on the Underground Railroad 9 states passed personal liberty laws which guaranteed runaway slaves a jury trial and prevented them from being imprisoned Many spoke out against slavery and the Fugitive Slave Act Harriet Beecher Stowe: Uncle Tom’s Cabin Slavery not just a political contest but morally wrong Sold more than a million copies by 1853
10. Settling the Plains Stephen Douglas pushed for plains territory of Nebraska to become a state to facilitate a transcontinental railroad Rationalized that the geography made slavery in these territories inefficient Thought popular sovereignty would be a good way to solve the issue Nebraska Territory falls north of Missouri Compromise line = closed to slavery
11. Kansas-Nebraska Act January 23, 1854 Douglas introduced a bill to Congress to settle this issue Nebraska Territory would be divided in two: Kansas and Nebraska Missouri Compromise would be repealed because… Each state would determine the issue of slavery by popular sovereignty Bill was bitterly debated, but passed in 1854
12. “Bleeding” Kansas Northern and Southern settlers poured into Kansas Most were sent by groups formed specifically to provide supplies and aid to antislavery migrants Kansas held election for a territorial legislature “Border ruffians” from Missouri crossed into Kansas and voted illegally Pro-Slavery government was established as a result A pro-slavery posse burned the anti-slavery town of Lawrence (The Sack of Lawrence) John Brown (radical abolitionist) violently killed 5 men in pro-slavery Pottawatomie (the Pottawatomie Massacre) In total 200 people were killed in Kansas over the issue of slavery
13. The Caning of Charles Sumner Charles Sumner, Senator from Massachusetts, delivered a passionate anti-slavery speech in Congress in 1856…particularly attacking Senator Andrew Butler of SC Butler’s nephew, Congressman Preston Brooks, walked into the Senate chamber and proceeded to use his cane to beat up Sumner Sumner was not able to return to the Senate for 3 years due to head trauma.
14. More Crazy Politics
15. Election of 1856 One of the most bitter elections in US history Democrats: supported popular sovereignty and viewed Republicans as radicals…called Fremont a “black abolitionist” who would destroy the Union Although Buchanan won, it was a very close election…Republicans were a legitimate force in national politics
16. Constitutional Interpretations Northerners: wanted to stop the spread of slavery into the territories Southerners: prohibiting slavery anywhere was unconstitutional…violated property and states’ rights http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/9815570d-7fa2-47cf-a713-8bf6b4e2f092
17. Dred Scott Decision Visitors to Dred Scott’s gravesite (Calvary Cemetery – St. Louis) often leave pennies on the headstone. Many believe the penny is left as a tribute to Lincoln, an icon for the abolition of slavery. Dred Scott was a slave to an army officer Had for a time lived in Illinois and Wisconsin: free states Decided since he had lived in free territory that he should sue for his freedom Court under Chief Justice Roger B. Taney ruled in 1857: slaves are not citizens, but property Considered to be one of the worst decisions in the history of the Supreme Court
18. Implications Congress cannot restrict the spread of slavery Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional African-Americans are not citizens, and not entitled to the rights of citizens Free states would have to accept slaves if they are brought in Republican party platform is unconstitutional Popular Sovereignty is unconstitutional Created increased bitterness between North and South, and further divided the country.
19. Election of 1860 Candidates Abraham Lincoln (Republican, no slavery in territories, keep slavery in south) John C. Breckenridge (S. Democrats who wanted slavery in territories) Stephen Douglas (Democrats who supported popular sovereignty) John Bell (Constitution Union: former Whigs, Know-Nothings, and S. Democrats who supported the Union) Evidence of deep, sectional differences in the nation Several southern states threatened secession if Lincoln were to win Results were divided by region
20. Results
21. Secession Crisis After Lincoln was elected, as promised, the Southern states began seceding from the Union.