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Prelude to the Civil War

Prelude to the Civil War. 1820 - 1861. What is sectionalism?. Sectionalism – loyalty to the interests of one’s region (section) of the country as opposed to nationwide interests

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Prelude to the Civil War

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  1. Prelude to the Civil War 1820 - 1861

  2. What is sectionalism? • Sectionalism – loyalty to the interests of one’s region (section) of the country as opposed to nationwide interests • In the 19th century, sectional differences between North and South became a major source of tension leading to the Civil War.

  3. What were the differences?

  4. Roots of sectional conflict • While economic differences were at the heart of sectional tensions, they tended to play out in debates over three key issues: • Slavery • Tariffs • States’ rights • These issues became even more important as Americans tried to figure out what to do with land they had gained in the 1840s…

  5. Slavery • All Northern states outlawed slavery by 1860. • Northerners wanted to ban slavery in all existing and new states. • All Southern states allowed slavery – felt it was essential for their way of life. • Wanted to allow slavery in new territories and states

  6. Slavery

  7. Tariffs • A tariff is a tax on goods imported or brought into the country from another country. • North supported tariffs • Used it to protect their industries – tariffs made foreign made goods cost more so people would by American made goods

  8. Tariffs • South resented all tariffs. • They trade cotton for goods from other countries and tariffs raised the price of what they bought.

  9. States’ Rights • Southerners believed in States’ Rights. (a state’s right to be free from unwanted federal control.) • People of a state could nullify, or declare illegal any federal law they believed to be unconstitutional (or didn’t like).

  10. States’ Rights • South feared the North would pass laws that will hurt their lifestyle. • Examples would be tariffs and laws to restrict or abolish slavery. • Major debate emerges in U.S. Senate – do individual states have the right to nullify a law?

  11. Sectionalism • Sectionalism • Issues dividing North and South: • Economy • Population • Way of life • Slavery • Tariffs • States’ Rights

  12. Missouri Compromise (1820) • Missouri applies for admission into Union in 1817 as a slave state…why is this a problem? • 11 slave states + 11 free states = balanced Union • Adding Missouri would upset the balance! • Result: representatives of Northern states want to ban slavery in Missouri

  13. Missouri Compromise (1820) • Missouri is admitted as a slave state • Maine is admitted as a free state • Slavery is banned in the Louisiana Territory north of 36 ˚ 30’ (Missouri’s southern border)

  14. Compromise of 1850 • The Terms: • California admitted as a free state • Banned slave trade in Washington D.C. • Utah and New Mexico territories decide about slavery (Popular Sovereignty) • Stricter fugitive slave law

  15. Compromise of 1850

  16. Fugitive Slave Act • Anyone accused of being a runaway slave could be arrested and returned to the South • Northerners were required to help capture fugitives. • Strict penalties for helping runaway slaves

  17. Fugitive Slave Act Poster Warning Escaped Slaves to avoid Police

  18. Underground Railroad • Secret network of people who hid fugitive slaves at great risk to themselves • Provided slaves with shelter, food, and clothing • Not a real railroad but used railroad words: • Passengers – runaway slaves • Conductors – people who helped runaway slaves • Stations – safe houses or hiding places

  19. Map of the Underground Railroad Routes often Used

  20. Underground Railroad • One of the most famous conductors on the U.R. • Former Slave – ran away as a teenager • Said to have helped 300 slaves escape to freedom • Southern authorities put $40,000 bounty on her head

  21. Uncle Tom’s Cabin • Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe 1852 • Brought Slavery into the homes of Americans • Showed that slavery was cruel and evil • Southerners criticized the book as propaganda and an merely attack on southern way of life

  22. Harriet Beecher Stowe

  23. Kansas Nebraska Act --1854 • Stephan Douglass of Illinois wanted to add 2 new territories -- Kansas Territory and Nebraska Territory. • Both were above the Missouri Compromise line so should be Free Territories. • South was opposed to the new territories because they were to be free.

  24. Kansas Nebraska Act --1854 • To win Southern support, slavery was to be decided by popular sovereignty. • Voting for or against slavery undid the Missouri Compromise. • 1000s of slavery supporters entered Kansas to vote illegally in the election • Kansas had 3000 citizens but 8000 total votes were counted.

  25. Kansas-Nebraska Act-1854

  26. Kansas-Nebraska Act-1854 • The election was thrown out and a 2nd election called. • This time, anti slavery supporters moved in to Kansas. • Bands of pro- and anti- slavery supporters roamed the territory terrorizing people. • Call “Bleeding Kansas” • Over 200 people die in the violence.

  27. Pottawatomie Massacre • On the night of May 24, 1856, a small band of abolitionists led by John Brown murdered five pro-slavery men just north Pottawatomie Creek in Kansas. • It became known as the Pottawatomie Massacre.

  28. Dred Scott Decision-1857 • Dred Scott was a slave who lived in Missouri (a slave state)with his master. • He is taken with his master to live in Wisconsin (a free state). • They later return to live in Missouri. • Scott sues claiming that living in a free territory made him a free man.

  29. Dred Scott Case Scott takes his case to the Supreme Court and asks two key questions: 1. Was he a citizen of the United States? • Does residence in a free territory make someone a free man? Supreme Court Justice Roger B. Taney

  30. Dred Scott Case • Question #1 – NO! Slaves can never be citizens because “African Americans are a subordinate and inferior class of beings…” • Question #2 – NO! Being in a free state does not make a slave free. • Other rulings: • Slaves are property not human beings with rights • Missouri compromise and all other agreements regarding slavery are illegal, only citizens of states can determine the slavery issues

  31. Raid On Harper’s Ferry • Led By John Brown-October 1856 in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia • Seized a federal arsenal (gun storage area) • Planned to give the guns to slaves to use against Southern whites • It doesn’t work and Brown’s followers are killed or captured. • Brown is captured, tried and hanged. • Southerners were afraid of the idea of a slave uprising

  32. Raid On Harper’s Ferry

  33. Raid On Harper’s Ferry

  34. Raid On Harper’s Ferry

  35. The Final Straw in the Road to Secession… The Election of Abraham Lincoln 1860

  36. The Election of Lincoln-1860 • Wins the Republican nomination for president • Pledged to halt the further spread of slavery • BUT said that he would not interfere with slaves or slavery in south • Southerners DON’T buy it…

  37. The Election of Lincoln-1860

  38. Result…

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