15.4 Secession and War

1. 15.4 Secession and War

2. The Election of 1860 • The entire country wondered if the Union would stay together • Northern Democrats nominated Stephen Douglas for Pres. • From Illinois • Supported popular sovereignty • Southern Democrats nominated John Breckenridge • From Kentucky • Supported the Dred Scott decision • Constitutional Union Party nominated.John Bell • From Tennessee • The party took no position on slavery

3. The Election of 1860 • Lincoln Nominated • Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln • From Illinois • Republican platform was to leave slavery alone in the south • But not allow it into the territories • Dems. feared slaves would revolt if Rep. won

4. The Election of 1860 • Lincoln Elected • Because the Dems were divided Lincoln won the election • Only received 40% of the popular vote • But nearly 60% of the electoral college votes – 180/303 • The vote was very sectional • Lincoln won the north • And the Dems and Const. Union split the south

5. The South Secedes • Attempt at Compromise • The Republicans had promised to leave slavery alone in the south • South Carolina seceded on Dec. 20,1860, anyway • Many people still wanted to preserve the Union • John Crittenden (of Kentucky) proposed an amendment protecting slavery south of the Missouri Compromise line of 36°30’ • Neither the south nor the north accepted this

6. The South Secedes • The Confederacy • Feb. 1861 Texas, Luoisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia joined South Carolina • They formed the Confederate States of America (CSA) • They Chose Jefferson Davis as their President • They argued states’ rights as their reason for leaving • They voluntarily joined the Union • and since the thegov. wasn’t enforcing the FSA they were justified in leaving

7. The South Secedes • Reactions to Secession • Many southerners were happy and rang church bells and cheered in the streets • Others were disappointed and torn in their feelings • “I see only that a fearful calamity is upon us,” Robert E. Lee he would become commander of the CSA armies • Some northern abolitionist were glad to see the south go • Lincoln was disturbed by the idea that the minority could leave the established government whenever it liked

8. The South Secedes • Presidential Responses • Pres. Buchanan was still in office until March 4, 1861. • He sent a letter to Congress notifying it that the southern states had no right to secede • But he had no power to stop them • People wondered what the new President would do • Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas had not yet seceded – but still could • Would using force make them choose to secede? • Lincolns speech was tough but encouraged peace • Promised to keep federal lands in the south

9. Fort Sumter • The War Begins • Even though Lincoln vowed to keep federal territory many southern states took control of forts in their state • Lincoln didn’t want to take them back by force, but leaving them be would admit defeat • Fort Sumter in South Carolina had not been taken – yet • The commander there sent a message that they were low on supplies • Lincoln sent an letter to the governor of SC letting him know that he would be sending in supplies • Promised not to attack • This left the decision up to the south

10. Fort Sumter • The War Begins • Southern leaders including Jefferson Davis decided to attack Fort Sumter before the supplies could arrive • April 12, 1861 • The attack brought the Union together • Lincoln called for 75,00 troops – volunteers quickly signed up • Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas voted to leave the Union