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15.4 Secession and War. 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
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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