unit 4: the union in crisis

UNIT 4: THE UNION IN CRISIS

Section 1: THE NATION SPLITS APART

BLEEDING KANSAS

The victory over Mexico in 1848 raised questions about continued expansion…

Would new territories allow slavery?

COMPROMISE OF 1850 A compromise introduced by Kentuckian Henry Clay keeping the balance of power among the states

COMPROMISE OF 1850

Admitted California as a free stateSet Texas-New Mexico borderOrganized New Mexico and Utah

territories, allowing slavery to be decided by people

Imposed heavy penalties on those aiding runaway slaves (FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT)

KANSAS-NEBRASKA ACT

May 1854Organized Kansas and Nebraska

territoriesAllowed popular sovereignty to

decided slave issue

Note: before Kansas could be admitted as a state, there had to be a vote by the population to approve a Constitution either allowing or banning slavery

SECTIONAL CONFLICT AND NATIONAL POLITICS

In Kansas, both pro-slavery and free-soilers wrestled for control – violence erupted(in Lawrence, Kansas a group attacked anti-slavery newspapers and burned buildings; on Pottawatomie Creek, John Brown led an attack killing five pro-slavery settlers)

“Bleeding Kansas”

ELECTION OF 1856Events in Kansas dominated the

election – northern Democrats refused to support Stephen Douglas or President Franklin Pierce, and nominated James Buchanan

New Republican party nominated John C. Fremont

American Party nominated former President Millard Filmore

  Candidate   Party   Electoral Votes  Popular

Votes   James

Buchanan   Democratic   174  1,838,169

   John C. Fremont   Republican   114  1,341,264

   Millard Fillmore   American   8  873,000

DRED SCOTT DECISION

Pres. Buchanan had vowed not to interfere with slavery where it existed, but tensions increased

Dred Scott vs. Sanford: slave who had lived on free soil for many years; sued for freedom; 1857 Supreme Court ruled against him

JOHN BROWN’S RAID

Radical abolitionist John Brown planned a raid on the U.S. Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia to get guns for a slave revolt – Brown and his followers captured the arsenal, but a company of U.S. Marines captured Brown – Brown tried with murder and treason, and executed on December 2, 1859

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Born 1809 in one-room cabin in Kentucky

Moved to Indiana then Springfield, Illinois

1846 elected to Congress – served until 1849

1858 decided to run for U. S. Senate against Stephen Douglas

“LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES”“house-divided speech”

1860 runs for President as a Republican

ELECTION OF 1860

THE SOUTH SECEDES

A week after Lincoln’s election, South Carolina legislature called a convention – on December 20, 1860, passed a resolution withdrawing South Carolina from the Union

By February 1, 1861, MISSISSIPPI, FLORIDA, ALABAMA, GEORGIA, LOUISIANA, TEXAS had all seceded.

Reactions to Secession

Other states threatened to secede: Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas

Some northerners supported secession – others warned about letting secession occur

Outgoing Pres. Buchanan thought secession wrong, but that the Constitution gave the federal government no power to prevent it

CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA (CSA)In February 1861 representatives of

the seven seceded states met in Montgomery, Alabama to form a new nation

They chose Jefferson Davis President, andAlexander Stephens as Vice-President

The Crittenden Compromise in Washington tried to resolve the crisis, but failed

Jefferson Davisborn in Kentucky – Senator from Mississippi

What led to the CIVIL WAR?(“War Between the States”)1. Economic & Social Differences

Between North and South2. States’ Rights vs. Federal Rights3. Fight Between Slave & Non-Slave

Proponents4. Growth of the Abolition Movement5. Election of Abraham Lincoln6. Secession of Southern States