Opening Q

What is a cause or issue in today’s society that we should address or change?

How do you get society to make these changes?

Opening Q “The United States government’s support of

slavery was based on an overpowering practicality. In 1790 a thousand tons of cotton were being produced…by 1860, it was a million tons. In the same period, 500,000 slaves grew to 4 million.”

Radical Reform:Abolitionist Movement

Beginnings, Vision and Shifts in Strategies

Context and Beginnings Early 1800’s, slavery being phased out

slowly in the North Becoming more entrenched into Southern

society/economy Wide ranging American reform efforts

taking place Abolitionists viewed slavery as “the sum of all

evil”, which gave rise to every imaginable sin: violence, despotism, racial prejudice, etc.

Essential Questions facing Abolitionists

How do we shape public opinion? How do you persuade slave owners and

people that slavery is wrong? What specific strategies should be taken?

Slavery is Tested in Massachusetts Elizabeth Freeman

(1781) and Quock Walker (1783)sued for their freedom under the Mass. Constitution

Slavery Declared Unconstitutional Provision in the Mass. Constitution was

cited in both cases“All men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential, and unalienable rights; among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties; that of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property; in fine, that of seeking and obtaining their safety and happiness."

Chief Justice of M.A., William Cushing, who wrote that "there can be no such thing as perpetual servitude of a rational Creature ..."

African American Community in Boston

Initially denied any public education, blacks in Boston and a few other Massachusetts communities were later required by law to attend racially segregated schools

The Abiel Smith School in Beacon Hill was established in 1836 Schools were desegregated in 1855 in Massachusetts

Early Action Many opponents of slavery supported

"colonization" -- the deportation of black Americans to Africa, the Caribbean, or Central America. By late 1820s, colonization was clearly

impractical Slave pop. rose 50,000/yr., but in 1830, only 259

free blacks to migrate to Liberia, (total no. of blacks colonized in Africa to just 1,400.)

Abolitionist Vision The abolitionists put forward a definition of birthright

citizenship: "Anybody born in America is a citizen, black or white,

doesn't matter. And they are citizens of the nation, not just of the state, and are entitled to the same equal rights as all other citizens of the nation."

Early Emancipation in Early Emancipation in the Norththe North

Early Emancipation in Early Emancipation in the Norththe North

Missouri Compromise, Missouri Compromise, 18201820

Missouri Compromise, Missouri Compromise, 18201820

Southern PopulationSouthern PopulationSouthern PopulationSouthern Population

Strategies

Turning Points 1829 David Walker’s Appeal

calls for an immediate end to slavery, through violence if necessary

William Lloyd Garrison denounced colonization as a “cruel hoax” 1831 calls for "immediate

emancipation" of slaves without compensation

Within six yrs. 200 antislavery societies in the North

Divided in Strategies In the face of vicious attacks, the antislavery

movement divided over questions of strategy and tactics in three general ways. Moral Persuasion: Southerners, over time, could be convinced

of the sin of slave holding Politics: Believed the most effective method to end slavery

was through traditional politics. (Liberty Party in 1840, the Free Soil party in 1848, and the Republican party in 1854.

Militancy: Did not believe pacifism was effective, that more aggressive tactics were required; Southerners would only react to violence.

Obstacles:

Obstacles Facing Abolition Northern Indifference:

No support from the Gov’t, Difficult to raise the issue of slavery in public

Northerners Economic Ties Trade and financing of cotton Fearful of massive northern black migration and loss of

jobs Violence

Abolition efforts often met with resistance in both the North and South.

Breaking the “Conspiracy of Silence”

First goal of Abolitionists was to raise awareness of the issue of slavery, to put the issue “on the table” Wendell Phillips, the great abolitionist orator,

said: “We must divide public opinion. Our enemy is not the slaveowner only. It's also the person of good will who simply doesn't want to talk about slavery and wants to keep it off the national agenda.”

Changes in Cotton Changes in Cotton ProductionProduction

Changes in Cotton Changes in Cotton ProductionProduction18201820

18601860

Value of Cotton Exports Value of Cotton Exports As % of All US ExportsAs % of All US Exports

Value of Cotton Exports Value of Cotton Exports As % of All US ExportsAs % of All US Exports

Slave-Owning PopulationSlave-Owning PopulationSlave-Owning PopulationSlave-Owning Population

1850

Moral Persuasion

Initial Strategy Garrison was a pacifist,

advocated “non-resistance”

Believed in the use of moral persuasion: Southerners, over time, could be convinced of the sin of slave holding

HarrietBeecherStowe

(1811 – 1896)

HarrietBeecherStowe

(1811 – 1896)So this is the lady

who started the Civil War.

-- Abraham Lincoln

So this is the lady who started the Civil War.

-- Abraham Lincoln

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

1852

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

1852 Sold 300,000

copies inthe first year.

2 million in a decade!

Sold 300,000 copies inthe first year.

2 million in a decade!

TaraTara – Plantation Reality or – Plantation Reality or Myth?Myth?

TaraTara – Plantation Reality or – Plantation Reality or Myth?Myth?

Hollywood’s Version?Hollywood’s Version?Hollywood’s Version?Hollywood’s Version?

Southern Pro-Southern Pro-SlaverySlavery

PropagandaPropaganda

Southern Pro-Southern Pro-SlaverySlavery

PropagandaPropaganda

Frederick Douglass

Slave Narratives

Politics

The “Know-Nothings” [The American Party]

The “Know-Nothings” [The American Party]

ß Nativists.

ß Anti-Catholics.

ß Anti-immigrants.

ß Nativists.

ß Anti-Catholics.

ß Anti-immigrants.

1849 Secret Order of the Star-Spangled Banner- created in NYC.

1849 Secret Order of the Star-Spangled Banner- created in NYC.

Mexican-American War (1846-48) Annexation of

Texas 1845

Should Slavery be allowed in the new territories?

Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850

Starting the Shift… Fugitive Slave Law

(1850): Armed resistance to slave catchers Signficance:

Justified the use of violence in attacking slavery

STARTED the SHIFT to violence

Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854

Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854

“The Crime Against Kansas”

“The Crime Against Kansas”

Sen. Charles Sumner (R-MA)Sen. Charles Sumner (R-MA)

Congr. Preston Brooks(D-SC)

Congr. Preston Brooks(D-SC)

Birth of the Republican Party, 1854

Birth of the Republican Party, 1854

ß Northern Whigs.

ß Northern Democrats.

ß Free-Soilers.

ß Know-Nothings.

ß Other miscellaneous opponents of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

ß Northern Whigs.

ß Northern Democrats.

ß Free-Soilers.

ß Know-Nothings.

ß Other miscellaneous opponents of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

Dred Scott v. Sanford,

1857

Dred Scott v. Sanford,

1857

The Lincoln-Douglas (Illinois Senate) Debates, 1858

The Lincoln-Douglas (Illinois Senate) Debates, 1858

A House divided against itself, cannot stand.

A House divided against itself, cannot stand.

Violence

Increasing the Shift… Bleeding Kansas (1855-6): Anti and proslavery

settlers rushed into Kansas to claim land and to ensure future status of slavery.

John Brown: Madman, Hero or Martyr?

John Brown: Madman, Hero or Martyr?

Mural in the Kansas Capitol building

by John Steuart Curry (20c)

Mural in the Kansas Capitol building

by John Steuart Curry (20c)

Completing the Shift! John Brown’s Raid on Harpers

Ferry (1859) Reached final point:

Brown viewed as a hero/martyr in the North.

Sent shock waves throughout the South, fears of slave revolt and race war.

Only way to protect slavery was to secede.

Harpers Ferry, U.S. Marine Raid on John Brown’s forces

1860 Election

1860 Presidential Election1860 Presidential Election

√ Abraham Lincoln

Republican

√ Abraham Lincoln

RepublicanJohn Bell

Constitutional Union

John Bell

Constitutional Union

Stephen A. DouglasNorthern Democrat

Stephen A. DouglasNorthern Democrat

John C. Breckinridge

Southern Democrat

John C. Breckinridge

Southern Democrat

Republican Party Platform 1860

Republican Party Platform 1860

ß Non-extension of slavery [for the Free-Soilers.

ß Protective tariff [for the No. Industrialists].

ß No abridgment of rights for immigrants [a disappointment for the “Know-Nothings”].

ß Government aid to build a Pacific RR [for the Northwest].

ß Internal improvements [for the West] at federal expense.

ß Free homesteads for the public domain [for farmers].

ß Non-extension of slavery [for the Free-Soilers.

ß Protective tariff [for the No. Industrialists].

ß No abridgment of rights for immigrants [a disappointment for the “Know-Nothings”].

ß Government aid to build a Pacific RR [for the Northwest].

ß Internal improvements [for the West] at federal expense.

ß Free homesteads for the public domain [for farmers].

1860

Election

Results

1860

Election

Results

Crittenden Compromise:

A Last Ditch Appeal to Sanity

Crittenden Compromise:

A Last Ditch Appeal to Sanity

Senator John J. Crittenden

(Know-Nothing-KY)

Senator John J. Crittenden

(Know-Nothing-KY)

Secession!: SC Dec. 20, 1860

Secession!: SC Dec. 20, 1860

Fort Sumter: April 12, 1861Fort Sumter: April 12, 1861