The Events Leading to the Civil War

Missouri Compromise of 1820 Remember…

Maine was admitted as a free state. Missouri was admitted as a slave state. Slavery was prohibited north of the latitude 36’

30’ in the Louisiana Territory.

Popular SovereigntyThe idea that people of a territory (before it becomes a state) get to

determine for themselves, by vote, the status of slavery in their territory—

whether it will be a “free state” or “slave state.”

The Compromise of 1850 After the Mexican War, the issue of slavery

reemerged.What to do with California and the land from

the Mexican Cession?? The Compromise:

1. California was admitted as a free state.2. The rest of the Mexican Cession was divided

into 2 territories and the issue of slavery would be decided by popular sovereignty.

3. Also, the slave trade (not slavery) was prohibited in Washington D.C.

4. And, a much stricter fugitive slave law was added which stated all runaway slaves MUST be returned to their owners.

Result of the Compromise of 1850

The North got the better deal— California tipped the Senate in favor of the

North. Popular Sovereignty in New Mexico & Utah

territories would most like go in favor of the North (no need for slaves there—it’s a desert!).

Fugitive Slaves and the Underground Railroad

Fugitive Slave Act: NO rights under the law. Fined & imprisoned those found helping!

Results – Underground Railroad Harriet Tubman “Conductor” who helped 100’s to 1000’s Map pg. 313 skill builder questions (In Class)

The Significance Fugitive Slave Law became an important and

reemerging issue between north and south. The North would often refuse to enforce the law,

allowing escaped slaves to remain in the North. The significance of the Compromise of 1850 is

that it bought 10 important years for the North until the Civil War. Economic growth & time to win more people to

their “side”

Uncle Tom’s Cabin In 1852, Harriet

Beecher Stowe, an abolitionist, wrote a book called Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Over a million copies

were sold Told the fictional story

of a slave and his family running from slavery--made slavery a moral issue.

Anti-Slavery Writings Continue The year after the Civil

War started, another powerful book was published telling the true story of a escaped female slave.

Harriet Jacobs wrote Incidents of a Slave Girl which continued to fuel the abolition fire.

Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854 In 1854, the U.S. wanted to organize the

“Indian Territories” of today’s Kansas & Nebraska. Wanted a Transcontinental RR route

A plan was proposed to divide this region into 2 sections calling them Kansas and Nebraska. Slavery there would be decided by popular

sovereignty. Most people assumed Kansas would go slave

& Nebraska free.

Problems in Kansas & Nebraska The North grew angry with this proposed plan

because it violated Missouri Compromise of 1820 (no slavery north of 36’30). In response, the North refused to honor the

Fugitive Slave Law. The South grew angry because northerners

were stepping on “popular sovereignty.” In the meantime, the people of Kansas and

Nebraska began the process of settlement & organization to become states.

The Republican Party The Republican Party was formed in response

to the issues surrounding Kansas & Nebraska. A political party pledged to oppose the

extension of slavery into new territories. It was a strictly

NORTHERN party.

The Kansas Election In 1855, when Kansas held its first election

thousands of people flooded over the border from Missouri (a slave state) to vote for Kansas to be a slave state. According to this results of this election, KS was

to become a slave state. Immediately they began to set up a proslavery

government In response, antislavery groups set up their

own government. At this point, KS had 2 governments!

“Border Ruffians”from Missouri

(the nickname forthe fraudulent voters)

“Bleeding Kansas” 1855-56 Violence began to surface in Kansas.

A gang of proslavery raiders rode into Lawrence, KS and shot up and burned part of the town (antislavery town).

This was a direct attack on antislavery people living in Kansas!!

The Caning of Sumner, 1855 Meanwhile in Washington D.C, Charles

Sumner (an abolitionist senator from MA) gave a speech regarding the bloody situation in Kansas in which he lashed out against the South (“Crimes against Kansas Speech”).

Specifically insulted a S.C. senator So, a S.C. Congressman, Preston Brooks,

retaliated by hitting Sumner over the head 30 times or more with an 11 oz. gold headed cane.

The House of Reps. couldn’t get enough votes to expel Brooks (Southerners praise him!). Eventually he resigned.

Sumner became a symbol for the North and the evils of slavery.

Brooks was considered a hero in the South.

   

   

Sumer

Brooks

Pottawatonie Massacre, May 1856In response to

Lawrence, KS and the caning of Sumner, John

Brown (an extreme abolitionist) rode into Kansas and brutally

killed (and mutilated) 5 proslavery men in May

of 1856.

The Dred Scott DecisionMarch, 1857

Dred Scott, a slave who lived with his

master for 5 years in Illinois & Wisconsin territories, sued for his freedom (these regions were free

states).

The Missouri Court and Federal Appeals Court refused to hear his petition.

His case went to the Supreme Court. The Court’s decision stated:

Black slaves weren’t citizens; therefore couldn’t bring a case to court.

Essentially, the Court said that slaves were property and could therefore be taken anywhere the owner wanted (regardless of state’s status). Pretty much stated that popular sovereignty didn’t

matter!

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates This was a series of 7 debates in Illinois for

state senate in 1858. Republican Abraham Lincoln vs. Democrat

Stephen Douglas (Douglas won). Although he lost the senate election, Lincoln

made a name for himself here. Soon he became a national spokesman for

Republican Party and its ideals. Lincoln would be elected President of the U.S.

only 2 years later!

John Brown at Harper’s Ferry, 1859 Brown (again) organized a band of 20

abolitionists to raid the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, VA.

Goal: to steal weapons and lead a slave revolt. In the end, 7 innocent people were killed, Brown

was captured and eventually hung. Brown was seen as a martyr in northern eyes. The South feared him and others crazy

abolitionists who might be like him.

The Election of 1860 Southern politicians

couldn’t decide on a candidate to endorse for President. This split the southern vote.

Lincoln, who wasn’t even on the ballot in the South (this makes them very mad), was elected president with only 40% of the popular vote.

South Carolina’s Succession Within the month after the election of

Lincoln, the South Carolina legislature unanimously voted to secede from the Union (Dec. 1860). Secede: leave/withdraw

Within 6 days, 6 other states seceded: MS, FL, AL, GA, LA, TX

Four others followed in April 1861 (after the start of the Civil War): VA, NC, TN, AR

The Confederate States of AmericaThe Confederate States of America, as the

seceded states now called themselves, elected Jefferson Davis to be president and

set up their capital city in Richmond, VA.

Meanwhile in Washington… President Buchanan, the U.S. President at

the time (before Lincoln was sworn in), did little to stop this….

When Lincoln took office, trying to preserve the unity of the U.S., he promised not to interfere with slavery where it already existed. He promised to enforce the Fugitive Slave Law, and he pledged to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution.” But Lincoln’s effort was too late….

Fort Sumter In April 1861, Lincoln notified Southern

authorities that unarmed ships would be carrying supplies to Fort Sumter in Charleston, S.C. (a U.S. military fort).

April 12th, Southern guns bombarded the fort and forced its surrender…

…thus beginning the Civil War.