the road to the civil war conflict triumphs over compromise
TRANSCRIPT
The Road to the Civil War
Conflict triumphs over compromise
The Union in Peril
“The real issue in this controversy—the one pressing upon every mind—is the sentiment on the part one class that looks upon the institution of slavery as a wrong, and of another class that does not look upon it as a wrong.”
Abraham Lincoln, 1858
Issues left over from the early days of the republic & Constitution What is exact status of slavery in US?
Ends importation of slaves in 1808 3/5 clause
State powers vs. national powers
Increasing economic conflict running along sectional lines BUS (both 1st & 2nd) Tariff controversies (multiple) Foreign policy interests (mostly over Europe)
Territorial expansion & rapid growth of US Pace of expansion How to distribute land What land is fair game to acquire next?
Development of transportation/communication infrastructure
Regional social divisions
Emergence of cotton as a economic engine
The Compromise of 1820aka “The Missouri Compromise”
Goes back to LA Purchase in 1803 Territory in becoming populated MO applies for statehood Starting with admission of VT & KY (1791-92), Congress had tried to maintain balance between slave
and free states Rapid pop. growth in north put House at 105-81 in favor of North; Senate 11-11 tie Issue & debate largely political & economic
SO…what’s the immediate issue? If MO enters as slave state tips the balance to the South Since 1st of LA Purchase to enter, sets precedent for rest of region
Tallmadge Amendment Gradual emancipation of slaves in MO; MO enters as free state Defeated BUT enrages many southerners as an attack on their livelihoods
The Compromise (Drafted by Henry Clay) MO comes in as a slave state ME enters as a free state 36o30’ would be dividing line in rest of LA territory (Free above, slave below)
Outcome Preserves sectional balance for 30 years Increases tension between nationalism & sectionalism (regionalism)
Views on Slavery in the Territories Free-Soil Movement
Northern Dems. & Whigs Did NOT demand end of slavery “Free soil, free labor, free men”
Southern Position Some wanted no restriction Some wanted extension of 36o30’ line
Popular Sovereignty Lewis Cass, (Sen., MI) Good, but problem with “squatters”
Compromise of 18501. Admission of CA as a free state
2. Division of Mexican territory into NM and Utah (& let them choose -- popular sovereignty)
3. Settlement of TX-NM border
4. Federal govt. assumes TX debt ($10m)
5. Abolish slave trade in DC
6. Create a more effective fugitive slave law & ENFORCE IT RIGOROUSLY
In this debate, the Congressional giants Clay (KY), Webster (MA), and Calhoun (SC) gave the greatest speeches of their lives. All three would die within the two after the Compromise.
Map 14.1: The Compromise of 1850
Results Opponents made headway UNTIL death of Pres. Taylor
in 1850 (very sudden) VP Millard Fillmore takes over – supports compromise Stephen Douglas (IL) created coalitions to pass each
part of the deal separately
Did not make sectional divisions go away North won free states South won idea of popular sovereignty
Congress cannot dictate on slavery New Fugitive Slave Act created controversy
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 Took away rights of fugitive slaves Put all fugitive salve cases under federal jurisdiction
Persons claiming to be free blacks were denied trial by jury Allowed slave hunters to look for slaves in North Made slavery a national problem
North was complicit in slavery Growth of anti-slavery movement in North
Bitter resentment (sometimes forcibly) among abolitionists Underground Railroad – mostly run by free blacks and
runaway slaves, not abolitionists and whites Harriet Tubman made at least 19 trips to rescue 300 slaves
Growth of Southern belief that North was against them
Northern perceptions
Southern encouragement
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Slave = Tom; Owner = Simon Legree Fairly brutal; made many northerners & Europeans
visualize all slave owners as virtually inhuman and monstrous
Northern view Showed the moral injustice of slavery Sympathy for fugitive slaves
Southern view Unfair portrayal of plantation life
“So you’re the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war.”
-- President Lincoln to Harriet Beecher Stowe
Collapse of Second Party System Election of 1852 is beginning of end for Whigs Difficult to appeal to entire nation
Nominated Winfield Scott (of Mex. War fame) Ran on improving roads & harbors – IGNORED SLAVERY
ISSUE!!! Franklin Pierce (Dem) – compromise candidate Last president until 1932 to win majority of both
popular & electoral votes in North and South
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Division of Nebraska pits pro-slavery versus anti-slavery
Which will be law: popular sovereignty or 36°30 Missouri Comp. line?
Act passes, but clearly with sectional divide. Popular sovereignty is allowed in both KS and NE
Map 14.2: The Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854
“Bleeding Kansas”
Kansas becomes battleground over slavery Tainted elections Outrageous anti-slavery laws Rival legislatures
John Brown He and seven followers kill two pro-slavery
legislators in Kansas
The problem with expansion… Where will slavery be allowed? Does Congress have the right to decide?
Election of 1856
Three parties Democrats win as
only national party James Buchanan
elected
Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott sues for freedom after traveling to a free territory
S.C. decides Slaves are property, not citizens Scott is not entitled to his freedom Congress cannot prohibit slavery in territories Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional
A blow to abolitionist cause
Harper’s Ferry
John Brown and followers hoped to encourage slave revolt
Raided a federal arsenal in Virginia Rumors that abolitionists supported the raid
financially outraged and scared the South
Lincoln and Douglas
Douglas = Dem., Lincoln = Rep. in race for Illinois senate seat
Physical differences Ideological differences
Douglas loses popularity Lincoln gains popularity
Lincoln and Douglas
“House Divided” speech “this nation cannot exist permanently half slave
and half free”
Free soil vs. popular sovereignty Neither was an abolitionist
Lincoln’s Rise to Power
Lincoln runs as the Republican candidate in 1860
The Democratic Party splits between two candidates
Lincoln wins 40% of the popular vote and 180 electoral votes
Votes are divided sectionally
Map 14.4: The Election of 1860
Secession
After Lincoln’s election, seven southern states secede, believing that the government no longer represents their interests
They base their argument for secession on the idea of nullification advocated by John Calhoun during the tariff controversy
These states call their new nation the Confederate States of America and elect Jefferson Davis as their president
Map 14.5: Secession
The First Shots of the Civil War Lincoln keeps control of government forts in
the South Confederacy attacks Fort Sumter in
Charleston, SC in April, 1861 Lincoln takes this as an act of war…the Civil
War begins
Fort Sumter, South Carolina