causes of the civil war two nations?. previously discussed tensions missouri compromise wilmot...
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Causes of the Civil War
Two Nations?
Previously discussed tensions Missouri Compromise Wilmot Proviso Tariff Crisis John C. Calhoun Abolitionist Movement
Mo. Compromise
Aftermath of the Mexican-American War, 1848
Harriet Beecher Stowe“Uncle Tom’s Cabin”
1852 Written in response to Compromise of 1850
and the Fugitive Slave Act Vivid novel about slavery and the South Stowe-never been in the South More than 1.5 million copies sold worldwide
at the time-a best seller
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Views on slaverySouthern views on slavery Stowe’s book was a book of insulting lies exaggerated view: just a large, happy family attempts to justify slavery: provided necessities of life, the N took no responsibility for
their workers used religion: (ex. Biblical references show God approves
slavery: e.g. Israelites, "God's chosen people," were slaveholders; Christ never condemned it; Paul supported it.)
major civilizations of the past had slavery: Egypt, Greece, Rome
founding of the American Republic was based on it: 4/5 of the first presidents owned slaves
N was not going to tell them how to live
Views on slaveryNorthern views on slavery Slavery violates the basic principles of religion All humans have the right to choose their own
destiny and follow God’s laws Founding of the American Republic: Declaration
of Independence-”all men are created equal” and are entitled to natural rights-life, liberty and pursuit of happiness
A “sleeping serpent”
Economic and Political Differences North:
urban, industrialized, pop. twice that of the S, more diverse with immigration, greater technology having a greater impact, more rr linestypically favored federal govt. power
South: rural, society based on agriculture, felt their livelihood depended on slaverytypically favored more power to the state govt.
John C. Calhoun Believes states have the right to nullify
federal acts and leave the Union if they wish to do so
Nullification crisis-supports S.C. secession
New political parties1848 Election no one would address the issue of slavery members of both parties split: Free Soil Party oppose extension of slavery1849 nativism rising-favoring native-born Americans secret nativist society forms in response to immigration surge:
Know- Nothings “I know nothing” when questioned popular in the N-immigrants in the N.1854 Republican party-disgusted over K-N Acts oppose extension of slavery
Election of 1856-Republicans nominated John C. Fremont (no expansion of slavery, free homesteads, protective tariff) VS. Know-Nothings Millard Fillmore (won 20% popular vote) VS. Democrats with James Buchanan (won majority of popular and electoral vote
Republicans made a strong showing in election of 1856 for a sectional party-carried 11 of the 16 free states
Democrats split (N&S)-will struggle in the future
Emergence of the Free Soil Party, 1848
Campaign Banner for Free Soil Party, Election of 1848, Van Buren
Know-Nothing Party, 1849, American Party
Republican Party, 1856
Compromise of 1850 California wants to be admitted as a free state-
would upset the balance Clay compromises:
California: free Remainder of the Mexican Cession divided into 2 territories-New Mexico
and Utah: popular soverignty (people decide on slavery or not) Land in dispute between TX and NM territory goes to the NM territory,
with federal govt. to assume TX debt of $10 million Abolish sale of enslaved people in D.C. Slavery to remain legal in D.C. Fugitive Slave Act: all citizens required to return enslaved people + they
were denied a jury trial (resistance-Personal Liberty Laws)
Compromise of 1850
Comp. of 1850-cont.
Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854 Stephen Douglas proposed it; he was wanting to run for
president (to set up govt. in Nebraska territory) To win support of all, he proposes people of Kansas and
Nebraska decide on slavery-popular sovereignty South would be happy as the states could become slave
(above MO C. Line), North happy as there was no way they would vote for slavery based on loc. and bad planting area for cotton, but in reality, N. was outraged
Congress amends bill: KS: slave, NE: free Did it nullify MO. Comp.?
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Kansas-Nebraska Act-cont.
Bleeding Kansas Anti-slavery vs. pro-slavery riots: 1856 Sparked by John Brown-stern evangelical who
believed he was God’s chosen instrument to end slavery
Begins when Brown leads a group at night to a pro-slavery settlement; rouses 5 men from their beds and kills them in front of their families
Sparks a series of murderous raids and counter-raids throughout KS
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas-cont.
Violence in the Senate 1856 Senator Sumner (anti-slavery) attacked several individuals
who he thought perpetuated slavery One individual who was ridiculed, Butler, was at home
recovering from a stroke His nephew, Preston Brooks, a Southerner and a member of
the H. of Reps., was particularly incensed 2 mornings later (didn’t find him the first day), Brooks beat
Sumner with a cane for 1 min.; Sumner was treated, Brooks was arrested
Showed the violence and divisions occurring in Congress S. sympathizers sent more canes
Caning of Sumner
Dred Scott:Scott v. Sandford 1857 Scott was born a slave Traveled with his owner (J. Emerson) a good bit who was in the U.S. Army-
MO (slave), IL (free), later MN (free), LA (slave) Upon Emerson’s death, his wife, Eliza, inherits Scott, the executor to
Emerson’s estate upon his passing was Sandford Scott argued he and his wife should be free since they once lived in free
states, his daughter was also born in a free area and should make her free upon birth
Chief Justice Taney ruled vs. Scott-slaves are not citizens and therefore, have no right to sue-he is not free simply because he once lived in a free state/territory-MO. Comp. is unconstitutional: you cannot deprive people of property (slaves) without due process of law per the 5th amendment; Congress had no right or power to rule slavery illegal above the line
Dred Scott
Lincoln-Douglas Debates-1858 Douglas running for reelection as IL. senator; challenger was
Lincoln Douglas (Democrat): believed whites were superior to blacks,
tolerated slavery because he believed in popular sovereignty Lincoln (Republican): whites were superior to blacks, was vs. the
extension of slavery; didn’t believe in social or political equality but did believe in economic equality- all have the right to feed their family; house-divided speech
Highlighted majority rule and minority rights; Douglas won reelection, but alienated southern Democrats by not going far enough to support the Dred Scott decision; Lincoln emerged as a national figure
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
John Brown’s Raid 1859 Harper’s Ferry, Virginia 5 blacks, 13 whites Took wagonload of guns for slaves to join in Seized an armory, takes hostages U.S. troops, commanded by Robert E. Lee are alerted, they
surround the arsenal, kill ½ before the rest surrender A free black was the first to die Brown-tried in VA. For treason=guilty; he is executed (hung)
for his actions Deepens the distrust between the N & S
John Brown’s Raid
John Brown’s Raid-cont.
Election of 1860 Lincoln wins Received approx. 40% of the vote Not a single electoral vote comes from the S His name doesn’t even appear on many S
ballots (Lincoln-N, Breckinridge-S, Douglas-MO., Bell-TN, KY, VA)
Sectional victory
Election of 1860
Election of 1860-cont.
Secession S.C. official leaves the Union on December
20, 1860 Over the next few weeks, 6 others will
follow: MS, FL, AL, GA, LA, TX (Jan.-Feb. 1)
April 17, 1861: VA secedes, followed by AR & NC in May and TN in June
11 secede in all: “Don’t tread on me”
Secession-Calhoun, Confederacy
Fort Sumter April 12, 1861, 4:30 a.m. Confederate forces open fire on the federal
fort Lincoln responds by calling for a volunteer
army, leading to secession of more states War begins
Fort Sumter