Chapter 10 “And Black People Were at the Heart of It”; The United States Disunites over Slavery

Chapter 10

“And Black People Were at the Heart of It”; The United States

Disunites over Slavery

I. Free Labor ~ Slave Labor

Slavery in the western lands Legal or outlawed? Divided the nation Southern white people supported slavery Northern whites people opposed slavery in

territories Racism Competition for jobs

Free Labor ~ Slave Labor (cont.)

Free Labor Slavery threatened white labor Depressed white wages for labor Labor: Demeaned in the south Labor: Dignified in the North

The Wilmot Proviso

Mexican War Prohibited slavery in lands acquired

from Mexico Passed in the House, Failed in the

Senate Southerners enraged

–First step toward eliminating slavery

As a result of the war against Mexico, the United States acquired the regions shown on this map as California, Utah Territory, New Mexico Territory, and the portions of Texas not included in the Province of Texas.

Election of 1848

Won by Zachary Taylor Opposed by Martin Van Buren Free soil party candidate Opposed slavery in territories Racist – some members joined who were

against the presence of blacks in new western land

Abolitionist support

California and the Compromise of 1850

Gold discovery lured thousands to California in 1849

Applied for admission as a free state Southern whites opposed Compromise of 1850 Henry Clay tried to give something to everyone California free state, end slave trade in Washington DC Stronger fugitive slave labor law No restrictions on Utah and New Mexico

Riches in California Although white miners resented

their presence, black men too sought riches in California in the great gold rush of 1849.

The Compromise of 1850 (cont.)

John C. Calhoun – southern senator “no California in USA as a free state”

William Seward – NY senator “no tougher fugitive slave law”

President Zachary Taylor – Opposed compromise, would veto if passed

Died in 1850, replaced by Millard Fillmore President Fillmore accepted compromise Stephen Douglas Bill divided in separate parts

• Won passage, CA free state, tougher fugitive slave laws

Fugitive Slave Laws

Fugitive slave law, 1793 Permitted recovery of escaped slaves Too weak to overcome northern resistance Personal Liberty Laws, made it illegal for

state law enforcement officials to help capture runaways.

State officials not obligated to aid recovery

Leaflets Like This Reflect the Outrage Many Northerners Felt

Leaflets like this reflect the outrage many Northerners felt in response to the capture and reenslavement of African Americans that resulted from the passage of a tougher Fugitive Slave Law as part of the Compromise of 1850.

Fugitive Slave Law, 1850 Everyone must help capture suspects

– Stiff fines or jail Documents from home state or testimony of

witnesses to claim runaway Commissioners – Received $5 when declared

captive free Received $10 for captives returned to

bondage – Claimed extra paper work During duration of law, 332 returned to

slavery, many kidnapped free people, 11 released

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z02Ie8wKKRg

Anthony Burns Escaped from a Virginia slave owner in 1854 Arrested in Boston, placed under heavy guard. Failed

breakout attempt U.S. troops sent to Boston Authorities refused offers to buy Burns’ freedom Thousands watched as Burns marched to ship that

would return him to Virginia Abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison Burned a copy of

the Constitution on July 4th and openly wept. Months later, black Bostonians lead by church

purchased Burns for $1,300, Burns settled and died in Ontario in 1862

Anthony BurnsThe “trial” and subsequent return of Anthony Burns to slavery in 1854 resulted in the publication of a popular pamphlet in Boston. Documents like this generated increased support—and funds—for the abolitionist cause.

Margaret Garner Tragic example of slaves desire for freedom Escaped from Kentucky to Cincinnati in 1856 with others

slaves Owner tracked runaways and attempted to arrest the

fugitives. Slaves refused to surrender. Before arrested, she slits her daughter’s throat Garner was disarmed before killing her two sons She was arrested and charged with murder, but returned

to Kentucky before prosecution. Two sons sold to slavery in Arkansas On the trip down the river, children and 24 others died in

a ship wreck, fulfilling her wish that her children die rather than return to slavery. – Basis of Tony Morrison’s novel Beloved

COOL DOWN

Why was the expansion of slavery such a divisive issue?

Section 3

III. The Rochester Convention

African Americans, 1853 Called for greater unity among black people Sought ways to improve their economic

prospects Asserted claims to citizenship Equal Legal Protection Frederick Douglass

– Called for vocational training

V. Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Harriet Beecher Stowe Biggest contributor to anti slavery

northerners Sold 300,000 in 1852 Made brutality of slavery personal Infuriated southerners False depiction of their way of life

– Stowe had never visited the Deep South

Harriet Beecher StoweHarriet Beecher Stowe was a prolific writer. She wrote travel accounts, children’s books, and ten adult novels. Easily her best known work was Uncle Tom’s Cabin. It was first published in serial form in the anti-slavery weekly newspaper The National Era when Stowe was 40 years old.

VI. The Kansas-Nebraska Act

Stephen Douglas, 1854 Territory was part of Indian Territory,

necessary for transcontinental railroad Popular Sovereignty – voters decide

slave status Repeal of Missouri Compromise Won southern support

The Kansas-Nebraska Act (cont.)

Further Divided North and South

Violence erupted in Kansas and Congress

Bleeding Kansas Popular Sovereignty allowed citizens of

territory to decide the states slave status. Border Ruffians – from Missouri invaded

Kansas and illegally voted in elections Anti-slavery northerners moved to vote in

elections Over 200 dead from violence over slavery

status elections

VII. Preston Brooks and Charles Sumner Charles Sumner – Mass. Senator Speech “Crime against Kansas” in congress Verbal attack against S.C. Senator Andrew

Butler, who wasn’t present Butlers Nephew Preston Brooks was present,

S.C. representative Two days later, Brooks confronted Sumner Caned him in the head repeatedly

Sumner/Brooks Aftermath Sumner suffered physical and emotional

effects, never returning to the senate Brooks fined $300 and easily won

reelection Northerners outraged by the brutality of

Brooks, used as example of southern slave owners brutality

Southerners rejoiced, made Brooks a hero for fighting for his families honor.

VIII. The Dred Scott Decision

Dred Scott slave in Va., sued for freedom due to master bringing him to Illinois.

Questions for the court: Could a black man sue in federal court? Did taking a slave to a state or territory where

bondage was prohibited free the slave?

Roger Taney – Supreme Court Justice Blacks not citizens. No rights the white man bound to respect. Missouri Compromise unconstitutional

Scott Decision: Reaction

Divided countryRepublicans horrified

–Meetings and ralliesFrederick Douglass

–Decision would help destroy slavery

COOL DOWN

Explain the role that the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott decision played in further dividing the nation politically.

Explain the role that bleeding Kansas and the Sumner/Brooks incident played in further dividing the nation socially.

Section 4

Abraham Lincoln and Black People

IX. White Northerners - Black Americans

Racism– Most white northerners remained racist– Indifferent, fearful, hostile toward people of color

Ohio, Illinois, Indiana white people: Supported Fugitive Slave Law Opposed slavery expansion Free Blacks in Northern States

• Indiana, Iowa banned blacks, free or slaves, 1851 • Illinois, 1853

Illinois Senate Race 1858 Illinois senate election Stephen

Douglas planned to use race to push him for President in 1860

Opposed by Abraham Lincoln, series of seven debates that caught national attention

Neither Lincoln nor Douglas believed in racial equality. Lincoln thought slavery was morally wrong and wanted to

confine it to the states where it already existed. Douglas tolerated slavery, believing that white Americans

should choose the kind of society that they wanted. In a now-famous speech, Lincoln stated that, “A house

divided against itself cannot stand,” referring to the division between free and slave states.

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates Stephen Douglas vs. Abraham Lincoln for Douglas’s

senate seat Main issues: slavery and race Freeport Doctrine – attempt by Lincoln to trap

Douglas on issues Douglass didn’t want to offend either north or south. Defended Dred Scott Decision and Popular

Sovereignty Allow people to continue to decide new states slavery

status. Need for a positive law to protect slavery

Abraham Lincoln and Black People Lincoln did not believe in racial equality Believed in the right to be paid for labor “I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing

about in any way the social and political equality of the white, black races – that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters of jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality.”

Lincoln lost election, viewed to win debate and gained national notoriety.

John Brown: Raid on Harpers Ferry John Brown – Staunchly religious Plan to attract and arm slaves Goal incite insurrection and end slavery Financial Support, secret six, local wealthy

abolitionists October 16th, 1859 raid begins Stormed federal arsenal Utter Failure U.S. Marines wounded and captured

Brown Zero slaves freed, raiders were executed

John Brown Captured at Harpers Ferry

John Brown was captured in the Engine House at Harpers Ferry on October 18, 1859. He was quickly tried for treason and convicted. On December 2, 1859, he was hanged. Although his raid failed to free a single slave, it helped catapult the nation toward civil war.

Raid and Reaction

Increased tensions, North and South Southerners traumatized and terrified Northern approval enraged southerners Justified long-held beliefs about northern

agitation Execution Brown becomes a northern hero Moved South closer to secession and

end to slavery

Cool DownSummarize Abraham Lincolns

stance on slavery and race relations before running for president.

Section 5

XIII. The Election of Abraham Lincoln

Four candidates, 1860 election John Bell John C. Breckenridge Stephen Douglas Abraham Lincoln Democratic Party split ensured Lincoln’s

victory Not on ballot in most southern states Abolitionists feared Lincoln too tolerant of

slavery

The Election of 1860

Abraham Lincoln Stephen Douglas John Bell John Breckinridge

Republican

Slavery must not be allowed in the territories

Northern Democrat

Popular Sovereignty should decide the issue of slavery when territories become states

Constitutional Unionist (3rd party)

The federal government should support slavery and also defend the union

Southern Democrat

The federal government must protect slavery

The Election of 1860

The results reflect the sectional schism over slavery. Lincoln carried the election although he won only in northern states. His name did not even appear on the ballot in most southern states.

The Union Collapses On December 20, 1860, South Carolina

officially seceded. Six other states of the Lower South followed.

In early February 1861, these states proclaimed themselves a new nation, the Confederate States of America, or Confederacy.

Jefferson Davis, a former senator from Mississippi, became president of the Confederacy.

Disunion

Lincoln tried to calm southern fears “Only” dispute was over the expansion

of slavery Promised to enforce the Constitution Not interfere with slavery where it

existed Not tolerate secession

The Civil War Begins Lincoln is sworn in March 4, 1861 Doesn’t accept southern succession, vows not

to attack first South Carolina Fort Sumter, US federal base Fort was exhausted of its supplies, requested to

be restocked Lincoln decided to send food, not arms or

soldiers, fearing an attack Confederate troops attacked and took the fort

Outcome of Fort Sumter Now that the South was the aggressor,

Lincoln realized that war was the only way April 15, 1861 declared war on the

Confederacy Called for 75,000 volunteers Southerners saw Lincoln’s action as an

act of war. The Upper South states of Virginia, North

Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas seceded and joined the Confederacy, while the Border States remained uncommitted to either side.

The Union and Confederacy

After the surrender of Fort Sumter, more states joined the Confederacy, making it one of the largest republics in the world.

Deepening Crisis over Slavery