15: The Coming 15: The Coming Crisis,Crisis, the 1850s the 1850s

““The majority rules and law rests on numbers, The majority rules and law rests on numbers, not on intellect or virtue. . . while theoretically not on intellect or virtue. . . while theoretically holding that no vote of the majority can holding that no vote of the majority can authorize injustice, we practically consider authorize injustice, we practically consider public opinion the real test of what is true and public opinion the real test of what is true and false; and hence, as a result, the fact which false; and hence, as a result, the fact which Tocqueville has noticed, that practically our Tocqueville has noticed, that practically our institutions protect, not the interest of the institutions protect, not the interest of the whole community but the interests of the whole community but the interests of the majority.” majority.” 

Abolitionist Abolitionist Wendell PhillipsWendell Phillips

What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer: a What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelly to which he is the year, the gross injustice and cruelly to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciations of tyrants, brass fronted heartless; your denunciations of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade, and solemnity, thanksgivings, with all your religious parade, and solemnity, are, to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and are, to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy - a thin veil to cover up crimes which would hypocrisy - a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices, more shocking and bloody, than earth guilty of practices, more shocking and bloody, than are the people of these United States, at this very hour. Go are the people of these United States, at this very hour. Go where you may, search where you will, roam through all the where you may, search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the old world, travel through monarchies and despotisms of the old world, travel through South America, search out every abuse, and when you have South America, search out every abuse, and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday practices of this nation, and you will say with me, that, for practices of this nation, and you will say with me, that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival. reigns without a rival.

Frederick DouglassFrederick Douglass, July 4, 1852 Rochester, NY, July 4, 1852 Rochester, NY

Henry Clay addressing Senate, 1850 -- the CA gold rush pushed the Wilmot Proviso into the spotlight when CA applied for statehood in September of 1849

CA as a free state

Territorial governments for Utah and NM

Slave trade in D.C. was abolished

Strict fugitive slave law

Texas land claims settled

MA Senator Daniel Webster 1782-1852 who worked with Clay for 8 months on the Compromise of 1850

Millard Fillmore 1800-1874

US President when Zachary Taylor died in July 1850

Taylor had opposed 1850 Compromise while Fillmore supported it

A slave coffle in Washington, D.C.

Boston handbill, 1851, warning “colored people” of slave catchers

San Francisco celebrates first “Admission Day”

San Francisco’s Vigilance Committee hangs two men in 1856 – 6,000

vigilantes marched through the city

Fort Defiance, New Mexico Territory [present day Arizona]

1852 Cuban sugar estate – many Americans invested in Cuban sugar

plantations

President Franklin Pierce elected in 1852, supported 1853 $130 million effort to purchase Cuba – “Ostend Manifesto” threatened US seizure of Cuba

Commodore Matthew Perry 1794-1858 -- brother of Commodore Oliver

Hazard Perry, sent to open Japan in 1852

Japanese admiring technological gifts, Tokyo in July 1853

1854 Honolulu -- President Pierce’s foreign policy he called “Young America”

attempted unsuccessfully to annex Hawaii

NY city torchlight meeting of “Know-Nothings” or American Party, Nov. 1855

A “Know-Nothing” cartoon – they elected governors in NY and MD

“The Hurly-Burly Pot” cartoon – issues that threatened US in 1850s

Stephen A. Douglas 1813-1861 -- “Little Giant” proposed popular

sovereignty for both Kansas and Nebraska

Chicago 1865

“Bull’s Head stockyards in Chicago, opened in 1848

An illustration from Uncle Tom’s Cabin, 1852

Harriet Beecher Stowe 1811-1896 -- daughter of Lyman Beecher and sister

of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher

Harriet Tubman 1821-1913 -- helped John Brown organize armed raids

against slavery from her farm in Canada

Walt Whitman 1819-1892, Leaves of Grass in 1855, anti-slavery

Salmon P. Chase 1808-1873, early leader of Republican Party after “Bleeding

Kansas” caused Whigs to leave their party

Ripon, Wisconsin schoolhouse where Republican Party held first meetings

SC Senator Andrew Butler 1796-1857, After Sen. Charles Sumner of MA

accused him of a conspiracy of Kansas slaveholders, Sumner was attacked on May 21, 1856

Congressman Preston Brooks of SC 1819-1857, hitting Sumner with cane –

Sumner didn’t recover for nearly 3 years

General John C. Fremont 1813-1890

First Republican candidate for president in 1856

An antislavery Southerner who married daughter of Sen. Thomas Hart Benton, Missouri

James Buchanan 1791-1868, Elected 15th US President in 1856, was Polk’s

Secretary of State during Mexican War

Chief Justice Roger B. Taney 1777-1864, Maryland slaveowner who

manumitted own slaves, 1857 Dred Scott decision

Dred Scott with wife Harriet. She sued Dred’s former owner who brought him into the Wisconsin Territory where they met. [Both brought back as slaves]

Governor’s mansion in LeCompton, Kansas Territory in 1857 – They held proslavery constitutional convention boycotted by Free Soilers. Douglas

broke with Buchanan when asked to admit Kansas as slave state

Bleeding Kansas in 1858 [Pottawatomie Creek massacre by John Brown, May of 1856]

5th Lincoln – Douglas debate at Knox College in Illinois -- October 7, 1858

Lincoln and William Herndon had law office on this street in Springfield, Illinois

Lincoln’s home for 17 years in Springfield, Illinois

Lincoln’s Springfield kitchen

Campaign cartoon accusing “Honest Abe” of being two-faced about own

ambitions -- Lincoln was chosen over frontrunner William H. Seward of MA

Harper’s Ferry in [West] Virginia ca. 1856

John Brown 1800-1859

daguerreotype from 1856 or 1857

John Brown and 17 others seized the federal arsenal, armory, and a rifle

works on October 16, 1859 but he surrendered from this fire station two days later.

Col. Robert E. Lee, led US Marines that captured Brown – 10 of Brown’s men were killed

ChronologyChronology

1820        Missouri Compromise 1820        Missouri Compromise 1832        Nullification Crisis 1832        Nullification Crisis 1848        Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo; Zachary Taylor; "free-soilers" 1848        Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo; Zachary Taylor; "free-soilers" 1850        Compromise of 1850; American "know nothing" movement; 1850        Compromise of 1850; American "know nothing" movement;

Millard Millard Fillmore president Fillmore president 1851        Northern reaction to the Fugitive Slave Law; Harriet Beecher 1851        Northern reaction to the Fugitive Slave Law; Harriet Beecher

Stowe’s Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin Uncle Tom’s Cabin 1852        Franklin Pierce elected president 1852        Franklin Pierce elected president 1854        Ostend Manifesto; Kansas-Nebraska Act; treaty renegotiations; 1854        Ostend Manifesto; Kansas-Nebraska Act; treaty renegotiations;

Republican Party begins Republican Party begins 1855        William Walker’s "filibuster" in Nicaragua 1855        William Walker’s "filibuster" in Nicaragua 1856        Looting of Lawrence, Kansas; John Brown’s Pottawatomie 1856        Looting of Lawrence, Kansas; John Brown’s Pottawatomie

massacre; massacre; Buchanan president Buchanan president 1857        Dred Scott decision; Buchanan accepts proslavery Lecompton 1857        Dred Scott decision; Buchanan accepts proslavery Lecompton

constitution; Panic constitution; Panic 1858        Congress rejects Lecompton constitution; Lincoln-Douglas 1858        Congress rejects Lecompton constitution; Lincoln-Douglas

Debates Debates 1859        John Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry 1859        John Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry 1860        4 parties run candidates for president; Lincoln’s election; S. 1860        4 parties run candidates for president; Lincoln’s election; S.

Carolina Carolina secedes secedes 1861        6 additional "deep South" states secede; Confederate States 1861        6 additional "deep South" states secede; Confederate States

formed; formed; Lincoln takes office Lincoln takes office

BibliographyBibliography

Davis, William C.  Davis, William C.  An Honorable Defeat:  The Last Days of the An Honorable Defeat:  The Last Days of the Confederate GovernmentConfederate Government. [2001. [2001

Fehrenbacher, Don E. Fehrenbacher, Don E. The Dred Scott Case:  Its Significance in The Dred Scott Case:  Its Significance in American Law and PoliticsAmerican Law and Politics. (1978). (1978)

Foner, Eric. Foner, Eric. Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men:  The Ideology of Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men:  The Ideology of the Republican Party before the Civil Warthe Republican Party before the Civil War. (1970). (1970)

Franklin, John Hope. Franklin, John Hope. A Southern Odyssey:  Travelers ih the A Southern Odyssey:  Travelers ih the Ante-bellum NorthAnte-bellum North. (1976). (1976)

Oates, StephenOates, Stephen.  To Purge This Land with Blood:  A Biography .  To Purge This Land with Blood:  A Biography of John Brownof John Brown. (1970) and . (1970) and With Malice toward None: A life With Malice toward None: A life of Abraham Lincolnof Abraham Lincoln. (1977). (1977)

Potter, David.  Potter, David.  The Impending Crisis, 1848-1861The Impending Crisis, 1848-1861. (1976). (1976)Stampp, Kenneth.  Stampp, Kenneth.  America in 1857America in 1857. (1990) and . (1990) and The Causes of The Causes of

the Civil Warthe Civil War. (1974). (1974)Takaki, Ronald.  Takaki, Ronald.  A Proslavery Crusade:  The Agitation to A Proslavery Crusade:  The Agitation to

Reopen the African Slave TradeReopen the African Slave Trade. (1971). (1971)Woodward, C. Vann. Woodward, C. Vann. American Counterpoint:  Slavery and American Counterpoint:  Slavery and

Racism in the North-South DialoguRacism in the North-South Dialogue. (1971)e. (1971)

Chapter Focus Questions Chapter Focus Questions

Why did the Whigs and Democrats fail to Why did the Whigs and Democrats fail to find a lasting political compromise on the find a lasting political compromise on the issue of slavery?issue of slavery?

What caused the end of the Second What caused the end of the Second American Party System and the rise of American Party System and the rise of the Republican Party?the Republican Party?

Why did the secession of the southern Why did the secession of the southern states follow the Republican Party victory states follow the Republican Party victory in the election of 1860?in the election of 1860?

A: American A: American CommunitiesCommunities

Illinois Communities Debate Illinois Communities Debate SlaverySlavery

Illinois voters gathered in 1858 to hear Stephen A. Illinois voters gathered in 1858 to hear Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln debate slavery and the Douglas and Abraham Lincoln debate slavery and the future of the Union. future of the Union.

Douglas accused Lincoln of favoring social equality of Douglas accused Lincoln of favoring social equality of whites and blacks. whites and blacks.

Lincoln denied this and accused Douglas of supporting Lincoln denied this and accused Douglas of supporting the spread of slavery. Although Douglas won the the spread of slavery. Although Douglas won the senatorial election, the debates established both senatorial election, the debates established both Lincoln and the Republican Party as contenders for Lincoln and the Republican Party as contenders for national power. national power.

The debates demonstrated that the slavery question The debates demonstrated that the slavery question had divided American communities, but that Americans had divided American communities, but that Americans strongly valued their democratic institutions.strongly valued their democratic institutions.

B: America in B: America in 18501850

Expansion and GrowthExpansion and Growth

America had grown rapidly in the America had grown rapidly in the first half of the nineteenth century. first half of the nineteenth century.

The nation had experienced great The nation had experienced great growth of wealth, industry, and growth of wealth, industry, and urbanization. Equally important, urbanization. Equally important, southern economic influence was southern economic influence was waning.waning.

Cultural Life and Social IssuesCultural Life and Social Issues

An American Renaissance produced writers An American Renaissance produced writers who focused on social criticism, including:who focused on social criticism, including: Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson who Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson who

experimented with poetic formexperimented with poetic form Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville who Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville who

wrote about the darker side of human naturewrote about the darker side of human nature Frederick Douglas’ autobiography and Harriet Frederick Douglas’ autobiography and Harriet

Beecher Stowe’s Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s CabinUncle Tom’s Cabin condemned slaverycondemned slavery

Political Parties and SlaveryPolitical Parties and Slavery

Prior to the 1840s, compromises had eased Prior to the 1840s, compromises had eased the divisions of American on slavery. The the divisions of American on slavery. The national party system had forced Whigs national party system had forced Whigs and Democrats to forge inter-sectional and Democrats to forge inter-sectional coalitions. coalitions.

By 1848 sectional interests were eroding By 1848 sectional interests were eroding these coalitions. these coalitions.

Sectional divisions in religious and other Sectional divisions in religious and other organizations had begun to divide the organizations had begun to divide the country. country.

States’ Rights and SlaveryStates’ Rights and Slavery

John C. Calhoun had laid out the states’ John C. Calhoun had laid out the states’ rights defense by claiming that:rights defense by claiming that: the territories were the common property of the territories were the common property of

each of the stateseach of the states Congress could not discriminate against Congress could not discriminate against

slave owners. slave owners. Northerners grew increasingly concerned Northerners grew increasingly concerned

over what they saw as a Southern over what they saw as a Southern conspiracy to control the government: conspiracy to control the government: the "slave power."the "slave power."

Two Communities, Two Two Communities, Two PerspectivesPerspectives

Both North and South:Both North and South: were committed to expansion, but each viewed were committed to expansion, but each viewed

manifest destiny in its own termsmanifest destiny in its own terms shared a commitment to basic rights and liberties shared a commitment to basic rights and liberties

but saw the other as infringing on them. but saw the other as infringing on them. Two communities with two perspectives had Two communities with two perspectives had

emerged. emerged. Northerners viewed their region as a dynamic Northerners viewed their region as a dynamic

society that offered opportunity to the common society that offered opportunity to the common man, in contrast to the stagnant slave owning man, in contrast to the stagnant slave owning aristocracy of the South. Southerners viewed their aristocracy of the South. Southerners viewed their section as promoting equality for whites by keeping section as promoting equality for whites by keeping blacks in a perpetual state of bondage. blacks in a perpetual state of bondage.

The chances for national reconciliation were slim.The chances for national reconciliation were slim.

Conflicts of 1850Conflicts of 1850

The California gold rush forced the issue The California gold rush forced the issue of the status of slavery in the new of the status of slavery in the new territories. Other conflicts had been territories. Other conflicts had been developing as well. developing as well.

The three aging regional leaders - Daniel The three aging regional leaders - Daniel Webster of the North, Henry Clay of the Webster of the North, Henry Clay of the West, and John C. Calhoun of the South - West, and John C. Calhoun of the South - attempted to resolve the issues of 1850.attempted to resolve the issues of 1850.

The Compromise of 1850The Compromise of 1850

The Compromise of 1850 was actually five The Compromise of 1850 was actually five separate billsseparate bills California came in as a free stateCalifornia came in as a free state other southwest territories were to be settled by other southwest territories were to be settled by

popular sovereigntypopular sovereignty a stronger fugitive slave law was enacteda stronger fugitive slave law was enacted the slave trade was outlawed in Washington, D.C.the slave trade was outlawed in Washington, D.C. the Texas-New Mexico border dispute was settledthe Texas-New Mexico border dispute was settled

The Great Sectional The Great Sectional Compromises in PerspectiveCompromises in Perspective

The Compromise of 1850 threatened the The Compromise of 1850 threatened the framework of settling the slavery issue framework of settling the slavery issue established by the Compromise of 1820.established by the Compromise of 1820.

The Fugitive Slave ActThe Fugitive Slave Act

The issue of runaway slaves further divided the The issue of runaway slaves further divided the nation. nation.

The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 put the full force of The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 put the full force of the federal government behind slave catchers. the federal government behind slave catchers.

States had previously passed acts against aiding States had previously passed acts against aiding slave catchers. slave catchers.

Mobs of northerners unsuccessfully tried to prevent Mobs of northerners unsuccessfully tried to prevent the law from being carried out. Black fugitives the law from being carried out. Black fugitives described their experiences as slaves, helping to raise described their experiences as slaves, helping to raise Northerners’ consciousness.Northerners’ consciousness.

The Election of 1852 and The Election of 1852 and the Politics of Expansionthe Politics of Expansion

The growing polarization of opinion The growing polarization of opinion strained the party system. strained the party system.

The Democrats won in the election of The Democrats won in the election of 1852 by avoiding sectional issues. 1852 by avoiding sectional issues.

The new President Franklin Pierce The new President Franklin Pierce supported independent efforts to seize supported independent efforts to seize territory by "filibusters" like William territory by "filibusters" like William Walker and endorsed efforts to buy Cuba.Walker and endorsed efforts to buy Cuba.

C: The Crisis of C: The Crisis of the National Party the National Party

SystemSystem

The Kansas-Nebraska ActThe Kansas-Nebraska Act

In 1854, Stephen Douglas pushed through In 1854, Stephen Douglas pushed through a bill to open Kansas territory. a bill to open Kansas territory.

To win southern support Douglas’s bill To win southern support Douglas’s bill declared that the territory would be declared that the territory would be organized on the principle of popular organized on the principle of popular sovereignty, even though slavery in that sovereignty, even though slavery in that territory had been banned under the territory had been banned under the Missouri Compromise.Missouri Compromise.

The Impact of the Kansas-The Impact of the Kansas-Nebraska ActNebraska Act

The Kansas-Nebraska ActThe Kansas-Nebraska Act destroyed the Whig Partydestroyed the Whig Party nearly destroyed the northern wing of nearly destroyed the northern wing of

the Democratic Partythe Democratic Party negated treaties with Indians removed negated treaties with Indians removed

to Kansas in the 1830s.to Kansas in the 1830s.

"Bleeding Kansas""Bleeding Kansas"

The territory became a battleground of The territory became a battleground of sectional politics. sectional politics.

On election day, pro-slavery Missourians On election day, pro-slavery Missourians crossed over the border and took control crossed over the border and took control of the territorial legislature.of the territorial legislature.

Northerners quickly responded by Northerners quickly responded by founding free-soil communities. founding free-soil communities.

By the summer of 1856 open warfare By the summer of 1856 open warfare erupted.erupted.

The Politics of NativismThe Politics of Nativism

Concurrent with sectional pressures Concurrent with sectional pressures came an outburst of anti-immigrant came an outburst of anti-immigrant feeling. Reformers were appalled by the feeling. Reformers were appalled by the influx of Irish into American cities. influx of Irish into American cities.

Former Whigs formed the "Know Nothing" Former Whigs formed the "Know Nothing" or American Party to prevent what they or American Party to prevent what they saw as a takeover by the immigrants. saw as a takeover by the immigrants.

But the Know-Nothings succumbed to But the Know-Nothings succumbed to sectional divisions. sectional divisions.

The Republican Party and the The Republican Party and the Election of 1856Election of 1856

The Republican Party linked northern nativists and former Whigs. The Republican Party linked northern nativists and former Whigs.

In 1856, Democrats nominated James Buchanan as a compromise In 1856, Democrats nominated James Buchanan as a compromise

candidate. candidate.

Southern Know-Nothings ran Millard Fillmore.Southern Know-Nothings ran Millard Fillmore.

Northern Republicans ran John C. Fremont who defeated Northern Republicans ran John C. Fremont who defeated

Buchanan in the North. Buchanan carried nearly the entire South Buchanan in the North. Buchanan carried nearly the entire South

and won. and won.

The election signaled the rise of the Republican Party and showed The election signaled the rise of the Republican Party and showed

northerners were more concerned about slavery than immigration.northerners were more concerned about slavery than immigration.

D: The D: The Differences Differences

DeepenDeepen

The Dred Scott DecisionThe Dred Scott Decision

The Dred Scott decision worsened The Dred Scott decision worsened sectional divisions. sectional divisions.

The Supreme Court ruled that Congress The Supreme Court ruled that Congress could not ban slavery in the territories could not ban slavery in the territories and that Dred Scott’s long-term and that Dred Scott’s long-term residence in free territory did not make residence in free territory did not make him free. While southerners applauded him free. While southerners applauded the decision, northerners denounced it.the decision, northerners denounced it.

The Lecompton ConstitutionThe Lecompton Constitution Conflict continued in Kansas as free-soilers:Conflict continued in Kansas as free-soilers:

organized their own territorial governmentorganized their own territorial government boycotted the proslavery government’s elections for a boycotted the proslavery government’s elections for a

constitutional convention constitutional convention The proslavery "Lecompton constitution" was The proslavery "Lecompton constitution" was

submitted to Congress. submitted to Congress. Stephen Douglas fought against it, alienating his Stephen Douglas fought against it, alienating his

southern supporters.southern supporters. Kansans rejected the constitution and came into Kansans rejected the constitution and came into

the Union as a free state. the Union as a free state. The defeat of Lecompton came as Congress The defeat of Lecompton came as Congress

continued to divide along sectional lines. continued to divide along sectional lines.

The Panic of 1857The Panic of 1857

Adding to the conflict was a financial Adding to the conflict was a financial panic and sharp depression in 1857-panic and sharp depression in 1857-58.58.

The Panic affected northern more The Panic affected northern more than southern exports.than southern exports.

Southerners believed the Panic Southerners believed the Panic showed the superiority of their showed the superiority of their system.system.

John Brown's RaidJohn Brown's Raid

Sectional tensions intensified when John Sectional tensions intensified when John Brown raided the federal arsenal at Brown raided the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry in an unsuccessful effort to Harper's Ferry in an unsuccessful effort to instigate a slave revolt. instigate a slave revolt.

Brown was hanged but Southern opinion Brown was hanged but Southern opinion was shocked, by northerner's attempts to was shocked, by northerner's attempts to make Brown a martyr and northern support make Brown a martyr and northern support for slave revolts.for slave revolts.

E: The South E: The South SecedesSecedes

The Election of 1860The Election of 1860 In the election of 1860, four candidates ran for president. In the election of 1860, four candidates ran for president. The Democrats split over a proposed slave code for the The Democrats split over a proposed slave code for the

territories. territories. Stephen Douglas won the nomination but Southerners Stephen Douglas won the nomination but Southerners

nominated John C. Breckinridge. nominated John C. Breckinridge. Southern and border state Whigs created the Southern and border state Whigs created the

Constitutional Union Party and nominated John Bell. Constitutional Union Party and nominated John Bell. Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln, a moderate. Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln, a moderate. Breckinridge and Lincoln represented the extreme Breckinridge and Lincoln represented the extreme

positions on slavery in the territories. positions on slavery in the territories. Douglas and Bell tried to find a middle ground. Douglas and Bell tried to find a middle ground. Lincoln won the election with 38 percent of the vote by Lincoln won the election with 38 percent of the vote by

virtually sweeping the North.virtually sweeping the North.

The South SecedesThe South Secedes

Southerners responded to the Southerners responded to the election of 1860 by initiating election of 1860 by initiating secession movements.secession movements.

The Lower South seceded, but the The Lower South seceded, but the Upper South remained in the Union.Upper South remained in the Union.

The North’s Political OptionsThe North’s Political Options

Various Northerners unsuccessfully Various Northerners unsuccessfully tried to find some compromise that tried to find some compromise that would satisfy all sides. would satisfy all sides.

Some Northerners were willing to Some Northerners were willing to allow the South to go in peace. allow the South to go in peace.

Lincoln believed that the idea of Lincoln believed that the idea of free government would be free government would be threatened if the South were threatened if the South were permitted to leave.permitted to leave.

Establishment of the Establishment of the ConfederacyConfederacy

Southerners established the Southerners established the Confederate States of America.Confederate States of America.

Jefferson Davis, a moderate, was Jefferson Davis, a moderate, was chosen as its president.chosen as its president.

Davis tried to portray secession as a Davis tried to portray secession as a legal, peaceful step. legal, peaceful step.

Lincoln resolved to keep the nation Lincoln resolved to keep the nation together.together.