Bell Ringer

• What compromises were made in 1787 about slavery?

• What problems could you see coming from these compromises?

• Describe slavery in the South as you understand.

Bell Ringer

• What two machines helped to save the institution of slavery?

• What other name was slavery known by?

• What was the underground railroad?

Bell Ringer

• What were the sectional differences between the north and south?

• What was popular sovereignty?

• Which side, the north or south, was more prepared to fight the Civil War? Explain.

Bell Ringer

• What was the fugitive slave law?

• What was Bleeding Kansas?

• Name the states of the Confederacy.

CH 8/9: Leading to the Civil War

When it all goes wrong again.• At the Constitutional Convention in

1787 the delegates all agree to let the issue of slavery rest until 1808.

• Slavery was seen as slowly dying. Repeatedly planting tobacco, rice, and indigo in fields had exhausted their natural minerals.

• Fields were too large, the numbers of slaves were not cost effective, and the only crop that grew well was cotton. However, the process of cleaning cotton was a nightmare (SUPER IMPORTANT).

• By 1808 many thought slavery would have phased itself out.

Eli Whitney & the Cotton Gin• Eli Whitney, a northern

inventor, sees how slow the cotton picking process is when in GA.

• He invents a machine to Gin (clean) cotton in 1793.

• Plantations will be able to clean 50 lbs of cotton in the time it use to clean 1 lb.

• In addition to the Cotton Gin, cotton mills will open.

• Mills will quickly and cheaply turn raw cotton into cloth.

• These two developments will save the institution of slavery overnight.

The Northwest Territories• Part of the Northwest

Ordinance (1787) stated that all land North of the Ohio river would be “Free” land.

• In the 1800s Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois would all become free states, but Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama would become Slave states.

• Free & Slave States would be balanced at 11.

The “Peculiar Institution”

• Though the U.S. Congress outlawed the African slave trade in 1808, the domestic trade flourished, and the slave population in the U.S. nearly tripled over the next 50 years.

• Slavery in the US had become “self sustaining,” meaning that you didn’t need to import slaves since the current population of slaves were reproducing at a high enough rate to replenish the work force

• By 1860 the slave population had reached nearly 4 million, with more than half living in the cotton-producing states of the South.

Missouri Compromise-1820• 1819 Missouri applies for statehood, as a slave

state… even though most of the state was above the Ohio River.

• In 1820, luckily when Maine applies to be a state, the Missouri Compromise will be reached.

• Any state above the 36’ 30 line will be free, but under that latitude would be slave.

• No one liked the solution, but everyone accepts it in place of continued fighting.

The Important People

Sectionalism

North• Urban: cities

– 1800-1860: 9%-35%• Largely Industrialized• Considerable Infrastructure• Immigrants: Ireland &

Germany. Immigrants add considerably to their new society

South• Rural

• Agricultural• Few railroads or canals• Only Large plantations have

slaves. The Majority (3 of 4) farmers still struggled to make a living. Slaves are still a threat.

The Ongoing Debate

North• Northern Moderates

accepted Slavery where it was, but didn’t want it to spread.

• Northern Radical Abolitionist called for the immediate end to slavery everywhere.

South• Southern Moderates saw

slavery as a necessary evil that would eventually die out.

• Southern Radicals saw slaves as property, and preventing Southerners from moving with their property violated their rights.

Underground Railroad• Meanwhile, slaves

were escaping to the North on the Underground Railroad.

• The most famous “Conductor” was Harriet Tubman who repeatedly entered the South to help slaves escape.

The Issue Continues• In 1846 When the President James K

Polk asked for funding to buy California the slavery issue surfaced again.

• David Wilmont added an amendment to the bill that said no land acquired by the US could have slaves.

• The Wilmont Proviso was meant to, “preserve for free white labor a fair country.”

• The Proviso constantly passed the House but constantly was shot down in the Senate

Popular Sovereignty & 1850• The idea of Popular

Sovereignty rose, that a people should decide for themselves whether to be a free or slave state.

• In 1849 CA applies for state hood (messing up the free/slave balance)

• Henry Clay stepped in to broker one last compromise deal

Compromise of 1850• California enters the Union as

a free state.• New Mexico and Utah

Territories are open for slavery.

• Washington DC no longer sells slaves, but slave holders can keep their slaves

• Creates a strong Fugitive Slave Law: a law that requires the return of captured slaves to their owners

Uncle Tom’s Cabin• The Compromise helped some, but

the Fugitive Slave law created serious controversy.

• Many Northerners opposed the law, and therefore did not obey it.

• 1852. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin in which she described slavery and the harsh conditions of plantations.

• The Book infuriated many Northerners and made the Abolitionist v Slavery issue worse.

• In it’s first year it sold 300,000 copies (US), 1 Million in Britain

1854: Kansas-Nebraska Act• The Senator of Illinois

(the one who beat Lincoln) Stephen Douglas introduces a bill to settle the plains.

• Kansas and Nebraska are the next two territories applying for statehood.

• Because of their location above the 36’30 line slavery is not mentioned.

• Southerners agree to approve the new states if they enter the Union under the rule of Popular Sovereignty.

• The Missouri Compromise had made slavery off limits, but now it seemed slavery was back in play.

Republican Party

• The Republican Party will be founded in 1854 in opposition to the Fugitive Slave law and the Kansas-Nebraska Act

Bleeding Kansas• 1855: Kansas would be settled, but

there were groups who tried to make trouble. (Pro Slave/ Anti Slave)

• John Brown would become famous at this point for killing 5 men (with swords) for their role in attacking an anti slavery town in Kansas.

• Charles Sumner will make a speech called, “Crimes against Kansas.” Insults Andrew Butler (SC)

• Preston Brooks, his nephew, beats Sumner on the Senate floor with a cane.

No More Compromises

• 1856: Dred Scott Decision• A slave named Dred Scott files a law

suit saying that as he had previously lived in the North he should be freed.

• The Supreme court rules that Scott “was not a citizen…” and therefore had no legal grounds on which he could sue.

• Since slaves are considered legal property by the court, Article V of the Constitution protects personal property, the court finds the 36’30 unconstitutional, and opens the whole US up to slavery.

No More Compromises• 1859: John Brown’s Raid on Harpers

Ferry• John Brown, with 21 others, will seize

a weapons arsenal in Harpers Ferry VA.

• Brown plans to distribute the weapons an start a slave rebellion.

• The US military will surround, capture, and execute John Brown for the crime of treason.– “I John Brown am now quite certain

that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away, but with Blood. I had...vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed, it might be done”

The Election of 1860

• James Buchanan had been President from 1856-1860. He was a Southerner and did little to fix the issues of the country.

• Four men will run for President:– Lincoln (IL)- Republican [Dark Horse Candidate]– Douglass (IL)- Northern Democrats– Breckenridge (KY)- Southern Democrats– Bell (TN)- Constitutional Union Party (Avoided Slavery)

Electoral Map of 1860 Election

After 1860….

• Southern States had said they would consider secession if Lincoln won…. Lincoln won.

• Dec 20, 1860 South Carolina leave the Union and attacks Fort Sumter, which was located in Charleston Harbor

• Over the next few weeks 6 more states secede, and create the Confederate States of America.

• Jefferson Davis is made their President.

The Last Slave Census