Abraham Lincoln By 1860, the conflict over slavery was becoming
worse. Southerners thought abolitionists wanted to start a slave
rebellion. Some southerners thought secession was the only way to
protect their states rights and continue to own slaves. Secession
is Northerners were also upset. They disliked the Kansas- Nebraska
Act (allowing settlers to make their own decisions about slavery)
and the Dred Scott decision. They feared that slavery would spread
over the country. when part of a country leaves or breaks off from
the rest.
Slide 4
Abraham Lincoln Some northerners formed a new political party
called the Republicans. Republicans wanted to keep slavery out of
the territories. Abraham Lincoln was a famous Republican. He became
one of the most important leaders the United States has ever
had.
Slide 5
Lincolns Early Years Abraham Lincoln was born in a small cabin
in Kentucky. His family moved to Indiana, then later to Illinois.
Lincoln grew up on a farm and did not have much time to go to
school. He loved reading and read all the books he could find.
Lincoln did not want to be a farmer; he studied law and became a
lawyer. He became a member of the Illinois legislature at the age
of 25. He served 1 term as a representative in the United States
Legislature.
Slide 6
Lincolns Campaigns Lincoln saw slavery as a moral, social, and
political evil. He said that United States could not go on forever
divided by slavery. A house divided against itself cannot stand. I
believe this government cannot endure (last) permanently half slave
and half free It will become all one thing, or the other. In 1858,
Lincoln ran against Stephen Douglas for the State Senate in
Illinois. They debated their ideas including their belief about
slavery. Douglas did not believe slavery was wrong and thought the
territories should have popular sovereignty (decide by popular
vote).
Slide 7
A Divided Nation Lincoln lost the election to Douglas. The
Lincoln/Douglas debate made Lincoln famous. Many northerners agreed
with his views on slavery. In the South, many people saw him as an
enemy. In 1860, Lincoln won the election for president. Many
southerners began to feel that the federal government was too
powerful and with Lincoln as president, its power would increase.
They believed that secession was the only way to protect their
rights.
Slide 8
Secession Begins South Carolina withdrew from the Union first.
They voted to leave the Union on December 20, 1860. Mississippi,
Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas soon followed. On
February 4, 1861, delegates from the seven southern states voted to
form their own confederation. These states called themselves the
Confederate States of America, or the Confederacy. They decided
that the states would have more power than the central government.
Jefferson Davis was elected as President.
Slide 9
Slide 10
Attack on Fort Sumter President Lincoln was determined to find
a way to hold the country together. He said, We are not enemies,
but friends. In Charleston, South Carolina, the state militia had
already surrounded Fort Sumter, a federal fort with United States
soldiers inside. The Confederate government wanted control of the
fort. Lincoln refused to surrender the fort and sent the troops
supplies. Confederate leaders saw this as an act of war and fired
on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. Cannons fired on the fort for 34
hours until the soldiers had to surrender.
Slide 11
Attack on Fort Sumter This attack was the beginning of the
Civil War. A civil war is a war between 2 groups or regions within
a nation. President Lincoln called for 75,000 soldiers to fight the
rebellion. Some states refused to send men to help Lincoln.
Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia joined the
Confederacy. Citizens in the North and South prepared to fight a
war.