Slavery, Politics, and Slavery, Politics, and SectionalismSectionalism

“Can we as a Nation continue together permanently –

forever – half slave and half free?”

Abraham Lincoln, 1855

North and South grow-up very differently:North and South grow-up very differently:

North = industrializationNorth = industrialization – – produces 90% of manufactured produces 90% of manufactured goodsgoods Many immigrantsMany immigrants

South = much slower to South = much slower to industrializeindustrialize – remains plantation – remains plantation economyeconomy Less immigrants b/c jobs filled with Less immigrants b/c jobs filled with

African Americans (enslave and free)African Americans (enslave and free)

Slavery HUGE part of southern life:Slavery HUGE part of southern life:

African Americans in Southern African Americans in Southern Plantations as of 1860Plantations as of 1860% of total population% of total population

South Carolina = 59%South Carolina = 59% Mississippi = 55%Mississippi = 55% Louisiana = 49%Louisiana = 49% Alabama = 45%Alabama = 45% Florida = 45%Florida = 45% Georgia = 44%Georgia = 44% North Carolina = 36%North Carolina = 36%

Missouri Compromise, 1820Missouri Compromise, 1820 – Missouri comes – Missouri comes in as slave state, but everything from then on in as slave state, but everything from then on

above 36°30’ would be freeabove 36°30’ would be free

Slavery in the new Territories….Slavery in the new Territories….

Wilmot ProvisoWilmot Proviso 1846– declared no 1846– declared no slavery in the Mexican cessionslavery in the Mexican cession Passed house twice, defeated in senatePassed house twice, defeated in senate

““The North is going to stick the Wilmot The North is going to stick the Wilmot amendment to every appropriation and amendment to every appropriation and then all the South will vote against any then all the South will vote against any measure thus clogged. Finally a measure thus clogged. Finally a tremendous struggle will take place and tremendous struggle will take place and perhaps Polk in starting one war may find perhaps Polk in starting one war may find half a dozen on his hands. I tell you, the half a dozen on his hands. I tell you, the prospect ahead is dark, cloudy, thick and prospect ahead is dark, cloudy, thick and gloomy” gloomy”

– – Congressman Alexander H. StephensCongressman Alexander H. Stephens

Popular Sovereignty: Popular Sovereignty: Let the territories Let the territories decide!decide!

Free-Soilers:Free-Soilers: NOT abolitionists, just NOT abolitionists, just against the expansion of slavery.against the expansion of slavery. Van Buren runs as candidate in ’48 Van Buren runs as candidate in ’48

electionelection 1849 – 15 free and 15 slave: but CA is 1849 – 15 free and 15 slave: but CA is

ready to join the Union as a free ready to join the Union as a free state…..state…..

Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850 CA = free stateCA = free state Utah and New Mex. = pop. Utah and New Mex. = pop.

SovereigntySovereignty Stricter fugitive slave lawStricter fugitive slave law District of Columbia will not abolish District of Columbia will not abolish

slavery, but cannot trade slavesslavery, but cannot trade slaves

The Great Compromiser: The Great Compromiser:

Henry ClayHenry Clay

Still no agreement and the arguments continue...Still no agreement and the arguments continue...

Old guard Webster and Calhoun duke Old guard Webster and Calhoun duke it out on the floor of the Senate, Clay it out on the floor of the Senate, Clay urges both N and S to approve it, the urges both N and S to approve it, the alternative…. War….alternative…. War….

““And such a war as it would be, And such a war as it would be, following the dissolution of the following the dissolution of the Union! Sir, we may search the pages Union! Sir, we may search the pages of history, and none so ferocious, so of history, and none so ferocious, so bloody, so implacable, so bloody, so implacable, so exterminating…would rage with such exterminating…would rage with such violence…. I implore gentlemen, I violence…. I implore gentlemen, I adjure them, whether from the South adjure them, whether from the South or the North… to pause at the edge or the North… to pause at the edge of the precipice, before the fearful of the precipice, before the fearful and dangerous leap be taken into the and dangerous leap be taken into the yawning abyss below.” yawning abyss below.”

– – Henry Clay, Nov. 5 1950Henry Clay, Nov. 5 1950

Stephen Douglas to the Rescue!Stephen Douglas to the Rescue!- Younger crew steps in and takes Younger crew steps in and takes

controlcontrol- Taylor dies, and Millard Fillmore Taylor dies, and Millard Fillmore

takes over – he supports compromisetakes over – he supports compromise- Douglas unbundles compromise and Douglas unbundles compromise and

each part is passedeach part is passed- The Union is SAVED! for now…..The Union is SAVED! for now…..

Uneasy truce….Uneasy truce…. North resists enforcement of Fugitive North resists enforcement of Fugitive

Slave Act…Slave Act…

““The colored men’s rights are less than The colored men’s rights are less than those of a jackass. No man can take away those of a jackass. No man can take away a jackass without submitting the matter to a jackass without submitting the matter to 12 men in any part of this country. A black 12 men in any part of this country. A black man may be carried away without any man may be carried away without any reference to a jury. It is only necessary to reference to a jury. It is only necessary to claim him, and that some villain should claim him, and that some villain should swear to his identity.” swear to his identity.”

– – Frederick DouglassFrederick Douglass

Kansas-Nebraska Act - 1954Kansas-Nebraska Act - 1954

Nebraska wants to be territory, but it Nebraska wants to be territory, but it is a free state above 36is a free state above 36°°, 30, 30°°

Douglas suggests dividing it in two Douglas suggests dividing it in two states and using pop. Sov. states and using pop. Sov. Super controversial, but passes after Super controversial, but passes after

months of debatemonths of debate

BLEEDING KANSAS - 1856BLEEDING KANSAS - 1856

Missourians flood to Kansas to Missourians flood to Kansas to vote for slavery – Lecompton vote for slavery – Lecompton ConstitutionConstitution

Out-raged free-soilers write Out-raged free-soilers write own constitution w/ no slavery, own constitution w/ no slavery, form government in Topekaform government in Topeka

VIOLENCE – VIOLENCE – John BrownJohn Brown kills kills five pro-slavery men to get five pro-slavery men to get “revenge” which triggers more “revenge” which triggers more violenceviolence 200 people killed200 people killed

Brooks-Sumner IncidentBrooks-Sumner Incident

Kansas eventually enters Union as a Kansas eventually enters Union as a free state….free state….

Buchanan elected pres. in ‘56Buchanan elected pres. in ‘56

Dred Scott DecisionDred Scott Decision Scott sues master’s widow for Scott sues master’s widow for

freedom, wins locallyfreedom, wins locally Supreme Court rules Scott cannot Supreme Court rules Scott cannot

sue b/c he is private property and sue b/c he is private property and not a citizennot a citizen

Precedent:Precedent: No rights for blacksNo rights for blacks Slaves = property – constitution can’t Slaves = property – constitution can’t

take awaytake away ThereforeTherefore Missouri Compromise = Missouri Compromise =

illegalillegal

Free-Soil IdeologyFree-Soil Ideology

Fearful of the “slaveocracy” or “Slave Fearful of the “slaveocracy” or “Slave Power Conspiracy” (EX: Ostend Power Conspiracy” (EX: Ostend Manifesto and Lecompton Manifesto and Lecompton Constitution….)Constitution….)

Slavery conflict with Amer. Free labor Slavery conflict with Amer. Free labor idealsideals

See “The Impending Crisis” in Doc. See “The Impending Crisis” in Doc. packetpacket

Birth of REPUBLICAN partyBirth of REPUBLICAN party

Pro-Slavery ArgumentPro-Slavery Argument

Slavery = good thingSlavery = good thing Slaves have better conditions than Slaves have better conditions than

Northern workersNorthern workers Only way two races could live togetherOnly way two races could live together Economic prosperityEconomic prosperity Preserves superior Southern way of lifePreserves superior Southern way of life