States’ Rights

SOUTH

Believed that states had the right to rule themselves

NORTH

Believed in a strong national

government

SOUTH

Government created by the states.

States have the right to reject laws that would hurt them.

Since states voluntarily joined the Union, they could voluntarily leave –secede.

NORTH

Government created by the people.

Only the Supreme Court can declare a law unconstitutional.

Only the people of the US could dissolve the Union. Attempting to destroy the Union was treason.

Even though the United States had been established decades earlier, many people still felt that the states should have FINAL AUTHORITY, not the

federal government.

vs.

Slavery

The Issue of SlaverySouth

SupportedSlavery

North

Wanted to Abolish Slavery

Changes in Cotton Production

Changes in Cotton Production

1820

1860

Slave Population in 1860• Slaves were about 4 million of the total

black population in the country.• By far, the MAJORITY lived in the South.• About 11.5% of the slaves lived in Georgia.

Great Awakening (2)• In the 1820’s a

second Great Awakening swept the country.

• One result of this religious revival was increased and interracial support for abolition (movement to do away with slavery).

Northern Whites

Some Southern

Whites

Free

Blacks

ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT

Abolitionist = a person who demanded the immediate freeing of slaves• Morally wrong• Violates religious

teachings• Results in cruel and

inhumane treatment of slaves

• Violates democracy

Abolitionist Activities• Made speeches• Conducted meetings• Published

newspapers• Organized and

offered their homes as safe houses for runaway slaves in the Underground Railroad

• Wrote books and articles

Famous Abolitionists

John Brown

Fanatical abolitionist who planned a slave rebellion; led an unsuccessful raid on

armory at Harper’s Ferry, VA.

Former slave who escaped to freedom;

public speaker who traveled around the country

describing the evils of slavery.

Frederick Douglass

Dred Scott Decision (1857)a Supreme Court decision adds fuel to the fire...

• Dred Scott was a Missouri slave.

• He sued for his freedom because he had lived for a period of time with his master in the free state of Illinois and free territory of Wisconsin.

• The Supreme Court said Scott could not sue because he was a slave, and slaves were not citizens.

This Caused Further Division

South

North