TOWARD CIVIL WAR

1840-1861

Slavery and the West Essential Question:

Did the compromises that Congress made effectively address slavery and sectionalism? Why or Why not?

American Diary On May 24, 1854, the people of Boston erupted in

outrage. Federal officers had seized Anthony Burns, a runaway enslaved African American who lived in Boston, to return him to slavery. Abolitionists tried to rescue Burns from the federal court house, and city leaders attempted to buy his freedom. All efforts failed. Federal troops escorted Burns to a ship that would carry him back to Virginia and into slavery. In a gesture of bitter protest, Bostonians draped buildings in black and hung the American flag upside down.

Missouri Applies for Statehood Missouri applied for statehood in 1819

11 states are free states11 states are slave statesAdmission of Missouri would upset

balance in the Senate Differing economic systems and

sectionalism create much tension between North and South

Missouri Compromise Admitted Missouri as slave state and

Maine as a free state Banned slavery in the Louisiana

Purchase north of the 36 30’N latitude ⁰line

Preserved balance between slave and free state in Senate

The Compromise of 1850 Addressed slavery in the territories

when Southerners threatened to secede from the UnionAdmitted California as a free stateStronger laws that required states to

return fugitive slavesNew territories would have no limits on

slaverySlave trade banned in Washington D.C.

Making Connections Answer the Essential Question: Did the

compromises that Congress made effectively address slavery and sectionalism? Why or why not?

Compromise of 1850North’s GainsSouth’s Gains

A Nation Dividing Essential Question:

How did popular sovereignty lead to violence in Kansas?

The Fugitive Slave Act

Required all citizens to help catch runaway slaves

Many Northerners refused to cooperatePooled money to buy freedomNorthern juries refused to convict those in

violationUnderground Railroad

The Kansas-Nebraska Act Proposed that Kansas and Nebraska be admitted

to the Union Located North of the 36 30’N latitude, the Missouri ⁰

Compromise would deem them free statesSouth would not agree to thisNorth would then have more votes in the Senate

Kansas-Nebraska ActSenator Stephen A. Douglas proposed abandoning the

Missouri CompromiseSuggested popular sovereignty decide the issuePassed in 1854

Conflict In Kansas Pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups

rushed into Kansas Border Ruffians swayed the vote and

Kansas became a slave state Anti-slavery people refused to accept the

new slave lawsArmed themselves and held electionsAdopted constitution that banned slavery

January 1856 – rival governments existed in Kansas

Bleeding Kansas May 1856 – slavery supporters

attacked Lawrence, Kansas Abolitionist John Brown retaliated

Killed 5 supporters at Pottawatomie Creek

Armed bands soon roamed the territory

Making Connections 1. How did Northerners defy the Fugitive

Slave Act? 2. How would the issue of slavery be

decided under the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

3. Answer the Essential Question: How did popular sovereignty lead to violence in Kansas?

Challenges to Slavery Essential Question:

What was the significance of the Dred Scott decision?

Election of 1854 Antislavery Whigs and Democrats join the

Free Soil PartyFree Soil Party: “Free Soil, Free Speech,

Free Labor and Free Men”Whigs, antislavery Democrats and Free

Soilers form the new Republican party Congressional and state elections divide

the country politicallyNorth: RepublicansSouth: Democrats

The Dred Scott Case Dred Scott: enslaved African

American owned by a Missouri (slave state) army doctorFamily moved around a lot to areas

where slavery was prohibited Returned to Missouri and the Dr. died1846 – Scott sued for his freedom

The Court’s Decision Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott was still an

enslaved personEnslaved people are not citizens and cannot bring

suitEnslaved people are property and property cannot be

taken away without due processRuled the Missouri Compromise and popular

sovereignty unconstitutional The decision meant that the Constitution protected

slaveryAnti-slavery groups were outraged and country

became even more divided

Congressional Election of 1858 Senate race between Democrat

Stephen A. Douglas and Republican Abraham LincolnDouglas: disliked slavery but believed in

popular sovereignty Lincoln: saw slavery as morally wrong

and it should not be allowed to spread

Lincoln-Douglas Debates Lincoln challenged Douglas to a

series of 7 debates on the issue of slaveryDouglas wins the electionLincoln gains national reputation as a

man of clear thinking who could argue with force and persuasion

The Raid on Harpers Ferry Abolitionist John Brown led a raid on

Harpers Ferry, VATargeted an arsenal to arm enslaved

African Americans to start a rebellionRaid was defeated by local citizens and

federal troopsConvicted of treason and executedHis death rallied abolitionists and put the

nation on the brink of war

Making Connections 1. How did the Lincoln-Douglas debates

benefit Lincoln?

2. Answer the Essential Question: What was the significance of the Dred Scott decision?

Secession and War Essential Question:

What led to the outbreak of the Civil War?

Secession Lincoln wins presidential Election of 1860

over Stephen A. Douglas South Carolina voted to secede from the

Union Compromise was attempted but no

agreement over slavery could be reachedBy 1861, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi,

Alabama, Florida and Georgia seceded and formed the Confederacy

The Confederacy Confederate states of America elected

Jefferson Davis president Southerners argued that the Union had

violated their states’ rights byRefusing to enforce the Fugitive Slave ActDenying Southern states equal rights in the

territories Many Southerners welcomed secession Many Northerners thought the Union should

be preserved

Confederate States of America

Lincoln Takes Office In his inaugural speech, Lincoln stated that

secession would not be permitted Warned the South against the

consequences of Civil War Asked the South to reconsider April 12, 1861: Confederate forces attacked

the Union held Fort Sumter and took the fortVirginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and

Arkansas joined the ConfederacyCivil War had begun

Making Connections 1. What do you think Lincoln’s priorities

were when he took office?

2. What is the significance of the attack on Fort Sumter?

3. Answer the Essential Question: What led to the outbreak of the Civil War?