USW34

USW34The Coming Crisis, 2

Reasons for Rise of Antislavery ThoughtRise of Religious Liberalism: Perfectionism Higher criticism from sin as slavery to slavery as sinRise of Enlightenment ThoughtNatural rightsUniversal FreedomRigid Social HierarchyShift in Understanding of SympathyAll of above are responses to Atlantic slave trade and New World slaveryAbolitionist enters English usage in 1770s: Idea, articulated through language, that mobilized people to act.England: Somerset Decision 1772: interpreted as outlawing slavery in EnglandNorthern states gradually abolish slaveryVermont first constitution in history that outlaws slavery.

Responses to Rise of Antislavery Thought:Abolition Societies strongest in Upper South (Va. Md.)Masters manumit 20,000 slaves by 1800 (27m free blacks in North) Excludes slavery from entering Northwest territoriesEnd of international slave tradeFalse belief that ending intl trade a promissory note for ending slavery.

Responses to Rise of Antislavery Thought (cont):Strategy of Early Abolitionists (1770s-1810s)Very gradual abolition (30-100 years)Colonization/EmigrationBlack and white leaders advocated colonization/emigrationAmerican Colonization Society founded 1816.Voluntary colonization to Liberia.

Strategy of Early Abolitionists (1770s-1810s), cont.Conservative response to slaveryEarly abolition societies run by elitesBen Franklin President of Penn. Abol. SocietyAlexander Hamilton led NY Abol. SocietyRefused to accept blacks as membersBlack and white leaders: emphasized prudence rather than defiance as strategy for ending slavery.Most white abolitionists firmly in the camp of Federalist PartyStronghold in New England StatesStrong Central GovernmentClearly defined social hierarchyBlacks become free but not equal; remain at or near bottom of social order or shipped to another country.

Constitution: Proslavery v. AntislaveryProslaveryAntislaveryArt 1 Sec 2: Apportionment clause: (Free + 3/5 unfree used to determine representatives)Preamble: Secure the blessings of libertyArt 4 Sec 2: Fugitive Clause: Persons held to service or labor in one state shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or labor is due.Art 1 Sec 9: Protection Clause: Protect International Slave Trade only until 1808Art 4 Sec 4: U.S. guarantees to each state a Republican form of government.Art 4 Sec 4: U.S. guarantees to each state a Republican form of government.5th Amend: No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.5th Amend: No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.Majority of Framers pass Northwest Ordinance, prohibiting slaves being brought into NW territoriesSlave slavery, Negro does not appear.National Crises Over SlaveryHartford Convention of Federalists of 1814Indignant over rise to power of Jeffersons Democratic-Republican PartyJefferson the Negro presidentIndignant over War of 1812Indignant that Louisiana Purchase opened the way for slaverys expansionWorried that Louisiana Purchase will upset political balance struck by 3/5s CompromiseConvention attracts only 26 delegates from 3 statesDo not advocate secession; instead seek to curtail Congresss ability to wage war, regulate commerce (inc. slaves), and admit new states.

National Crises Over Slavery, cont.Missouri Crises and Compromise, 1819-211819: Missouri petitions to enter Union as slave stateNorthern statesmen try to prohibit slavery in Missouri.Explodes perceived agreement between Northern and Southern statesmen: North will not interfere with slavery in Southern states; Southerners recognize slavery as an evil that should be discouraged and eventually abolished.Southerners threaten to secedeCompromise:Missouri enters Union as slave stateMissouris southern border (36-30) determines slavery in Louisiana Purchase territories.States enter Union in pairs (1 free, 1 slave) until Texas in 1845Map of U.S. 1821

Effects of Missouri CompromiseWestern territories/land becomes battleground over slavery.Perceived safety valve for northern workers.Dont want to compete with slave laborFree soil worth more than slave soilCrucial to continued growth of commodity agriculture in SouthSoutherners hope to stem tide of emancipation movements1823-42: Mexico, Central America, Bolivia, Uruguay, Chile abolish slavery1833-38: British colonies abolish slavery1807-1850: Most of Europe abolishes serfdom & indentured servitude

Effects of Missouri CompromiseRise of Higher Law: Rufus King, 1821: First politician to invoke higher law in reference to slavery: any law upholding slavery was absolutely void, because it is contrary to the law of nature, which is the law of God.

Effects of Missouri CompromiseRise of Modern, or Immediate AbolitionismAdvocate immediate end to slaverymillennialist/prophetic)Led by blacks: Freedoms Journal (John Brown Russworm, Samuel Cornish, Peter Williams Jr.David Walkers Appeal, 1829-31Integrated Societies and CommunitiesGarrisons Liberator, New England Anti-Slavery SocietyAmerican Anti-Slavery Society, 1833: blacks, women equal members.In theory abolitionists embrace racial equalityOppose colonizationMost Northerners, Southerners despised them as fanatics.Threaten UnionThreaten white mans governmentVery small numbers (no more than few hundred thousand)

Liberal abolitionists of 1770s-1810s become liberalantislavery advocates of antebellum era.Radical abolitionists a new phenomenon.Antislavery advocates (liberal abolitionists of 1770s-1810sRadical abolitionists (1820s to Civil War)Large numbers made up of white elitesSmall numbers made up largely of farmers, artisans & emerging middle classGradual abolition: contain slavery: limit expansion with goal of ultimate extinction.Immediate abolition: Will not interfere with slavery in SouthHope to transform South: Flood the South, Congress with abolition textsU.S. White mans democracyEveryone citizens with equality before law.Racial equality in theory.Endorse colonizationHate colonizationAccept existing lawsEmbrace higher law: prophets, millinnialistsConstitution is antislavery (Free-Soil Party, Republican Party)Constitution is proslavery (Garrisonians) antislavery (Liberty Party, National Liberty Party, Radical Abolition Party)Effects of Missouri CompromiseSoutherners stage a counter-revolution.Refuse to tolerate dissent against slaveryRefuse to debate slavery: impose Gag Rules in CongressSouth Carolina attempts to nullify federal law, 1828-31.Seek New territories to continue growth of commodity agriculture(Hiatus of territorial acquisition from Mo. Comp to Texas annexation of 1845)New Territories prevent Southern class war.Control Democratic Party, National PoliticsDemocratic Party: States rights, oppose modernization, centralization, federal subsidies Northern Democrats mob abolitionistsAnnexation of Texas leads to Mexican WarTexas declares independence from Mexico in 1836.

Disputed Texas Territory

Effects of Mexican WarSize of U.S. increases by 1/3.New territories become battleground over slaverySoutherners want all new territories as slave territoriesRepresentation in Congress. New forms of slave labor.Reverse tide of New World emancipationEmergence of Free-Soil Party in 1848Influenced by abolitionistsGold discovered in CaliforniaSoutherners want it for slaverySoutherners threaten to secedeNortherners worried about slave power conspiracy.

Effects of Mexican War, cont.Compromise of 1850: California enters as free stateNew Mexico, Utah territories: no restrictions on slaveryEnd slave trade in District of ColumbiaFugitive Slave Law of 1850Denies habeas corpusFederal commissioners oversee casesPaid double for sending person back into slaveryRequires all Northerners to participate in roundup of suspected fugitivesRadicalizes antislavery northerners: many endorse higher law or become outright abolitionistsInspires Uncle Toms CabinSuicidal to South.

Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854Repeals Missouri CompromiseOpens Northern territories to slaveryKansas becomes battleground.

How did small number of abolitionists influence national politics and society?Foundation of antislavery political partiesLiberty Party evolves into Free-Soil Party (antislavery), and National Liberty Party (abolitionist)Free-Soil Party evolves into Republican Party (1854-55)National Liberty Party evolves into Radical Abolition Party (1855)Helps split two-party system (Whigs dissolve)Understand the power of words as weaponsSmall numbers, huge voiceSlave narratives become popular, critically acclaimed genre.Convince antislavery Northerners that slavery is moral and economic evil.Foundations of racial equality in U.S.Examples of Boston, upstate New York.As well see, abolitionists become crucial catalysts in the election of Lincoln and secession.

Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel?Howard Roberts Chorale/Alvin AileyTraditional/Miller [arrangement]The Norton Anthology of African American Literature: Audio Companion1978iTunes 10.4.1, QuickTime 7.6.6