THE UNION IN PERIL

Slavery, Slavery, Republicans, Slavery, Secession, and did I mention Slavery

Slavery in America By 1850: 3.2

million slaves 1850: most

slaves live on large farms

Slaves also “hired out”

400,000 in urban areas; a better life?

Protecting SlaveryProtecting Bloody slave rebellions scare slave

owners How do slave owners hope to end

revolts?

Defending SlaveryDefending “slaves better off here than in Africa” “slaves better off than the Northern

‘wage slave’”

1836-1844: Congressional “gag rule”

North & South in 1850North

South

Wilmot Proviso What is it?

North supports

South opposes

California 1850: applies for statehood as non-slave Taylor supports; wants territories to decide Reaction?

Compromise of 1850 Henry Clay Popular sovereignty

Calhoun against Webster supports Initially rejected

Stephen “Little Giant” Douglas

Illinois Got each provision passed on its own Fillmore: “final settlement”

Fugitive Slave Act No trial by jury Slave owner’s word enough How were federal commissioners paid?

“We went to bed one night old-fashioned, conservative, compromise Union Whigs, and waked up stark mad Abolitionists.”“Do not be surprised if when I return home you find me a confirmed disunionist.”

Northern Resistance GrowsUnderground Railroad Secret network to get slaves outUncle Tom’s Cabin -- Harriet Beecher Stowe Instant bestseller Slavery is a moral issue

What to do with western lands?

Kansas-Nebraska Act Two States Repeal MO

Compromise Popular

Sovereignty

“Bleeding Kansas” Pro and Anti slavery settlers flood in Who are the “Border Ruffians”?

Two rival governments Violence breaks out

Caning of Charles Sumner

Political Parties; Both Old and New Whigs split over slavery Democrats become a regional

party

Know-Nothings: anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic

Free-Soil Party: no extension of slavery (1848: 10% of pop vote)

Who are the Free-Soilers?

Republican Party Northern Whigs, anti-slavery Dems, & Free-

Soilers Horace Greeley, editor New York Tribune No slavery in territories “Big-Tent” Which events helped the Republicans?

Election of 1856

1856: Conclusions?

Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857) Roger Taney slaves do not have rights of citizens MO Compromise unconstitutional

Lecompton Constitution 1857: free soilers outnumber proslavery settlers

10:1 Vote down a proslavery constitution Buchanan endorses

Douglas outraged

Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln-Douglas Debates 7 open-air debates for Illinois Senate Douglas:

Lincoln:

Douglas wins; Democrats more split Lincoln a national figure

John Brown anti-slavery zealot Raid on federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry Fails; captured Hanged Dec, 1859 John Brown: Martyr?

Lincoln gets the Nomination Seward’s “irrepressible conflict”

Election 1860

South Reacts to Lincoln Lincoln not on southern ballots “the most complete subjection and political

bondage” South Carolina secedes Dec. 20, 1860

A New Nation… Feb, 1861: Confederate

States of America formed Slavery protected Each state “sovereign and

independent” Jefferson Davis: “The

time for compromise has now passed.”

Buchanan Reacts to Secession 1861: 7 slave states in CSA 8 slave states in Union

Will there be a fight?