ROAD TO CIVIL WAR: 1848-1861

ROAD TO CIVIL WAR: 1848-1861 Review

In the wake of the Mexican War, sectional tensions over the Mexican Cession were temporarily eased by the

Compromise of 1850.

IX. Antislavery literatureA. Harriet Beecher Stowe: Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)

B. Hinton Helper: The Impending Crisis of the South (1857)

X. Election of 1856A. James Buchanan – Democrat -- Platform: popular sovereigntyB. John C. Fremont – Republican -- Platform: non-extension of

slavery C. Millard Fillmore -- American

(“Know-Nothing”) Party-- Platform: anti-immigration

D. Results: Buchanan victorious

Theme #3The passage of the

Kansas-Nebraska Act destroyed the Compromises of 1820 and 1850 and spurred the creation of the Republican party, placing North and South on a direct course toward Civil War.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

VII. Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854): most important short-term cause of the Civil War

A. Stephen Douglas proposed splitting the Nebraska Territory into two: Kansas and Nebraska

1. Response to Gadsden Purchase

2. Wanted Illinois to be the eastern terminus for a new transcontinental railroad

Stephen Douglas“The Little Giant”

B. Bill passed in 18541. Northerners were shocked: saw the Compromise of

1820 as “sacred” a. Many northerners now

were unwilling to obey the Fugitive Slave Law

b. Anti-extension of slavery movement grew significantly

2. Wrecked the two previous compromises (1820 &

1850)

The Kansas-Nebraska Act

An 1856 Cartoon

An 1856 cartoon depicts a giant freesoiler being held down by James Buchanan and Lewis Cass standing on the Democratic platform marked "Kansas", "Cuba" and "Central America". Franklin

Pierce also holds down the giant's beard as Douglas shoves a black man down his throat.

C. Birth of the Republican party

1. Formed in response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act a. Included Whigs,

northern Democrats, Free-Soilers, and some Know Nothings

b. Lincoln came out of political retirement and ran for Illinois senate seat

2. Impact: emerged as the nation’s second major

party overnight3. Largely banned in the

South

Election of 1856

VIII. “Bleeding Kansas”A. New England Emigrant Aid

Company-- “Beecher’s Bibles”

B. Southerners were furious the spirit of the Kansas-Nebraska

Act was being violated C. 1855 election in Kansas for the first territorial legislature

1. Missouri “border ruffians” -- “Vote early and vote

often” 2. Southerners won the

election 3. Northerners boycotted it

D. Attack on free-soil Lawrence, Kansas

E. Preston Brooks canes Charles Sumner

1. Charles Sumner’s speech2. Preston Brooks’ attack3. Significance

F. John Brown: Pottawatomie Massacre, May 18561. Revenge for sack of Lawrence and caning of Sumner

2. A mini-civil war in Kansas broke out that later

merged with the Civil War

G. Lecompton Constitution (1857) 1. Kansas applied for statehood based on popular sovereignty 2. Southerners drafted a pro-

slavery constitution 3. Free-soilers once again

boycotted the election 4. President Buchanan supported the Lecompton Constitution 5. Douglas opposed it

6. Congress sent it back to Kansas 7. Kansas was denied statehood

H. Kansas issue split the Democratic party

1. Buchanan’s support for Kansas split the party along sectional lines

2. Douglas’ opposition to Kansas alienated him among

southerners3. Republicans would win the election of 18604. Lack of unified national

parties meant the Union could not hold

President James Buchanan1857-1861Democrat

Theme #4Major North-South crises

in the late 1850s culminated in the election of Republican Abraham Lincoln to the presidency in 1860. His election caused seven southern states to secede from the Union and form the Confederate States of America.

XI. Dred Scott Decision (March, 1857)A. Scott lived with his master for 5

years in Illinois and Wisconsin territories-- He sued for his freedom

arguing that he had lived on free soil

B. Three main questions before Supreme Court1. As a black man, was Scott

a citizen with a right to sue in federal courts?

2. Had prolonged residence in a free state and territory make Scott free?

3. Did Congress have the right to impose the 36˚30’ line to restrict slavery in certain areas of Louisiana Territory?

C. Roger B. Taney’s Decision 1. Scott was a slave & not a citizen

-- Result: All blacks, North & South, were no longer

citizens! 2. Slaves could not be taken away from owners without due process of law (5th Amendment)

-- Slaves could be taken

into any territory and held there

3. Missouri Compromise was ruled unconstitutional

-- Congress couldn’t

forbid slavery in the territories even if the territories wished it

D. Impact1. Contributed to the split in

the Democratic party a. Northern Democrats

who favored popular sovereignty were horrified (e.g. Stephen Douglas)

b. Southern proslavers were overjoyed and saw the possibility for the creation of several new slave states in the territories

2. Republicans were infuriated

a. Many claimed that the decision was merely

an “opinion” and that it was non-binding

b. Southern proslavers saw the Republican view as further evidence that the North would not obey the Constitution

XII. Financial Crash of 1857A. Causes

1. Overspeculation on railroads and land

2. Inflation due to California “Gold Rush”3. Overproduction of grain

(Crimean War)

B. Results1. Industrial North was

hardest hit -- Southerners boasted

that “King Cotton” was superior to the flawed northern economy

2. Renewed demand for free farms in the West3. Demand for higher tariffs

XIII. Lincoln-Douglas DebatesA. Republican Abraham Lincoln vs. Stephen Douglas for Illinois’

national senate seat 1. Douglas was one of the most powerful politicians in the country

2. Lincoln’s “House Divided” Speech: given during his acceptance of his

nomination

*See next slide for excerpt

“A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the

course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it

forward, till it shall become alike lawful in all the States, old as well as new — North as well as South.”

Abraham Lincoln, 1858

B. Lincoln challenged Douglas to a series of seven debates

1. Douglas advocated for popular sovereignty

2. Lincoln advocated non- extension of slavery3. Debates received national attention

C. Freeport Doctrine1. Lincoln insisted Douglas address the Dred

Scott case2. Douglas declared a

territory could pass laws to undermine slavery

3. Douglas’ position further split the Democratic party and damaged his run for president in 1860

D. Results1. Douglas’ popular

sovereignty position prevailed

2. Steppingstone for Lincoln’s presidential ambitions 3. Cost Douglas the presidency in 1860

 

XIV. John Brown attacks Harper’s Ferry, 1859

A. Brown’s scheme: invade Virginia and start a massive

slave rebellionB. Attack failed; several were killed and Brown was captured and executed

U.S. forces, led by Capt.

Robert E. Lee, attack

Brown’s position.

C. Northern abolitionists viewed Brown as a

martyr

D. Viewed as ominous in southern eyes

1. Brown seen as an agent of northern abolitionism and anti- slavery conspiracy

2. Southern states began to arm

3. Perhaps the most important cause of disunion (except for Lincoln’s election)

XV. Election of 1860A. Nominating conventions of 1860

1. Democratic party split in two

a. Northern Democrats nominated Stephen

Douglas b. Southern Democrats nominated John C. Breckenridge2. Constitutional-Union

Party: John Bell

3. Republicans nominated Lincolna. Republican platform Non extension of slavery Protective tariffs Transcontinental railroad Internal improvements Free homesteads No loss of rights for

immigrantsb. Southerners threatened secession if Lincoln

was elected

An 1860 Republicancampaig

n flag

Lincoln and Stephen Douglas struggle to control the northern and western states while John C. Breckinridge claims the south and John

Bell attempts to glue the map back together.

Bell: “Bless my soul I give up”

Breckenridge: “ That long legged abolitionist is getting ahead of us all

Douglas: “I never run so in my life”

B. Election Results 1. Lincoln elected with only 40% of the vote

-- Most sectional election in U.S. history

2. The Democrats still had control of both houses of Congress which was dominated by the South

-- A majority of Supreme Court justices were southerners

President Abraham Lincoln

1861-1865Republican

XVI. Southern states secede from the Union

A. December 1860, South Carolina unanimously voted to secede from the UnionB. 6 other states seceded during

Buchanan’s “lame duck” period: MS, FL, AL, GA, LA, TXC. Confederate States of

America-- Jefferson Davis

D. Buchanan’s response

E. Reasons for southern secession1. Political balance seemed to

favor the North2. Hated victory of the

Republican party that seemed anti-South

3. Angry over free-soil criticism & abolitionism, northern

interference (Underground RR), and John Brown’s raid

4. Many southerners thought secession would be

unopposed5. Desired end to dependence

on the North 6. South had the moral high ground

XVII. Crittenden Compromise1. Motive: appease the

South2. Provisions3. Lincoln’s response

XVII. Crittenden Compromise1. Motive: appease the

South2. Provisions3. Lincoln’s response