Causes of the Civil War

Two Nations?

Previously discussed tensions Missouri Compromise Wilmot Proviso Tariff Crisis John C. Calhoun Abolitionist Movement

Mo. Compromise

Aftermath of the Mexican-American War, 1848

Harriet Beecher Stowe“Uncle Tom’s Cabin”

1852 Written in response to Compromise of 1850

and the Fugitive Slave Act Vivid novel about slavery and the South Stowe-never been in the South More than 1.5 million copies sold worldwide

at the time-a best seller

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Views on slaverySouthern views on slavery Stowe’s book was a book of insulting lies exaggerated view: just a large, happy family attempts to justify slavery: provided necessities of life, the N took no responsibility for

their workers used religion: (ex. Biblical references show God approves

slavery: e.g. Israelites, "God's chosen people," were slaveholders; Christ never condemned it; Paul supported it.)

major civilizations of the past had slavery: Egypt, Greece, Rome

founding of the American Republic was based on it: 4/5 of the first presidents owned slaves

N was not going to tell them how to live

Views on slaveryNorthern views on slavery Slavery violates the basic principles of religion All humans have the right to choose their own

destiny and follow God’s laws Founding of the American Republic: Declaration

of Independence-”all men are created equal” and are entitled to natural rights-life, liberty and pursuit of happiness

A “sleeping serpent”

Economic and Political Differences North:

urban, industrialized, pop. twice that of the S, more diverse with immigration, greater technology having a greater impact, more rr linestypically favored federal govt. power

South: rural, society based on agriculture, felt their livelihood depended on slaverytypically favored more power to the state govt.

John C. Calhoun Believes states have the right to nullify

federal acts and leave the Union if they wish to do so

Nullification crisis-supports S.C. secession

New political parties1848 Election no one would address the issue of slavery members of both parties split: Free Soil Party oppose extension of slavery1849 nativism rising-favoring native-born Americans secret nativist society forms in response to immigration surge:

Know- Nothings “I know nothing” when questioned popular in the N-immigrants in the N.1854 Republican party-disgusted over K-N Acts oppose extension of slavery

Election of 1856-Republicans nominated John C. Fremont (no expansion of slavery, free homesteads, protective tariff) VS. Know-Nothings Millard Fillmore (won 20% popular vote) VS. Democrats with James Buchanan (won majority of popular and electoral vote

Republicans made a strong showing in election of 1856 for a sectional party-carried 11 of the 16 free states

Democrats split (N&S)-will struggle in the future

Emergence of the Free Soil Party, 1848

Campaign Banner for Free Soil Party, Election of 1848, Van Buren

Know-Nothing Party, 1849, American Party

Republican Party, 1856

Compromise of 1850 California wants to be admitted as a free state-

would upset the balance Clay compromises:

California: free Remainder of the Mexican Cession divided into 2 territories-New Mexico

and Utah: popular soverignty (people decide on slavery or not) Land in dispute between TX and NM territory goes to the NM territory,

with federal govt. to assume TX debt of $10 million Abolish sale of enslaved people in D.C. Slavery to remain legal in D.C. Fugitive Slave Act: all citizens required to return enslaved people + they

were denied a jury trial (resistance-Personal Liberty Laws)

Compromise of 1850

Comp. of 1850-cont.

Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854 Stephen Douglas proposed it; he was wanting to run for

president (to set up govt. in Nebraska territory) To win support of all, he proposes people of Kansas and

Nebraska decide on slavery-popular sovereignty South would be happy as the states could become slave

(above MO C. Line), North happy as there was no way they would vote for slavery based on loc. and bad planting area for cotton, but in reality, N. was outraged

Congress amends bill: KS: slave, NE: free Did it nullify MO. Comp.?

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Kansas-Nebraska Act-cont.

Bleeding Kansas Anti-slavery vs. pro-slavery riots: 1856 Sparked by John Brown-stern evangelical who

believed he was God’s chosen instrument to end slavery

Begins when Brown leads a group at night to a pro-slavery settlement; rouses 5 men from their beds and kills them in front of their families

Sparks a series of murderous raids and counter-raids throughout KS

Bleeding Kansas

Bleeding Kansas-cont.

Violence in the Senate 1856 Senator Sumner (anti-slavery) attacked several individuals

who he thought perpetuated slavery One individual who was ridiculed, Butler, was at home

recovering from a stroke His nephew, Preston Brooks, a Southerner and a member of

the H. of Reps., was particularly incensed 2 mornings later (didn’t find him the first day), Brooks beat

Sumner with a cane for 1 min.; Sumner was treated, Brooks was arrested

Showed the violence and divisions occurring in Congress S. sympathizers sent more canes

Caning of Sumner

Dred Scott:Scott v. Sandford 1857 Scott was born a slave Traveled with his owner (J. Emerson) a good bit who was in the U.S. Army-

MO (slave), IL (free), later MN (free), LA (slave) Upon Emerson’s death, his wife, Eliza, inherits Scott, the executor to

Emerson’s estate upon his passing was Sandford Scott argued he and his wife should be free since they once lived in free

states, his daughter was also born in a free area and should make her free upon birth

Chief Justice Taney ruled vs. Scott-slaves are not citizens and therefore, have no right to sue-he is not free simply because he once lived in a free state/territory-MO. Comp. is unconstitutional: you cannot deprive people of property (slaves) without due process of law per the 5th amendment; Congress had no right or power to rule slavery illegal above the line

Dred Scott

Lincoln-Douglas Debates-1858 Douglas running for reelection as IL. senator; challenger was

Lincoln Douglas (Democrat): believed whites were superior to blacks,

tolerated slavery because he believed in popular sovereignty Lincoln (Republican): whites were superior to blacks, was vs. the

extension of slavery; didn’t believe in social or political equality but did believe in economic equality- all have the right to feed their family; house-divided speech

Highlighted majority rule and minority rights; Douglas won reelection, but alienated southern Democrats by not going far enough to support the Dred Scott decision; Lincoln emerged as a national figure

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

John Brown’s Raid 1859 Harper’s Ferry, Virginia 5 blacks, 13 whites Took wagonload of guns for slaves to join in Seized an armory, takes hostages U.S. troops, commanded by Robert E. Lee are alerted, they

surround the arsenal, kill ½ before the rest surrender A free black was the first to die Brown-tried in VA. For treason=guilty; he is executed (hung)

for his actions Deepens the distrust between the N & S

John Brown’s Raid

John Brown’s Raid-cont.

Election of 1860 Lincoln wins Received approx. 40% of the vote Not a single electoral vote comes from the S His name doesn’t even appear on many S

ballots (Lincoln-N, Breckinridge-S, Douglas-MO., Bell-TN, KY, VA)

Sectional victory

Election of 1860

Election of 1860-cont.

Secession S.C. official leaves the Union on December

20, 1860 Over the next few weeks, 6 others will

follow: MS, FL, AL, GA, LA, TX (Jan.-Feb. 1)

April 17, 1861: VA secedes, followed by AR & NC in May and TN in June

11 secede in all: “Don’t tread on me”

Secession-Calhoun, Confederacy

Fort Sumter April 12, 1861, 4:30 a.m. Confederate forces open fire on the federal

fort Lincoln responds by calling for a volunteer

army, leading to secession of more states War begins

Fort Sumter