Shattering the Union: Shattering the Union: The Coming of the Civil WarThe Coming of the Civil War

John M. SacherUniversity of Central Floridajohn.sacher@ucf.edu

The QuestionsThe Questions

Was the Civil War Was the Civil War inevitable?inevitable?

Better question, Better question, when did it when did it become become inevitable? inevitable?

How did Lincoln How did Lincoln get elected? Or, get elected? Or, why would why would someone vote someone vote Republican?Republican?

Because Because northerners were northerners were

abolitionists. abolitionists. No.No.

1860 Republican Platform1860 Republican PlatformSlavery in the StatesSlavery in the States

4. . . . the right of each state, to order and control 4. . . . the right of each state, to order and control its own domestic institutions according to its own its own domestic institutions according to its own judgment exclusively, is essential to that balance of judgment exclusively, is essential to that balance of power on which the perfection and endurance of power on which the perfection and endurance of our political fabric depends, and we denounce the our political fabric depends, and we denounce the lawless invasion by armed force of the soil of any lawless invasion by armed force of the soil of any state or territory, no matter under what pretext, as state or territory, no matter under what pretext, as among the gravest of crimes.among the gravest of crimes.

Slave Power Slave Power ConspiracyConspiracy

Abraham Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln, 18581858

““. . . when we see a lot of framed timbers, different . . . when we see a lot of framed timbers, different portions of which we know have been gotten out at portions of which we know have been gotten out at different times and places, and by different workmen – different times and places, and by different workmen – Stephen [Douglas], Franklin [Pierce], Roger [Taney], and Stephen [Douglas], Franklin [Pierce], Roger [Taney], and James [Buchanan], for instance; and when we see these James [Buchanan], for instance; and when we see these timbers joined together, and see they exactly make the timbers joined together, and see they exactly make the frame of a house or a mill . . . and not a piece too many frame of a house or a mill . . . and not a piece too many or too few, -- not omitting even the scaffolding, -- or if a or too few, -- not omitting even the scaffolding, -- or if a single piece be lacking, we see the place in the frame single piece be lacking, we see the place in the frame exactly fitted and prepared to yet bring such piece in -- in exactly fitted and prepared to yet bring such piece in -- in such a case we feel it impossible not to believe that such a case we feel it impossible not to believe that Stephen and Franklin, and Roger and James, all Stephen and Franklin, and Roger and James, all understood one another from the beginning and all understood one another from the beginning and all worked upon a common plan or draft drawn before the worked upon a common plan or draft drawn before the first blow was struck.” (in “House Divided” Speech, 1858)first blow was struck.” (in “House Divided” Speech, 1858)

The NumbersThe Numbers

From Washington’s election until 1850…. From Washington’s election until 1850…. Southern slaveholders occupied the:Southern slaveholders occupied the: Presidency 50 of 62 yearsPresidency 50 of 62 years Speaker of the House 41 of 62 yearsSpeaker of the House 41 of 62 years Chairman of House Ways and Means 42 of Chairman of House Ways and Means 42 of

62 years62 years 18 of 31 Supreme Court Justices were 18 of 31 Supreme Court Justices were

southern slaveholderssouthern slaveholders All of this despite the fact that All of this despite the fact that

northerners are the majority in the U.S.northerners are the majority in the U.S.

The TerritoriesThe Territories

The Missouri Compromise

The Compromise of 1850

Republican PlatformRepublican PlatformSlavery in the TerritoriesSlavery in the Territories

8. That the normal condition of 8. That the normal condition of

all the territory of the United all the territory of the United States is that of freedom . . . we States is that of freedom . . . we deny the authority of congress, deny the authority of congress, of a territorial legislature, or of of a territorial legislature, or of any individuals, to give legal any individuals, to give legal existence to slavery in any existence to slavery in any territory of the United States. territory of the United States.

This policy was called Free SoilThis policy was called Free Soil

Stephen Douglas

“The Little Giant”

Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854

Voting on the Kansas Nebraska Voting on the Kansas Nebraska Act US House—1854 Act US House—1854

Total Votes Total Votes 113 In favor113 In favor100 Against100 Against

WhigsWhigs Democrats DemocratsFor AgainstFor Against For AgainstFor Against

NorthNorth 0 0 47 47 44 44 4444SouthSouth 14 14 7 7 55 55 2 2

1414 5454 99 99 4646

Total South 69 for 9 againstTotal South 69 for 9 against Total North 44 for 91 against (only 7 of these 44 are re-Total North 44 for 91 against (only 7 of these 44 are re-

elected)elected)

“Bleeding Kansas”aka Popular

Sovereignty in action

Voting in Kansas, 1855Voting in Kansas, 1855

Eligible VotersEligible Votersapprox. 3,000approx. 3,000

Free Soil VotesFree Soil Votes791791

Proslavery VotesProslavery Votes????????? Judged fraudulent??? Judged fraudulent

Sen. Charles Sumner of Massachusetts

“The Crime Against Kansas” (May 1856)

The Sumner Brooks Affair, 1856

Down in Florida . . . Down in Florida . . .

The Republican Party Candidates, 1856

“Free Soil,Free Labor,Free Men,Fremont”

1856 Presidential Election1856 Presidential Election

James Buchanan

Dred Scott, Slave

Chief Justice Roger Taney

Republican Republican PlatformPlatform

re: Dred Scottre: Dred Scott 7. That the new 7. That the new

dogma that the dogma that the Constitution of its Constitution of its own force carries own force carries slavery into any or slavery into any or all of the territories all of the territories of the United States, of the United States, is a dangerous is a dangerous political heresy . . .political heresy . . .

Abraham Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln, 18581858

““. . . when we see a lot of framed timbers, different . . . when we see a lot of framed timbers, different portions of which we know have been gotten out at portions of which we know have been gotten out at different times and places, and by different workmen – different times and places, and by different workmen – Stephen [Douglas], Franklin [Pierce], Roger [Taney], and Stephen [Douglas], Franklin [Pierce], Roger [Taney], and James [Buchanan], for instance; and when we see these James [Buchanan], for instance; and when we see these timbers joined together, and see they exactly make the timbers joined together, and see they exactly make the frame of a house or a mill . . . and not a piece too many frame of a house or a mill . . . and not a piece too many or too few, -- not omitting even the scaffolding, -- or if a or too few, -- not omitting even the scaffolding, -- or if a single piece be lacking, we see the place in the frame single piece be lacking, we see the place in the frame exactly fitted and prepared to yet bring such piece in -- in exactly fitted and prepared to yet bring such piece in -- in such a case we feel it impossible not to believe that such a case we feel it impossible not to believe that Stephen and Franklin, and Roger and James, all Stephen and Franklin, and Roger and James, all understood one another from the beginning and all understood one another from the beginning and all worked upon a common plan or draft drawn before the worked upon a common plan or draft drawn before the first blow was struck.” (in “House Divided” Speech, 1858)first blow was struck.” (in “House Divided” Speech, 1858)