The Road to the Civil War

“My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause.”

– August 22, 1862 –Abraham Lincoln, Letter to Horace Greeley

Quotes

A Nation Divided

This unit is broken up into three partsThe Road to the Civil WarThe Civil WarReconstruction

Unit Overview

What issues led to the Civil War? What event starts the Civil War? What is an abolitionist? What were the dates (years) of the Civil War? How was the country divided during the Civil War? What did the Emancipation Proclamation do? Name a major battle of the war? Name two events that changed the “tide” of war in 1863?   Why is the Civil War considered the first “modern war”? List two key people on the side of the Union and

Confederacy? Who won the Civil War? Union or Confederacy

General Civil War Questions

Causes of the War

The Civil War

Reconstruction

KWL Chart What do you know?

What do you want to know? What should you know?

What did you learn?

Sectionalism: excessive regard for local interests; regional or local spirit, prejudice,

Abolitionists: (esp. prior to the Civil War) a person who advocated or supported the outlawing of slavery in the U.S.

Popular sovereignty: states that the residence of a territory should have the right to determine the status of slavery locally. (people in the state decide the laws)

State’s Rights: the state has the right to declare a law unconstitutional if it violates the powers of the federal government. (10th amendment-nullification)

Vocabulary Terms

CausesExpansion of SlaveryFederal Vs. State Power(10th amendment)

Starts due to secession, war is fought on Union side to preserve the Union

Freeing slaves is an outcome

Civil War- Basics

U.S. expanded westward and new technologies were developed

Political issues on the basis of what was best for their region or section

Sectional differences created some of the problems which led to the Civil War

The country was divided into three main sections: North, South, West

Sectionalism 1820-1860

Expansion of SlaveryState’s Rights(nullification of Federal laws)Economic InterestsInternal ImprovementsBanking SystemsWestern landTariffs

What issues created Sectionalism?

Where they stand:

Northern

Mixed

Mixed

A tariff encouraged people (southern) to buy American(northern) made goods.

Southerners sold their cotton and tobacco abroad, mainly to Great Britain, and in exchange they would buy manufactured goods. These manufactured goods would

then cost more because of a tariff. For this reason the South was against a tariff.

Why did this divide the North and the South?

$

A tariff encouraged people (southern) to buy American(northern) made goods.

Tariff crisis of 1828 and Nullification 1832- higher tariffs are passed, south is outraged John C. Calhoun of South Carolina declares the law null, on the basis of individual state’s rights(1oth Amendment). Refused to collect the tax, Jackson threatens to send in federal troops and hang Calhoun!

Date: February 6, 1837 “I hold that in the present state of civilization,

where two races of different origin, and distinguished by color, and other physical differences, as well as intellectual, are brought together, the relation now existing in the slaveholding States between the two, is, instead of an evil, a good, a positive good.” –John C. Calhoun

Slavery•Slavery created the main tension between the North and South. •The issue of slavery became even more important with the growth of the U.S. •Would the new states/territories be allowed to have slavery?

As the U.S. spread westward keeping the number of ‘free states’ and ‘slave states’ equal become very important. Why?

To keep the balance of power equal in the Senate, both sides were afraid to have the other side gain more power

In 1817, when Missouri tried for statehood as a slave state. the issue of slavery became a big problem.

Northerners were outraged because this would upset the balance of power.

This led to the MISSOURI COMPROMISE!

Slavery in the Territories: The Missouri Compromise

Pushed by Henry Clay Congress compromised by admitting Maine

as a free state in 1820, and Missouri as a slave state in 1821. This compromise

maintained the balance between slave and free states.

The Missouri Compromise

As a result of the Missouri Compromise, slavery would not be allowed in any of the

new territories north of 36 degrees 30 seconds north latitude.

The abolitionist movement grew out of the ideas and energy of the religious movement, the Second Great Awakening in the early 1800’s

Abolitionists realized in order to emancipate the slaves, public opinion on the issue must changed, many were unaware or apathetic to the horrors of slavery

Abolitionist Movement

The Abolitionist message was spread by newspaper, speeches(many by free African-American or former slaves)

Although abolitionists wanted the same thing, they disagreed about how to achieve the end of slavery

Gradual ApproachFree them and send them back to AfricaViolent overthrow or escapeAppeal to people emotions and morality

Abolitionist Movement

By the 1830’s fight against slavery took a more radical approach by calling for an immediate end to slavery and equal rights for all former slaves

One of the most active leaders was William Lloyd Garrison

He published the anti-slavery newspaper, The Liberator

“No union with slaveholders”

Abolitionist Movement

“I will be as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as justice-I will not retreat a single inch and I will be heard”

Many abolitions took an alternative approach to ending slavery…violence

One of the first rebellions was led by Nat Turner, who rallied a group of slave in August 1831, killing 57 whites, including women and children

Southerner’s blame the abolition movement and William Lloyd Garrison

Enact new laws to maintain control and dominance over slaves Congressional Gag Order Banned Abolitionist mail

Violent Abolitionists

Leaders of the movement included Fredrick Douglass and Sojourner Truth, both were former slaves and shared their experiences. Sojourner also spoke out for women’s rights. (Ain’t I a Woman)

Abolitionist Movement

North was the way to freedom and with the help of many people in the North over a 1,000 slaves made their way to freedom

Not a real railroad, they traveled the back roads (tracks), wagons(trains), friendly homes(stations)

Most Famous ‘conductor’ was Harriet Tubman

The Underground Railroad

‘Moses’

The Wilmot ProvisoIntroduced in 1846, would outlaw slavery in all lands that the United States would possibly purchase from Mexico.

In 1849, California asked to be admitted to the Union as a Free State

ANGRY SOUTHERNERS!!!These two issues made many Southerners feel that their way of life was under attack. This led some Southerners to hold a convention of Southern states in 1850 to discuss seceding from the Union.

Henry ClayThere were five parts :1. California would be admitted

as a free state2. The territories of New Mexico

and Utah would be allowed to decide whether they would be slave or free states. (Popular Sovereignty)

3. The slave trade would be prohibited in the District of Columbia.

4. A Fugitive Slave Law would be passed to make it easier to capture runaway slaves.

5. Texas surrenders land for purchase of debt

Compromise of 1850

Compromise of 1850

Fugitive Slave Act

The Fugitive Slave Law raised awareness of the issue of slavery all

over America. (Over 7 Northern states passed personal liberty laws

and refused to follow the law.)

What was one of the unintended outcomes of the Fugitive Slave Law?

No free or enslaved African American is safe!CITIZENS WERE ALSO REQUIRED TO HELP AN OFFICER CAPTURE A RUNAWAY SLAVE IF ORDERED. (Including Northerners)

A SLAVE OWNER WOULD ONLY HAVE TO GO BEFORE A JUDGE AND SWEAR THAT A PERSON WAS A RUNAWAY SLAVE . PERSONS ACCUSED OF BEING RUN AWAY SLAVES COULD NOT TESTIFY IN THEIR BEHALF.

THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW STATED:

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

“So this is the little lady who started this big war.”

-- Abraham Lincoln

•One event that brought national attention to the issue of slavery was the publishing of the book Uncle Tom’s Cabin. •Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe

•This book was published in 1852, sold over 300,000 copies, and gave a dramatic view of slavery in the South.

•Uncle Tom’s Cabin changed the way many people in the North viewed slavery. Many people in the South were angered by the view of slavery shown in this book.

Kansas-Nebraska Act-1854Introduced by Stephen Douglas

Created two new territories instead of one. Kansas and Nebraska. Each could choose whether they would have slavery.(popular

sovereignty)Destroys the Missouri Compromise!

Both the North and South settled in Kansas, causing violent clashes. It

became known as “Bleeding Kansas”.

A court case that brought national attention to the slavery issue was the:

Dred Scott was a slave who was taken by his master to the free territory of Wisconsin for five years. When his owner died, he was sold to a slave owner in Missouri. He sued for his freedom since he had lived in free territory.

Dred Scott v. Sandford 1856

The case went before the Supreme Court.

The Court’s Decision Chief Justice Taney delivered the

decision, which said that Dred Scott was not a citizen of the United

States so he could not sue. The Constitution didn’t even apply

to free blacks! Missouri Compromise was

unconstitutional The government can’t stop slavery

into the territories or free state Kills the idea of popular sovereignty Slaves can be brought into any

territory

The Dred Scott Case

Republican Party is formedLincoln’s ‘A house divided’ speechLincoln- Douglas Debates

New Party, New Leader

Slave Rebellion and John Brown

John Brown was an abolitionist who believed violence was needed to end slavery. ‘Bleeding Kansas’-Potawatomie Creek raid

In 1859 John Brown planned to seize weapons from the United States Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia to give to the slaves in the area.

Got money to pay for the raid from several Massachusetts abolitionists

OCTOBER 16, 1859 WITH 18 MENJohn Brown was able to capture the arsenal, but the slaves did not begin a revolt. He had not informed the slaves in the area of his plan. He was captured, convicted of treason, and hanged.Northerners view him as a martyr.

“I, John Brown, am now quite certainthat the crimes of this guilty land willnever be purged away but with blood”

Political Parties/Presidential Election of 1860

√ Abraham LincolnRepublican

John BellConstitutional Union

Stephen A. DouglasNorthern Democrat

John C. BreckinridgeSouthern Democrat

1860 Election: A Nation Coming Apart?!

How does this picture show the election’s

effect on the nation?

1860 Election Results November 1860

SECESSION- South Carolina Dec 20, 1860

In February 1861, delegates from the seven seceded states met in Montgomery, AL and formed the Confederate States of America.

Secession- Fort Sumter

To lead the new government, the convention selected Jefferson Davis of Mississippi as President.On April 12, 1861

Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter. The Civil War

had begun.