UNION IN PERIL

Wilmont Proviso

All territory gained from the Mexican War would be closed to slavery. California, Utah,

New Mexico Southerners

angered for many reasons…

Membership in the House of Representatives

Year Members from Free States

Members from Slave States

1800 77 65

1810 105 81

1820 123 90

1830 142 100

1840 141 91

1850 144 90

Compromise of 1850

Compromise of 1850

California admitted as a free state Utah and New Mexico territories decide

about slavery – Popular Sovereignty Texas-New Mexico boundary dispute

resolved; Texas paid $10 million by federal government

The sale of slaves banned in D.C. But slavery in itself can continue.

Passage of the Fugitive Slave Act

Fugitive Slave Act

Required people in free states to help capture and return escaped slaves.

Alleged fugitives were no entitles to a trial by jury. – Violates the 6th Amendment

Fugitives could not testify on their own behalf.

Anyone found helping a fugitive would be fined up to $1,000 and/or granted a 6 month prison sentence.

“The colored men’s rights are less than those of a jackass. No man can take away a jackass without submitting the matter to twelve men in any part of this country. A black man may be carried away without any reference to a jury. It is only necessary to claim him, and that some villain should swear to his identity. There is more protection there for a horse, for a donkey, or anything, rather than a colored man”

Voices from the Civil war

Underground Railroad

a network of free African Americans and white abolitionists to help slaves escape.

Conductors his fugitives in tunnels and throughout their property.

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman

Born slave in 1820 or 1821 Escaped slavery after the death of

the plantation owner. Made 19 trips on the Underground

Railroad, freeing 300 slaves. Died in 1913 at the age of 93

http://www.history.com/topics/underground-railroad/videos#abolition-and-the-underground-railroad

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe – Published in 1852

More than 1 Million copies were sold by the middle of 1853

Told of the horrors of slavery and increased tensions between the north and the south.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe – Published in 1852

More than 1 Million copies were sold by the middle of 1853

Told of the horrors of slavery and increased tensions between the north and the south.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

The Nebraska Territory was vast, encompassing the entire 36º 30’

Stephen Douglas proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act to split the territory into two states – Kansas and Nebraska Popular Sovereignty was established in

both states Northerners and Southerners felt tension

over this bill.

Bleeding Kansas

“Come on, then, gentlemen of Slave States… We will engage in competition for the virgin soil of Kansas and God give the victory to the side that is stronger in numbers as it is in right.”

New York Senator William Seward

Bleeding Kansas

Settlers from both the North and the South rushed to Kansas.

Soon after, Kansas had enough citizens to set up a legislative body.

When the vote came, “border ruffians” from Missouri voted illegally and passed many pro-slavery laws.

The Sack of Lawrence

Pro and Anti slavery movements came to a head in the small town of Lawrence.

On May 21, 1856, a proslavery group of 800 armed men swept into Lawrence

The group burned down antislavery headquarters, destroyed two newspaper presses, and looted houses and stores. The Pro Vs. Anti fight was on.

Slavery and Secession

“’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… or its advocates will push forward, till it shall become alike lawful in all the States, old as well as new, North as well as South.”

Abraham Lincoln

Dred Scott Decision

Scott was a slave from Missouri With his owner, Scott moved north of

the 36º30’ line where slavery was illegal.

After the death of his owner, Scott filed a lawsuit to gain his freedom. He claimed that he had become a free

person by living in a free territory for seven years.

Dred Scott V. Sandford

The Court ruled that slaves did not have the rights of citizens.

Dred Scott had no claim to freedom because he had been living in MO when he began filing his suit. The court also ruled that the MO

Compromise was unconstitutional. Congress could not forbid slavery in any

territory. Interfere with the slaveholders 5th

Amendment rights.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

1858 Senate race for Illinois Incumbent Stephen Douglas V. Abraham

Lincoln Lincoln challenged Douglas to a

series of debates on the issue of slavery.

Douglas- believed in popular sovereignty Did not think that slavery was immoral

Lincoln – believed that slavery should be illegal in all new territories Did think slavery was immoral

Who said this?

“I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races”

The outcome

Who won the Senate seat? Stephen Douglas

Why was this election important? Abraham Lincoln went from being an

unknown congressman before the debates to being one of the most influential congressman after. It vaulted him into the spotlight.

John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry Abolitionist that

believed that the best way to end slavery was to empower the slaves.

Attempted with his sons to raid an arsenal to gain weapons.

John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry Brown’s raid was

unsuccessful. Brown’s 4 sons

were killed during the raid.

Brown was eventually hanged for treason in 1859