The Union in Crisis 1846-1861

1. The Union in Crisis1846-1861 Slavery and States’ Rights Lincoln, Secession, and War

2. Slavery and States’ Rights Slavery and States’ Rights • North- manufacturing South- remain agrarian cotton (King Cotton)slavery • Slave issue arises again, even after Missouri Compromise (TX,CA,NM) • Wilmot Proviso- no slavery in Mexican Cession territory- S. mad • 1848 Election- Free Soil Party- Martin Van Buren loses to Whig Zachary Taylor The Compromise of 1850 • Henry Clay (KY) proposes 5 part plan to solve slave issue: • California admitted as free state • NM territory would have no slave restrictions • NM/Texas border dispute would be settled in favor of NM • Slave trade (not slavery) banned in Washington DC • Stronger fugitive slave laws

4. Slavery and States’ Rights The Fugitive Slave Act • Req. all citizens to help catch slaves- N. refused • Underground Railroad- Harriet Tubman • “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”- Harriet Beecher Stowe (white abolitionist) Kansas-Nebraska Act • Sen. Stephen Douglas (Ill.) suggests creating 2 new states: Kansas & Nebraska • Re-opened slave debate and repealed Missouri Compromise allowed citizens to decide whether to be free or slavePopular Sovereignty • Kansas- pro slavery; but anti slave groups emerge too (2 factions; pro vs. anti) • Violence eruptsBleeding Kansas New Political Party • Normally PP extend across sectional linesslavery divides ppl &PP • Whig party falls apart; leftovers + Free Soil Party campaign against slavery • Know- Nothing Party nativist organization against immigration • Republican party is born and oppose slavery • Election of 1856- Dem. James Buchanan wins- Rep. party still too weak

6. Lincoln, Secession, and War Dred Scott Decision • Scott was a slave living in MissouriMaster moved to Illinois, a free state, them moved back to Missouri • Scott sued, claiming he should be free since he lived on free soil • Roger B. Taney (SC Justice) ruled Scott is still a slave b/c he is property, not a citizen, therefore, he had no rights • Decision means the constitution protected slavery- splits country Lincoln-Douglas Debates • Senate election in 1858 in Ill.- Abraham Lincoln vs. Stephen Douglas • Series of debates over slavery • Lincoln-oppose Douglas- feels slavery is necessary, but he dislikes it • Douglas gives the Freeport Doctrine Speech- Ppl can get around slavery issue by electing politicians who would not enforce slave laws Raid on Harpers Ferry • Southerners feel threatened by growing Republican power • Abolitionist John Brown led a raid in Harper’s Ferry, VA • Raided an arsenal gov’t storage for weapons and ammo • Distribute them to slaves in regionfails, Brown sentenced to death

7. Dred Scott

8. Abraham Lincoln Stephen Douglas

10. Lincoln, Secession, and War Secession and War • Election of 1860- Democrats are split- half are pro; half are anti • Republican A. Lincoln wins easily since Dems are split • Rep. promise not to extend slavery, they would not take it away either • Southerners threaten to secede (leave) union if Lincoln wins The South Secedes • South Carolina leaves first-1860Confederate States of America • Jefferson Davis elected president- says the nat’l government had violated southern state rights • Most S. did not own slaves and were very concerned • Lincoln felt it was his duty to preserve the Union at all times- would fight a war to keep country together Fort Sumter • 1861- Confederate troops threaten to seize Union forts located in South • Fort Sumter (SC) is most important Union fortsupplies running low • Lincoln says he will send supplies via unarmed troops • President Davis ordered his troops to attack Sumter anyway • April 12, 1861- Civil War begins