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The Secession Crisis

The Secession Crisis. Project History April 28, 2010. Battle Hymn of the Republic November, 1861. Clay’s Compromise. Admit California as Free State Stricter Fugitive Slave Law Popular Sovereignty Organize New Mexico and Utah Territories

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The Secession Crisis

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  1. The Secession Crisis Project History April 28, 2010

  2. Battle Hymn of the RepublicNovember, 1861

  3. Clay’s Compromise • Admit California as Free State • Stricter Fugitive Slave Law • Popular Sovereignty Organize New Mexico and Utah Territories • U.S. Assumes Texas Debt for Texas Acquiescence in Border Dispute • Slave Trade Prohibited in D.C.

  4. Rio Grande near Creede, Colorado

  5. Why did the Civil War Occur? • South Seceded and North Decided to Fight • Why North Decide to Fight • Why Did South Decide to Secede • Main issue: Slavery in the Territories • Immediate cause: Election of Republican President opposed to expansion of slavery • Historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.—”moral log jam”

  6. Why North Decide to Fight • Easiest Question to Answer • Political Suicide for Republicans and Lincoln to preside over destruction of Union • Secession Powerful Challenge to Lincoln Administration---had to be met • Strong Sense of Nationalism in North—Public not Tolerate Breakup of Union

  7. Slavery in the Territories • After Mexican War--Most Southerners Satisfied with Squatter Sovereignty for Mexican Cession Territory • Compromise of 1850--Utah and New Mexico • 1854 South Demands Squatter Sovereignty in Louisiana Territory as Well • Kansas-Nebraska Bill

  8. Slavery in the Territories • 1857--Dred Scott Case • Ruled Missouri Compromise Illegal--Deprived Slaveholder of Property without Due Process (5th Amendment) • Taney: “They had for more than a century before been regarded as beings of an inferior order; and altogether unfit to associate with the white race…; and so far inferior, that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect; and that the negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit.”

  9. Freeport Doctrine • By Implication--Squatter Sovereignty Unconstitutional • 1858, Stephen Douglas, Freeport Doctrine—slavery can still be restrained “for the reason that slavery cannot exist a day or an hour anywhere, unless it is supported by local police regulations” • 1860, South Demanded Congressional Slave Code

  10. Political Power of South • South Political Power at Peak • Controlled Democratic Party--Only Truly National Party • 1850s--South Controlled Sympathetic Northern Presidents “doughfaces”--Pierce and Buchanan, Supreme Court and Senate • 1789-1861--Presidency, 49 years; 23 of 36 Speakers of House; 20 of 35 Supreme Ct. Justices.

  11. Why Secede if Politically Powerful and Prosperous • Immediate Cause--Election of Lincoln • Lincoln Minority President---Only Elected Because Democratic Party Split • Democratic Party Split by South Aggressively Demanding Federal Slave Code • Why South Do This--Was Expansion of Slavery in Territory Worth Destroying South’s Political Power

  12. Why Secede? • Some evidence that radical southerners wanted to whip up sentiment for secession—not interested in compromise • But why? Little evidence that many southern slave owners planning to take slaves into territories---feared soil not adequate to support plantation economy • South still controlled Supreme Court and Senate • Lincoln and Republicans only against expansion of slavery into territories not states

  13. Factors Behind South’s Irrationality • Historical phenomenon can’t be explained by imposing logic or rationality on South’s actions • Three factors that help explain South’s action

  14. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin • Portrays Slavery as Horrible Institution • South had same liberal, Christian, democratic values • Shared these values with North—but after 1830 tried to suppress these values—kept slavery for economic and social reasons • Moral tension—more slavery attacked more desperate South became in defending slavery and denying shared values

  15. Hinton Helper’s Impending Crisis • Helper from N.C.—hated slavery for evil effects on white non-slave owning yeoman farmer • Attacked plantation system—bring economic ruin to small, white farmer • Book suppressed in South—reaffirmed great fear in South—that Southern whites not reliable on slavery. Before 1850 slavery great unifying institution • Slavery institution to control blacks and one of social mobility

  16. Fear of Slaves • Fear of Slave Conspiracies • 1859--John Brown’s Raid • Mississippi—frenzy—100 whites hanged suspected of instigating slave insurrection • During this hysteria election of 1860 took place

  17. Factors Creating Social Irrationality in South • Terrible Fear of Slave Insurrections and Ultimate Emancipation--Fear of Chaos and Dislocation, Social and Sexual Equality--Republicans Seen as Agent of Abolitionism • South had terrible feeling of vulnerability and isolation • South Shared with North Christian, Liberal, Democratic Values—Values that told them that slavery wrong and immoral • Guilt Heightens Fear of Slaves---Moral Tension

  18. The Union and the Civil War • Lincoln--”Central idea of secession is the essence of anarchy.” Question of Whether “minority have the right to break up the government whenever they choose.” • Union Forces: War About Defending Union, Republicanism and Personal Liberty. • Terrible Losses: 620,000 Dead--360,000 Union Soldiers---260,000 Confederate Soldiers. • 5% Southern Whites Killed--25% White Males of Military Age

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