Sectional Conflict Intensifies (1848-1860) 10 Events Leading to the Civil War

1. Sectional Conflict Intensifies (1848-1860)10 Events Leading to the Civil War Chapter 10

2. Slavery and the Westward Expansion Section 1

3. 1. Popular Sovereignty • Senator Lewis Cass of Michigan proposed the idea of popular sovereignty – allow the people in the territory/state to decide if it would be free or slave • Many people felt this would be a democratic way of deciding on the issue • Abolitionists will argue that it denied African Americans their right to be free – choice.

4. 2. Compromise of 1850 • Discovery of gold in CA – Settlers called 49ners • CA applied for statehood (skipped territorial status because of the number of settlers in CA) • CA wanted to be a free state, but it would make the South a minority in the Senate & feared slavery & states’ rights would be limited. • Southern response to the possible upset of the balance of power = Secession • Withdrawing from the Union • Considered an act of treason

5. 2. Compromise of 1850 • Henry Clay = “Great Compromiser” • Solved the MO issue; proposed 8 resolutions to solve the new crisis—the expansion of slavery • He needed support of John C. Calhoun – Calhoun believed the Northern hatred of slavery threatened to destroy the South • South needed to defend 2 rights: (1) return of fugitive slaves, (2) guarantee balance of power • Honorable solution = secession

6. 2. Compromise of 1850 • President Taylor – unsupportive of the compromise resolutions of Clay • Taylor dies, Fillmore takes over – he is supportive of the resolutions • Senator Stephen Douglas from Illinois takes on the fight of the aging Clay & divides the resolutions into smaller parts so they are passed • Compromise of 1850 will temporarily quell the increasing tensions

7. Mounting Violence Section 2

8. 3. Uncle Tom’s Cabin • Published in 1852; written by Harriet Beecher Stowe • Sold 300,000 copies • Uncle Tom = runaway slave; Simon Legree = slaveholder • The book will change the North’s view of African Americans and slavery • Book persuaded those not moved by rational arguments • Book was banned in the South – Stowe accused of writing falsehoods & distortions

9. 4. Fugitive Slave Act • Sworn statement of a white person needed to take the “runaway” back to the South • African Americans did not have the right to a trial or to testify in court • Commissioners - awarded $10.00 for siding with the slave holder & $5.00 if the African America was free • Federal marshals could deputize citizens & force them to look for escaped slaves • Northerners refused to help, but were threatened to be sent to jail

10. 5. Underground Railroad & Harriet Tubman • Fugitive Slave Act punished those who helped runaway slaves by fining them $$, but Northerners & African Americans still operated the Underground Railroad • Informal but organized • Members called conductors & gave runaway slaves food, shelter, and money to start a new life in the North • Harriet Tubman, most famous conductor • The RR will deepen the South’s mistrust of the North

11. Crisis Deepens Section 3

12. 6. Kansas-Nebraska Act • Kansas & Nebraska – first experiment with popular sovereignty • Nebraska is one large territory & Stephen Douglas wanted to organize it. • In order for popular sovereignty to work, the Missouri Compromise would need to be repealed so that Nebraska could be a slave state. • Douglas knew if a repeal was made, it would divide the country, but he still wanted to open the Nebraska Territory.

13. 6. Kansas-Nebraska Act • Douglas misjudged the anti-slavery feelings in the North • Proposed to divide the territory into 2 territories • North – Nebraska – Free (in theory) • South – Kansas – Slave (in theory) • Kansas-Nebraska Act passed in May 1856 • Kansas – fighting for the extension of slavery • “Bleeding Kansas” – min-Civil War • Pro & Anti Slavery; temporary settlers to vote • 200 died, $2 million of property destroyed

14. 7. Dred Scott Decision • President James Buchannan takes office in 1857 • Suggests that Supreme Court should decide on the issue of slavery in the territories • South thought it would favor slavery – majority of justices from South • Dred Scott v. Sandford • Dred Scott was a slave in Missouri – his master took him to a free state & abolitionists argued he should sue for his freedom • Case went to the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Rodger B. Taney presided

15. 7. Dred Scott Decision • The Supreme Court ruled that African Americans were not citizens & did not have the right to sue in court • Supreme Court ruled that the federal government could not prohibit slavery in the territories – Supported by the South, condemned by the North

16. The Union Dissolves Section 4

17. 8. John Brown’s Raid • John Brown – abolitionist who wanted to “break the jaws of the wicked” – the slaveholders • Harper’s Ferry, Virginia: he planed to take over an arsenal & start an insurrection • Brown & 18 followers, but Marines from Washington, DC stopped Brown & he was captured 36 hours later • Sentenced to death • Became a martyr for abolitionist cause – strengthened cause

18. 9. Lincoln’s Election to the Presidency • Election of 1860 • Lincoln – Republican, Douglas – Northern Democrats, Bell – Constitutional Union, Breckinridge – Southern Democrat • South upset with raid at Harper’s Ferry – saw election of 1860 as a turning point – North would try to arm slaves & start a rebellion • Lincoln – abolitionist – victory for the North – Southerners threatened & secession only option

19. 10. Session & the CSA • South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union in 1860 • By Feb 1861, six other states secede: • Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and Louisiana • Federal government tries to compromise, but all attempts fail. • Delegates meet in Montgomery, AL – new nation – Confederate States of America

20. 10. Session & CSA • The CSA Created a constitution that guaranteed slavery • First president of the CSA – Jefferson Davis • Only serves 6-year term • Lincoln decides to re-supply Ft. Sumter – located near Charleston, SC • Jefferson did not want this to happen because the fort was in a Confederate state • He knew if he fired on the supply ship it would start a war

21. Fort Sumter • Davis asked Lincoln to turn over Ft. Sumter to the Confederacy & not re-supply the ft. – “NO” • Confederates began firing on the fort – Major Robert Anderson defended the fort • Confederates fired for 33 hours, until Anderson surrendered • The Civil War begins!

22. Seccession • Upper South secedes – Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina • Capitol of the CSA is moved to Richmond, Viriginia