A Nation in Crisis (The marriage gets rocky)

1. A Nation in Crisis(The marriage gets rocky) “The agitation in the subject of slavery would, if not prevented by some timely and effective measure, end in disunion.” -John Calhoun

2. Northern Views believe it should be abolished blacks are inferior to whites Southern Views: God intended for blacks to do the work for whites slavery was paternalistic (the master was like a father to his slaves) wage labor in the North was worse that slavery in the South Slaves were happier and healthier than northern wage earners Views on Slavery

3. The Election of 1848 • Big Issue: should slavery be allowed in new western territories? • New Political Party: Free-Soilersvowed to keep slavery out of the new territories • Democrats and Whigs embrace popular sovereignty (let states decideissue of slavery…not Congress) ?

4. A Compromise Avoids Crisis • California wants to be a free state but that would allow free states to outnumber slave states in the Senate (threatens slavery) • South - Fugitive Slave Law not being enforced • Henry Clay brings forth another compromise that would appease the North and South

5. The Compromise of 1850 • Congress would admit California as a free state (North happy) • Utah (UT) and New Mexico (NM) would use popular sovereignty to decide slavery • Slave trade in Washington, DC would end • The Fugitive Slave Act would require that private citizens aid in the returning of runaway slaves or be fined/imprisoned (South happy)

6. Caused northern hostility because the accused had no right to a trial or testify in court (judges were paid more to favor with slave owners) Everyone is a slave catcher Unintentionally increased Northern involvement in the Underground Railroad Repercussions of Fugitive Slave Act

7. Political Changes • The Whig Party dies because they supported the Compromise of 1850 • The Know-Nothings/American Party formed under the platform of anti-immigration (nativists) • Republican Party: opposed the spread of slavery

8. Let’s Review! • What term applies to people who opposed the spread of slavery? • Separatists • Secessionists • Free-Soilers • Why did Henry Clay propose what came to be known as the Compromise of 1850? • To avoid a civil war over the issue of slavery • To eliminate the practice of popular sovereignty • To provide stricter penalties to those who harbored fugitive slaves • By 1850, what was the national debate over slavery centered on? • Conditions in the South • The expansion of slavery in territories • The Missouri Compromise

9. Harriet Tubman, “Black Moses” Helped runaway slaves escape to freedom in the North “Conductors” led the way Provided shelter, food, money Deepened southern distrust The Underground Railroad

10. Harriet Beecher Stowe • Published Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1852 • Showed the horrors of slavery • Infuriated the South • Wrote their own books about the advantages of slavery • Spread compassion through the North

11. Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854 • Senator Douglas wants popular sovereignty to be used in Nebraska • South feared that Nebraska would choose to be free (balance must be kept) • Douglas divides Nebraska into two states: • Kansas – slave • Nebraska – free • Did this go against the Missouri Compromise?

13. “Bleeding Kansas”, 1856 • Northerners and Southerners rushed to claim the territory • Kansas had 2 governments • One anti-slavery and one proslavery • Disputes become violent when the town of Lawrence was attacked • John Brown (abolitionists) executes 5 proslavery settlers, condemned by abolitionists • Civil war between proslavery and antislavery settlers • Popular sovereignty will not work

14. More Sectionalism • The Election of 1856: • Democrats promise to not talk about the issue • Republicans oppose popular sovereignty • Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857): the Supreme Court ruled: • slaves were not citizens (property) they could not even sue • Also ruled that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the US territories • Undermined the Missouri Compromise

15. The Lincoln-Douglas Debate • Battle for Senate seat • ***Lincoln: • personally opposed slavery • Politically takes the the middle road…don’t let it expand, save the union*** • Douglas: • supported popular sovereignty • Douglas wins the debate but Lincoln wins lots of followers and a reputation

16. Let’s Review! • What was the reaction in America to Stowe’s book Uncle Tom’s Cabin? • The South praised its honest portrayal of Southern life • The North realized they were wrong about the evils of slavery • The South claimed it was inaccurate and proof that the North was against them • How is the Underground Railroad an example of civil disobedience? • What impact did the Dred Scott decision have on the issue of slavery? • Ended the Missouri Compromise and replaced it with popular sovereignty in all states • Reaffirmed the Missouri Compromise • Ended the Missouri Compromised and allowed slavery in all western states and territories

17. Freeport Doctrine • Lincoln cornered Douglas by asking him if a state could legally exclude slavery before entering statehood • If he said yes then he supported popular sovereignty • If he said no then he opposed popular sovereignty • Douglas, a supporter of the Dred Scott decision and states could vote slavery out by refusing to pass laws needed to regulate it

18. Violence in the Senate (1856) • Abolitionist Charles Sumner stirred trouble when he delivered a speech about Kansas and also insulted Andrew Butler • Butler’s nephew, Brooks attacked Sumner in the Senate with a cane [The Brooks-Sumner Incident] • Shows the division between the North and South

20. John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry, 1859 • “angel of God”, must avenge the evils of slavery • Brown and his followers set out to seize the arsenal at Harper’s Ferry • Wanted to use violence to end slavery but this was not supported by the abolitionists • Was cornered, captured and executed

22. “I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think vainly, flattered myself that without very much bloodshed it might be done.” -John Brown, 1859 handed to the jailer on his way to execution

23. The Election of 1860 • Big Issue: slavery, state or federal issue? • Significance: pitted North against South (sectionalism) • Republicans nominate Lincoln, keep slavery contained where it is but don’t let it expand • Lincoln wins but carried NO Southern States…South is not happy • Causes Southern states to secede[withdrawal from the Union]

25. Secession • After Lincoln’s election, South Carolina seceded (left) the Union • If a president can be elected without their support what does that mean for slavery? • Six other states followed • Felt that Lincoln threatened slavery • The 7 states form the Confederate States of America • Wrote a Constitution that gave all the power to the states and protected slavery • Elect Jefferson Davis as President

27. Lincoln Takes Office • will not interfere with slavery where it already existed PRESERVE THE UNION • did not recognize the new Confederacy but South was looking for a fight • Lincoln wanted to maintain control of Fort Sumter • South Carolina was watching the Fort • Lincoln let them know he was sending food not troops to Fort • SC is suspicious and attacked Fort Sumter (1stbattle of Civil War)

28. Let’s Review! • How did Lincoln’s election contribute to the onset of war? • Congress passed a resolution giving Lincoln authority over the South. • Southern states saw his election as proof that Northern states controlled politics. • Lincoln immediately freed Southern slaves. • When did Southern states secede from the Union? • After Mississippi left the Union in January 1861 • Before the election of 1860 • Within a few weeks of Lincoln’s election • What do the Sumner Brooks incident and the raid at Harper’s Ferry reveal about the state of the nation in the late 1850s? • Compromise was still possible over the issue of slavery • People were willing to use violence to advance their cause for or against slavery • Everyone in the US agreed with using violence to solve political and moral problems