The Road to the Civil War

1. The Road to the Civil War Conflict triumphs over compromise

2. The Union in Peril “The real issue in this controversy—the one pressing upon every mind—is the sentiment on the part one class that looks upon the institution of slavery as a wrong, and of another class that does not look upon it as a wrong.” Abraham Lincoln, 1858

3. Issues left over from the early days of the republic & Constitution • What is exact status of slavery in US? • Ends importation of slaves in 1808 • 3/5 clause • State powers vs. national powers • Increasing economic conflict running along sectional lines • BUS (both 1st & 2nd) • Tariff controversies (multiple) • Foreign policy interests (mostly over Europe) • Territorial expansion & rapid growth of US • Pace of expansion • How to distribute land • What land is fair game to acquire next? • Development of transportation/communication infrastructure • Regional social divisions • Emergence of cotton as a economic engine

4. The Compromise of 1820aka “The Missouri Compromise” • Goes back to LA Purchase in 1803 • Territory in becoming populated • MO applies for statehood • Starting with admission of VT & KY (1791-92), Congress had tried to maintain balance between slave and free states • Rapid pop. growth in north put House at 105-81 in favor of North; Senate 11-11 tie • Issue & debate largely political & economic • SO…what’s the immediate issue? • If MO enters as slave state  tips the balance to the South • Since 1st of LA Purchase to enter, sets precedent for rest of region • Tallmadge Amendment • Gradual emancipation of slaves in MO; MO enters as free state • Defeated BUT enrages many southerners as an attack on their livelihoods • The Compromise (Drafted by Henry Clay) • MO comes in as a slave state • ME enters as a free state • 36o30’ would be dividing line in rest of LA territory (Free above, slave below) • Outcome • Preserves sectional balance for 30 years • Increases tension between nationalism & sectionalism (regionalism)

5. Views on Slavery in the Territories • Free-Soil Movement • Northern Dems. & Whigs • Did NOT demand end of slavery • “Free soil, free labor, free men” • Southern Position • Some wanted no restriction • Some wanted extension of 36o30’ line • Popular Sovereignty • Lewis Cass, (Sen., MI) • Good, but problem with “squatters”

6. Compromise of 1850 • Admission of CA as a free state • Division of Mexican territory into NM and Utah (& let them choose -- popular sovereignty) • Settlement of TX-NM border • Federal govt. assumes TX debt ($10m) • Abolish slave trade in DC • Create a more effective fugitive slave law & ENFORCE IT RIGOROUSLY In this debate, the Congressional giants Clay (KY), Webster (MA), and Calhoun (SC) gave the greatest speeches of their lives. All three would die within the two after the Compromise.

7. Map 14.1: The Compromise of 1850

8. Results • Opponents made headway UNTIL death of Pres. Taylor in 1850 (very sudden) • VP Millard Fillmore takes over – supports compromise • Stephen Douglas (IL) created coalitions to pass each part of the deal separately • Did not make sectional divisions go away • North won free states • South won idea of popular sovereignty • Congress cannot dictate on slavery • New Fugitive Slave Act created controversy

9. Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 • Took away rights of fugitive slaves • Put all fugitive salve cases under federal jurisdiction • Persons claiming to be free blacks were denied trial by jury • Allowed slave hunters to look for slaves in North • Made slavery a national problem • North was complicit in slavery • Growth of anti-slavery movement in North • Bitter resentment (sometimes forcibly) among abolitionists • Underground Railroad – mostly run by free blacks and runaway slaves, not abolitionists and whites • Harriet Tubman made at least 19 trips to rescue 300 slaves • Growth of Southern belief that North was against them

10. Northern perceptions Southern encouragement

11. Uncle Tom’s Cabin “So you’re the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war.” -- President Lincoln to Harriet Beecher Stowe • Slave = Tom; Owner = Simon Legree • Fairly brutal; made many northerners & Europeans visualize all slave owners as virtually inhuman and monstrous • Northern view • Showed the moral injustice of slavery • Sympathy for fugitive slaves • Southern view • Unfair portrayal of plantation life

12. Collapse of Second Party System • Election of 1852 is beginning of end for Whigs • Difficult to appeal to entire nation • Nominated Winfield Scott (of Mex. War fame) • Ran on improving roads & harbors – IGNORED SLAVERY ISSUE!!! • Franklin Pierce (Dem) – compromise candidate • Last president until 1932 to win majority of both popular & electoral votes in North and South

13. Kansas-Nebraska Act • Division of Nebraska pits pro-slavery versus anti-slavery • Which will be law: popular sovereignty or 36°30 Missouri Comp. line? • Act passes, but clearly with sectional divide. Popular sovereignty is allowed in both KS and NE

14. Map 14.2: The Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854

15. “Bleeding Kansas” • Kansas becomes battleground over slavery • Tainted elections • Outrageous anti-slavery laws • Rival legislatures • John Brown • He and seven followers kill two pro-slavery legislators in Kansas

16. The problem with expansion… • Where will slavery be allowed? • Does Congress have the right to decide?

17. Election of 1856 • Three parties • Democrats win as only national party • James Buchanan elected

18. Dred Scott Case • Dred Scott sues for freedom after traveling to a free territory • S.C. decides • Slaves are property, not citizens • Scott is not entitled to his freedom • Congress cannot prohibit slavery in territories • Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional • A blow to abolitionist cause

19. Harper’s Ferry • John Brown and followers hoped to encourage slave revolt • Raided a federal arsenal in Virginia • Rumors that abolitionists supported the raid financially outraged and scared the South

21. Lincoln and Douglas • Douglas = Dem., Lincoln = Rep. in race for Illinois senate seat • Physical differences • Ideological differences • Douglas loses popularity • Lincoln gains popularity

22. Lincoln and Douglas • “House Divided” speech • “this nation cannot exist permanently half slave and half free” • Free soil vs. popular sovereignty • Neither was an abolitionist

23. Lincoln’s Rise to Power • Lincoln runs as the Republican candidate in 1860 • The Democratic Party splits between two candidates • Lincoln wins 40% of the popular vote and 180 electoral votes • Votes are divided sectionally

24. Map 14.4: The Election of 1860

25. Secession • After Lincoln’s election, seven southern states secede, believing that the government no longer represents their interests • They base their argument for secession on the idea of nullification advocated by John Calhoun during the tariff controversy • These states call their new nation the Confederate States of America and elect Jefferson Davis as their president

26. Map 14.5: Secession

27. The First Shots of the Civil War • Lincoln keeps control of government forts in the South • Confederacy attacks Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC in April, 1861 • Lincoln takes this as an act of war…the Civil War begins

28. Fort Sumter, South Carolina