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The Slavery Issue before the Civil War

The Slavery Issue before the Civil War. “ It will be as the man who swallows arsenic. Mexico will poison us.”-Ralph Waldo Emerson. The Wilmot Proviso. Named for Congressmen David Wilmot of Pennsylvania Racist

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The Slavery Issue before the Civil War

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  1. The Slavery Issue before the Civil War “It will be as the man who swallows arsenic. Mexico will poison us.”-Ralph Waldo Emerson

  2. The Wilmot Proviso • Named for Congressmen David Wilmot of Pennsylvania • Racist • Wilmot more concerned about slavery taking away jobs from poor white farmers than seeking an end to slavery • Wilmot Proviso • Called for slavery to be banned in all territories acquired from Mexico • Supported by the North • Opposed by the South • Good example of both slavery and sectionalism dividing the country • Passes the House but fails in the Senate

  3. “As if by magic brought to a head the great question that is about to divide the American people”

  4. Free Soil Party • In 1848, Martin Van Buren runs for President under the Free Soil Party • It was a third party started by those who opposed expansion of slavery • Van Buren loses to Zachary Taylor-war hero and Southerner • Taylor was the safer choice • Anti slavery issue was now not just an issue for abolitionists

  5. Compromise of 1850 • California admitted as a free state • Slave trade, not slavery itself, would be abolished in Washington D.C. • Fugitive Slave Act-allow Southerners to reclaim runaway slaves • Status of slavery in the remaining territories acquired from Mexico would be decided by local white inhabitants

  6. Kansas-Nebraska Act • 1854-Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas wanted to build a railroad through the territories of Kansas and Nebraska • Need formal governments in these territories for railroad project to become a reality • Once again, intense debate between those want slavery in the territories and those who do not

  7. Douglas’ solution is “popular sovereignty” • Let the people of a territory decides whether they want slavery or not • For Douglas, PS is a perfect example of people voicing their opinion • Douglas-”Little Giant”- Kansas Nebraska Act passes • KNA overrules the Missouri Compromise

  8. Why was Popular Sovereignty Problematic? • PS was a big political miscalculation by Douglas • Overturns Missouri Compromise • Southern Congressmen concerned about the sectional balance • Northern Congressmen convinced that slavery would be extended into the territories • Lincoln • Very concerned about the extension of slavery • Why have the federal government deal with the issue of slavery if slavery will only be decided by PS?

  9. Kansas-Nebraska Map http://teachingamericanhistory.org/neh/interactives/sectionalism/lesson3/

  10. “Bleeding Kansas” • 1854 and 1855-elections held in Kansas • Hundreds of proslavery Missourians crossed the border to cast fraudulent ballots • Violence breaks out between proslavery mobs and their opponents • 200 people killed • “Bleeding Kansas” discredits policy of popular sovereignty

  11. Beating of Senator Sumner Charles Sumner-Massachusetts Senator 1856- “The Crime against Kansas” Speech included personal attacks against South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler Butler’s nephew, Congressman Preston Brooks, walked into the Senate chamber and beat Sumner over the head with a cane House censured Brooks Northern Congressman outraged by event Several Southern Congressman bought Brooks new canes

  12. The Dred Scott Case • During the 1830’s, Dred Scott, a slave, went with his owner Dr. John Emerson of Missouri (slave state) to Illinois (free state) • When he returned to Missouri, Scott sued for his freedom • He argued that his time on free soil made him a free man • Chief Justice Roger Taney announced the Court’s decision in March 1857, two days before President-elect James Buchanan’s inauguration

  13. Dred Scott Timeline Born in the 1790s Married Harriet Robinson in 1836 1840-Have their first child, a daughter Ownership transferred to Dr. Emerson (U.S. Army doctor) 1842-Return to Missouri 1843-Dr. Emerson dies. Wife takes control of estate Dred Scott denied freedom 1846-Sues for freedom

  14. The Court had three questions to answer: • Could a black person be a citizen and therefore sue in federal court? • Did residence in a free state make Scott free? • Did Congress possess the power to prohibit slavery in a territory?

  15. Impact of Chief Justice Taney’s Ruling Taney’s ruling was a bad attempt by the Supreme Court to decide the slavery issue once and for all Because Scott was still a slave, Illinois’ law banning slavery, didn’t apply when Scott returned to Missouri ***Because PS overturned the Missouri Compromise, Congress had no authority to ban slavery in a territory*** Therefore, Congress had no authority to restrict southerners from bringing slaves into a western territory Decision also undermines PS President Buchanan- Slavery existed in all territories “By virtue of the Constitution.”

  16. Lincoln-Douglas Debates Lincoln had retired from elected office The philosophy of popular sovereignty ,the overturning of the Missouri Compromise, and the possible extension of slavery draws Lincoln back into seeking elected office Runs for a US Senate seat from Illinois in 1856 and 1858 Lecompton, Kansas When he accepted the Republican nomination, he said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” House Divided Speech

  17. Lincoln and Douglas have seven debates across Illinois • Lincoln’s goals • Get Douglas to explain how popular sovereignty can work particularly after the Dred Scott case! • Slavery is wrong • Blacks are entitled to freedom and liberties written in the Declaration of Independence.

  18. Three reasons why Lincoln believed slavery was wrong • Slavery embarrasses work-1) Lincoln was a work-a-holic 2) Slaves were doing other people’s work • Slavery makes American hypocrites • Slavery is a violation of natural law- Lincoln knew that slaves knew they were being wronged

  19. Outcome of Election State legislatures still choose U.S. Senators Northern Illinois-voted Republican Southern Illinois-voted Democratic In 1858, Republicans received more votes in the election for Illinois State Legislature However, seats still apportioned by Census of 1850 which does not take into account growth of Republican party in northern Illinois Democrats win seats in State Legislature by a small margin Douglas is re-elected Lincoln, however, emerges as a Presidential candidate in the election of 1860

  20. John Brown at Harpers Ferry • Abolitionist • 1830s and 1840s-Funded antislavery publications • October 16, 1859-JB along with 21 men (7 black) seized Harpers Ferry in Virginia • Raid was put down by Colonel Robert E. Lee • Brown put on trial

  21. Brown ordered by Virginia’s governor to be executed • Brown was considered a hero in the North among both blacks and whites • His raid, trial, and execution further demonstrated the differences between North and South on the slavery issue • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jso1YRQnpCI

  22. Who am I? Would you vote for me? I was elected five times to the House of Representatives Then, after a stint as Minister to Russia, served for a decade in the Senate. I was Polk's Secretary of State and Pierce's Minister to Great Britain.

  23. Election of 1860 • The Democratic Party splits over the issue of slavery • Southern Nationalists (“Fire-eaters”) in seven Deep South states demanded the party protect slavery in all territories not yet part of the Union • Stephen Douglas was not an acceptable candidate for Southern party members • Six weeks later, Douglas is nominated • Southern democrats nominate John C. Breckinridge from Kentucky

  24. Republicans nominate Abraham Lincoln • Lincoln is a dark horse candidate. • 4 people battle for nomination- Salmon Chase, William Seward, Edwin Stanton, and Lincoln • Devoted to preserving the Union • Appealed to abolitionists • Appealed to immigrants because Lincoln never supported the “Know Nothings”

  25. Secession • First state to secede is South Carolina on December 20, 1860 • President Buchanan’s view of secession • It is a threat to the Union • It is a deliberate, malicious attack on the Union • The Union is perpetual • No reversion clause • We don’t create governments to eventually disband them

  26. Buchanan is convinced he has no constitutional authority to do anything about it • President Lincoln’s view on secession • Will not use force • Answers can be found in D.O.I. and Constitution • **Union was made for higher purposes** • South is going against what the Revolutionary War was fought for • Lincoln-1st paragraphs of D.O.I. are there for future generations

  27. Secession is an attack on liberty and freedom • Secession is anarchy

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