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The Civil War Era

The Civil War Era. Unit Overview (1844-1877). Big Picture.

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The Civil War Era

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  1. The Civil War Era Unit Overview (1844-1877)

  2. Big Picture The passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act rocked the sectional boat to the point of disrepair. However, abolitionists in the North and “fire-eaters” in the South refused to patch a hole in the sinking ship of state. The question of slavery’s expansion dominated the politics of the 1850s, and was exacerbated by events that brought sectional tensions to a fever pitch, climaxing in the secession of seven Southern states.

  3. Abolitionist Literature • Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) • Harriet Beecher Stowe—evangelic abolitionist • Showed the horrors of slavery • Splitting of families and violence • Best-seller • The Impending Crisis of the South (1857) • Hinton R. Helper—North Carolinian • Argued that non-slaveholding whites suffered most from slavery • Banned in the South • Published in the North

  4. The Contest in Kansas • Demographics • Northerners • Mostly pioneers seeking richer lands • Free-soilers • New England Emigrant Aid Company • Invest in 2,000 abolitionist settlers • Southerners • Squatters • Few slaves • Popular Sovereignty (1855) • Proslavery Missourians stuff ballot boxes—win election

  5. Bleeding Kansas • Proslavery government • Shawnee Mission • Fraudulent—backed by Pierce • Antislavery government • Topeka • Illegal • Wakarusa War • Land claims • Sack of Lawrence • Antislavery settlement • Pottawatomie Massacre • John Brown

  6. The Caning of Sumner • Charles Sumner • MA Senator—abolitionist • “The Crime Against Kansas” speech (1856) • Sumner insults Andrew Butler (SC Senator) and “…his harlot slavery.” • Preston Brooks • SC Representative • Defended his cousin with a cane • Sumner out of commission for 3 ½ years • MA reelects him in absentia

  7. The Election of 1856 • Candidates • (D) James Buchanan (PA) • “Kansas-less” • Popular Sovereignty • (R) John C. Frémont (CA) • “The Pathfinder” • Prohibition of slavery’s expansion • (KNP) Millard Fillmore (NY) • “Nativist” platform • Results • Buchanan: 174 • Frémont: 114 • Fillmore: 8

  8. The Dred Scott Decision • Dred Scott v Sanford 1857 • Missouri slave sues for freedom • Resided in free territory (IL & WI) • Chief Justice Taney opinion: • Black slaves • not citizens—could not sue in federal courts • Property—can be taken into ANY territory legally • 5th Amendment • Deemed any ban on slavery unconstitutional • Missouri Compromise! • Reaction • North—furious  • South—delighted 

  9. Lecompton Constitution (1857) • Kansas has population for statehood • Mostly free-soilers • Proslavery legislature drafts state constitution • Voters could only vote for or against slavery • Provision allows for slaves to remain even if it is rejected • Free-soilers boycott elections • Buchanan backs Lecompton Constitution • Stephen Douglas protests • Constitution goes to popular vote—fails to pass • Fractures Democratic party

  10. The Financial Crash of 1857 • Causes: • California Gold • Overproduction of grain • Land and RR speculation • Hardships • North (South was unscathed) • 5,000 business close • Hunger and unemployment • Demands • Free farms! • opposition • Protection—tariff

  11. The Lincoln-Douglas Debates • Illinois Senatorial Election (1858) • Abraham Lincoln (R) • Springfield attorney • 110 votes for VP in 1856 • Stephen Douglas (D) • Incumbent from Chicago • Champion of popular sovereignty • Debates • “Freeport Doctrine” • Douglas disavows Dred Scott • Implications • Douglas purged from Southern ranks • Lincoln’s stock rises

  12. Harpers Ferry Raid • John Brown • Schemes to foment slave rebellion • “Secret Six” • Seize arsenal at Harpers Ferry and arm slaves • October, 1859 • Invade South with 20 men • Fails disastrously • Kills innocent people • Slaves fail to rise up • Surrounded by marines—captured Brown • Convicted of murder and treason • Insanity? • Martyred on the gallows

  13. Democrats Disrupted • Democratic Convention • Charleston, SC • Douglas front-runner for nomination • “Fire-Eaters” revolt • Freeport Doctrine • Walk out on convention • Convention dissolves • Baltimore, MD • Douglas supporters win out • Southerners walk out • Rival convention organized • Nominate John C. Breckinridge (KY) • Expand slavery into territories—annex Cuba • Constitution Party—John Bell

  14. The Election of 1860 • Candidates: • (R) Abraham Lincoln (IL) • Non-extension of slavery • Protective tariff • Civil rights for immigrants • Transcontinental railroad • Internal improvement (west) • Free homesteads • (D) Stephen Douglas (IL) • (D) John Breckinridge (KY) • (CU) John Bell (TN) • Lincoln wins! • Minority president

  15. The Secession Exodus • South Carolina • Unanimous vote to secede—20 December1860 • MS, FL, AL, GA, LA &TX follow suit • Confederate States (of America) convene • Montgomery, AL—February, 1861 • Appoint Jefferson Davis president • Senator (MS) • Military and administrative experience • Lame Duck Interlude • Doughface Buchanan • “Wait and See” policy • Constitutional authority?

  16. The Failed Crittenden Compromise • Senator James Henry Crittenden (KY) • Drafts amendments to appease the South • 18 December 1860 • Blends MO Compromise with popular sovereignty • Lincoln rejects compromise • Elected on non-extension of slavery platform

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