The Union in Peril The Union in Peril 1850’s USA1850’s USA

I.I. Slavery in the Slavery in the TerritoriesTerritories

The Wilmot ProvisoThe Wilmot Proviso

Amendment added to a Amendment added to a congressional appropriations bill congressional appropriations bill prohibiting slavery for ever existing prohibiting slavery for ever existing in any territories acquired from in any territories acquired from MexicoMexico

Popular SovereigntyPopular Sovereignty

The idea that individual territories The idea that individual territories applying for statehood should applying for statehood should decide the issue of slavery for decide the issue of slavery for themselves.themselves.

The Compromise of 1850The Compromise of 1850 California entered the Union as a free California entered the Union as a free

state state Territorial governments were organized Territorial governments were organized

in New Mexico and Utah to apply the in New Mexico and Utah to apply the principle of popular sovereigntyprinciple of popular sovereignty

The slave trade was abolished in the The slave trade was abolished in the District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia

A new Fugitive Slave Act of 1850A new Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

Consequences of Consequences of CompromiseCompromise Political alignment along party lines grew Political alignment along party lines grew

strongerstronger Previously unheard, Americans were now Previously unheard, Americans were now

discussing ideals of higher law than the discussing ideals of higher law than the Constitution: succession and disunionConstitution: succession and disunion

Abolitionists stepped up work on the Abolitionists stepped up work on the Underground Railroad and several states Underground Railroad and several states prohibited elected officials and prohibited elected officials and organizations from participation in slave organizations from participation in slave huntinghunting

II. Political DisintegrationII. Political Disintegration

The Kansas-Nebraska ActThe Kansas-Nebraska Act

Stephen Douglas of the Whig party, introduced a Stephen Douglas of the Whig party, introduced a bill organizing the Nebraska Territory (which bill organizing the Nebraska Territory (which included Kansas) included Kansas)

Southerners opposed the organization of the Southerners opposed the organization of the territory unless slavery was permittedterritory unless slavery was permitted

Douglas suggested the application of popular Douglas suggested the application of popular sovereignty to the issue as the entire territory fell sovereignty to the issue as the entire territory fell north of the Missouri Compromise linenorth of the Missouri Compromise line

Issue inflamed all sides of the slavery issue, Issue inflamed all sides of the slavery issue, dragging the country closer to war.dragging the country closer to war.

““Young America”Young America” Americans dedicated to the ideals of Americans dedicated to the ideals of

a nationalistic vision that included a nationalistic vision that included slavery and was modeled upon the slavery and was modeled upon the revolutions of the era in Europerevolutions of the era in Europe

Specifically interested in the Specifically interested in the expansion of America into the Latin expansion of America into the Latin American continent and the American continent and the CaribbeanCaribbean

The Know-NothingsThe Know-Nothings Nativist political action party comprised Nativist political action party comprised

mostly of former Whigs who were mostly of former Whigs who were dedicated to staunching the tide of dedicated to staunching the tide of foreign immigrants to the United Statesforeign immigrants to the United States

If asked about their affiliation with the If asked about their affiliation with the group, members were told to respond, “I group, members were told to respond, “I Know Nothing.”Know Nothing.”

III.III. Kansas and the Kansas and the Two CulturesTwo Cultures

““Bleeding Kansas”Bleeding Kansas” On the eve of the Civil War, militant On the eve of the Civil War, militant

abolitionist John Brown and a few abolitionist John Brown and a few followers crept into a pro slavery followers crept into a pro slavery settlement outside of Lawrence, Kansassettlement outside of Lawrence, Kansas

They dragged five men out of their They dragged five men out of their homes and hacked them to death with homes and hacked them to death with swordsswords

This act led to a series of violence in the This act led to a series of violence in the divided territorydivided territory

IV.IV. Polarization and the Polarization and the Road to WarRoad to War

Sectional Splits in the Sectional Splits in the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party

Dred Scott v. SanfordDred Scott v. Sanford: Supreme Court : Supreme Court decision regarding the claims of freedom decision regarding the claims of freedom of a slave that had been transported into a of a slave that had been transported into a free state.free state.

The constitutional crisis in Kansas: the pro-The constitutional crisis in Kansas: the pro-slavery Lecompton constitution was slavery Lecompton constitution was created without a mandate from majority created without a mandate from majority of settlers of Kansas; it led to an uncertain of settlers of Kansas; it led to an uncertain status for Kansas and divided the status for Kansas and divided the Democrats furtherDemocrats further

The Lincoln-Douglas debates in Illinois: The Lincoln-Douglas debates in Illinois: Lincoln’s persuasive debates regarding Lincoln’s persuasive debates regarding slavery drew away a substantial chunk of slavery drew away a substantial chunk of the Democratic party.the Democratic party.

John Brown’s Raids: Still on the lose after John Brown’s Raids: Still on the lose after the Kansas massacre, John Brown hope to the Kansas massacre, John Brown hope to provoke a general uprising of eastern provoke a general uprising of eastern slaves by attacking the federal arsenal at slaves by attacking the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. Brown was Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. Brown was captured, tried, executed, and eventually captured, tried, executed, and eventually became a martyr for the abolitionist/ became a martyr for the abolitionist/ Unionist causeUnionist cause

V.V. The Divided House The Divided House FallsFalls

SecessionSecession

On December 20, 1860, South Carolina On December 20, 1860, South Carolina seceded form the Union; by February, six seceded form the Union; by February, six other Deep South states had followed her other Deep South states had followed her lead.lead.

A week later a delegation met in A week later a delegation met in Montgomery, Alabama to create the Montgomery, Alabama to create the Confederacy. Confederacy.

On April 12, shelling of Fort Sumter On April 12, shelling of Fort Sumter signaled the start of the American Civil signaled the start of the American Civil War.War.