Toward Civil War

Missouri Compromise - 1820

Applied to Louisiana Territory States would be admitted in pairs – 1 “free” &

1 “slave” Drew line at 36° 30΄ - to the north – free

to the south - slave

Missouri Compromise - 1820

Compromise of 1850

California – free state Utah and New Mexico territories – popular

sovereignty No slave trade in Washington, D.C. Strict enforcement of Fugitive Slave Act Settlement of boundary dispute between

Texas and New Mexico

Compromise of 1850

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe Expressed moral outrage at the institution of slavery

and the destructiveness on both whites and African-Americans

Humanized slavery & increased anti-slavery sentiment in north; was banned in south

When Stowe met President Lincoln in 1862, he is said to have exclaimed, "So you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war!"

Kansas – Nebraska Act 1854

Applied popular sovereignty to Kansas and Nebraska territories

Previously designated “free” territories – now the possibility that slavery could exist to north of line 36°30΄

Bleeding Kansas

Mini civil war when vote on fate of Kansas was taken

“Border Ruffians” 200+ killed, million of dollars in property

damage Vote → Pro-slavery 2 governments formed (1 free, 1 slave)

Dred Scott v. Sanford(1857)

Background– Dred Scott, slave, taken

into free territory by owner, then returned to slave territory. Scott sued owner believing that his presence in free territory made him a free man

Constitutional Issue– Was Dred Scott a citizen &

legally entitled to use courts? Did his presence in a free territory make him a free man?

Dred Scott v. Sanford

Decision– Slave defined as property (chatle), not citizen. Freeing him

would be violation of 5th Amendment due process– Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional because

designating “free territory” could deprive an owner of his “property”

Importance– Step closer to Civil War (Congress can’t legislate,

Presidents unwilling to intervene, now Court refused to free Dred Scott & thousands in same situation)

– Dred Scott case

Lincoln-Douglas Debates 1858 Illinois Senate race

Abraham Lincoln: Republican, relative unknown -- opposed the extension of slavery into the territories (not abolitionist); “A house divided …” “This gov’t cannot endure permanently half slave and half free”.

Stephen Douglas: Democrat, incumbent U.S. Senator in Illinois – believed in popular sovereignty – “Freeport doctrine” – slavery could not exist if local citizens did not pass and enforce laws for maintaining it

Importance of Lincoln/Douglas Debate

Even though Douglas won the election, he lost support from southern Democrats

Lincoln gained national recognition and became a leading contender for the Presidential race in 1860

John Brown’s Raid at Harpers Ferry

Brown was a radical abolitionist Plan was to arm the slaves for a rebellion using

weapons taken from the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry

Brown was captured, tried and executed for his role → martyr for the cause

The south feared the north had intentions of using slave revolts to destroy the south → harsher treatment of slaves

“Battle Hymn of the Republic” or “Glory, Glory Hallelujah” – originally was “John Brown’s Song”

– John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave;

– John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave;

– John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave;

– His soul's marching on! (Chorus) Glory, halle—hallelujah! Glory, halle—

hallelujah! Glory, halle—hallelujah! his soul's marching

on! – He's gone to be a soldier in the army of

the Lord! – He's gone to be a soldier in the army of

the Lord! – He's gone to be a soldier in the army of

the Lord! – His soul's marching on!

(Chorus)

John Brown, Abolitionist: “The Man Who Killed Slavery, Sparked the Civil War, and Seeded Civil Rights” – David S. Reynolds

john brown's farm lake placid, ny - Google Search

Election of 1860

Candidate Political Party Platform

Lincoln Republican No extension of slavery; RR; Homestead Act

Douglas Northern Democratic Popular Sovereignty

Breckinridge Southern Democratic States’ Rights

Bell Constitutional Union Protect the Constitution and the Union of all states

Results of Election of 1860

Lincoln’s Election leads to Secession

States’ Rights theory – the states created the union of states, they can break it apart by secession

South Carolina leads the way with secession – followed by 6 other states (Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas)– Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia

would secede early in 1861

President Buchanan

“lame duck” – from November of 1860 – March of 1861

Buchanan believed states seceded because Lincoln was elected – let Lincoln deal with it

Buchanan believed he as President had no constitutional authority to respond to secession

Result of Buchanan’s Inability to Act

Southern states secede Form the Confederate States of America Wrote a constitution (patterned on US constitution)

that supported states’ rights philosophy Elected representatives to the Confederate

government ALL THIS WAS DONE BEFORE LINCOLN TOOK

THE OATH OF OFFICE