I. Nation in Crisis USHC 3.1 Evaluate the relative importance of political events and issues that divided the nation and led to civil war, including the compromises reached to maintain the balance of free and slave states, the abolitionist movement, the Dred Scott case, conflicting views on states rights and federal authority, the emergence of the Republican Party, and the formation of the Confederate States of America

A. Sectionalism Heats Up Addition of new territory to US keeps slavery issue at forefront Land from Louisiana Purchase, Mexican Cession – Western territories becoming states Constant battle in Congress to maintain balance between Free States and Slave States Southern Congressmen dedicated to protection of legality of slavery North and West growing due to immigration and migration South quickly losing power in House of Reps as population stays same in South John C. Calhoun South Carolina Senator Vice President

Population Shifts and Congress Number of Representatives in House of Representatives by Region 1790 1820 1860 TOTAL REP US Population 105 3,929,000 213 9,638,000 241 31,443,000 North 57 (54%) 1,968,000 124 (58%) 5,219,000 161(67%) 19,681,000 South* 48 (46%) 1,961,000 89 (42%) 4,419,000 76 (31%) 11,133,000 West - 4 (2%) 619,000 *includes slaves counted as 3/5.

1820 1840 1860

B. Compromise and Conflict Missouri Compromise Missouri requests admission as slave state Northern Congressmen resist Compromise Missouri added as slave state Maine added as free state No slave states above 36°30’ line Delay of Texas annexation over slavery Wilmot Proviso During Mexican War, David Wilmot of Pennsylvania No slavery in any territory taken from Mexico=“Free Soilers” Passes the House, Fails in Senate South sees as attack, knows must keep balance in Senate

B. Compromise and Conflict California Gold Rush, 1849 Discovery of gold creates mad rush out west – ‘49ers Drastic increase in population Compromise of 1850 California added as a free state Fugitive Slave Act, 1850 Required federal and state law officers to arrest any runaway slaves $1,000 fines for not arresting, or helping Outlaws slave trade in Washington DC Both North and South not happy with it

B. Compromise and Conflict Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854 Popular sovereignty – people vote to decide used to determine whether state slave or free. Nullifies the Missouri Compromise, 36’30 Brooks-Sumner Affair Bleeding Kansas Free Soil (“Jayhawkers”) and Slavery proponents both descend on Kansas prior to vote Fighting breaks out – several killed Dred Scott decision Supreme Court case – does a slave become free if they travel into a free state??? Slaves considered property – no right to sue

Congressional Balance Over Time

C. Abolitionism Movement created support but not political power “gag rule” in Congress Abolitionists were not popular anywhere Often attacked, even in the North Underground Railroad rescues a couple hundred slaves – very small amount Big effect is on the hearts and minds of people Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe Popular reading in North – story, not news Banned in the South John Brown’s Raid, Harpers Ferry, VA

D. Republican Party Emerged out of Free-Soil party “Free-Soilers” opposed the expansion of slavery into the western territories Free-Soilers were not abolitionists Republican Party begins in 1854 Adopts Free Soil idea of keep slavery out of West Return to Missouri Compromise Adopts many different positions instead of one, and therefore more support is possible Abolitionists begin identifying with the party

E. Election of 1860 Country bitterly divided into sections Brooks-Sumner Affair Four candidates run for president Votes split – creates minority vote Abraham Lincoln wins – only 39% of vote As a Republican candidate Southerners accuse him of being an abolitionist South sees this as a step towards end of slavery South Carolina leads seven states in seceding after election – Deep South states Later the next year four more states would join the Confederate States of America

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