Leading to a Civil War

The Process of Secession

Leading to a Civil War Events leading to the Secession of the South Political Sectionalism Missouri Compromise 1820 Missouri - slave state Maine - free state Entry of states into the Union have to be balanced - one free/one slave Gag Rule of 1836 postponed action on all petitions relating to slavery without hearing them Compromise of 1850 California a free state Slavery allowed in the other territories acquired from Mexico

Slave and Free Territories Under the Compromise of 1850

Leading to a Civil War Events leading to the Secession of the South Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854 organized 2 new federal territories repealed section of Missouri Compromise prohibiting slavery in states/territories north of 36º 30’ latitude people decide (popular sovereignty)

Leading to a Civil War Events leading to the Secession of the South Dred Scott Decision 1857 Southern dominated court Slaves were property "congress could not ban slavery from territories” Chief Justice Roger Taney

Leading to a Civil War Events leading to the Secession of the South The Election of 1860 Aggressive movements of pro slave movement frightened north Hardened resistance in North intensified southern insecurity South demands - congressional slave codes

Leading to a Civil War Events leading to the Secession of the South The Election of 1860 Freeport Doctrine legislation to protect slave property in north Lead to a division of the Democratic Party Northern Democrats - Stephen Douglas appealed to North & South but ambiguous Southern Democrats - John Breckenridge Appealed to south - popular sovereignty Republicans - Abraham Lincoln Constitutional Union Party - John Bell

The Election of 1860

LEADING TO A CIVIL WAR Events Leading to the Secession of the South Political Sectionalism Missouri Compromise Gag Rule Compromise of 1850 Wilmot Proviso Kansas Nebraska Act 1854 Dred Scot Decision 1857 Election of 1860

Leading to a Civil War 1. Conspiracy President Country Causes Leading to A Civil War 1. Conspiracy President Country North Lincoln 1860 USA South J. Davis 1861 CSA Each side felt the other was conspiring against the other Laws & measures that inhibited the south - DAVIS Congress controlled by north North doesn't want to control south - south wants to expand into the west LINCOLN Each side didn't trust in an economic or political sense

Leading to a Civil War 2. Constitutional Causes Leading to A Civil War 2. Constitutional UNITED STATES VS. STATES UNITED South - separate individual states form the union since states formed the union they can opt out North - the union created the states by the constitution If the union is dissolved there is nothing LINCOLN WAS FIGHTING TO SAVE THE UNION NOT TO FREE THE SLAVES (a political move) Lincoln was a federalist & constitutionalist

Leading to a Civil War Causes Leading to A Civil War 3. Slavery Davis - the Blacks have a better condition under the superior White race “docile savages to bodily comforts and religious instruction” Lincoln - not in favor of bringing about the social or economic equality of Negroes “There must be the position of inferior/superior” Lincoln 1858 Lincoln was a product of his own culture Freeing of slaves not a matter of equality!!! Yet he was against the concept of slavery SAVE THE UNION

Leading to a Civil War Causes Leading to A Civil War 4. Economic Labor South - free labor North - paid labor Tariffs North wanted to protect their products artificial inflation of imports South faced reciprocal tariffs when they exported their agricultural products South Against High Tariffs North Against Free Labor

Leading to a Civil War Causes Leading to A Civil War 4. Economic North passes laws in congress because of an imbalance in voting power 19 Free States 15 Slave States

Leading to a Civil War ". . . it presents the question whether discontented individuals too few in numbers to control administration according to organic law in any case, can always upon the pretenses made in this case, or on any other pretense, break up their government, and thus practically put an end to free government upon the earth. It forces us to ask: Is there, in all republics, this inherent and fatal weakness? Must a government, of necessity be too strong for the liberties of its own people or too weak to maintain its own existence?" Lincoln - July 4, 1861 following Ft. Sumter

Leading to a Civil War “our heritage depends on inherent weakness of a republic to strong to maintain liberties yet too weak to maintain its existence”. Abraham Lincoln

Instructor: Carol Jean Cox Leading to a Civil War Instructor: Carol Jean Cox