The Road to the American Civil War 1850’s

Compromise of 1850 424-429 424-429

Compromise of 1850

The Fugitive Slave Act 1850 Increased power of slave owners to capture escaped slaves Fed gov’t supported slave owners Imposed fed penalties on citizens who protected or assisted slaves Abolitionists reacted fiercely: Some support armed resistance!

1852 Presidential Election The “Young American Movement” √ Franklin Pierce Gen. Winfield Scott John Parker Hale Democrat Whig Free Soil

Marked End of Whig Party!! 1852 Election Results Marked End of Whig Party!!

Expansionism Under Pierce Clayton-Bulwer Treaty Neither US or GB would fortify or secure exclusive control over any future waterway in Panama region The “Young American Movement” Sense of national pride and American superiority Southerners want more territory for cotton! Ostend Manifesto Secret document where the US offered $130 million for Cuba and if Spain said no, US would take it!! Commodore Matthew Perry and his war ships open trade with Japan

Crisis of the National Party System 429-434 429-434

Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854

“Bleeding Kansas”

John Brown: Madman, Hero or Martyr? May 1856 – Pottawatomie Massacre Mural in the Kansas Capitol building by John Steuart Curry (20c)

The “Know-Nothings” [The American Party] Nativists. Anti-Catholics. Anti-immigrants.

1856 Presidential Election √ James Buchanan John C. Frémont Millard Fillmore Democrat Republican American Party

1856 Election Results

Differences Deepen 434-438

“The Crime Against Kansas” Sen. Charles Sumner (R-MA) Congr. Preston Brooks (D-SC)

Dred Scott v. Sanford, 1857 Chief Justice Taney Overturned Missouri Compromise and Compromise of 1850 Upheld the right of slave owners to their property in new territories Questioned the validity of popular sovereignty Threw case out b/c slaves weren’t citizens and therefore DID NOT have the right to sue in S.C.

Lecompton Constitution Pro-slavery constitution for KS which sparked a federal debate Free-soilers boycotted pro-slavery gov’t by forming their own gov’t in Topeka Constitution supported by Pres. Buchanan but blocked in Congress 1859 – KS held another constitutional convention and was admitted as a free state in 1861 Impact on Democrats Split party among sectional lines

A House divided against itself, cannot stand. The Lincoln-Douglas (Illinois Senate) Debates, 1858 A House divided against itself, cannot stand.

Stephen Douglas & the Freeport Doctrine Popular Sovereignty?

John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry, Oct. 1859

Effects of Harper’s Ferry Brown seen as an agent of northern abolitionism and antislavery conspiracy (‘secret six’) Southern states began to organize for protection against future threats Perhaps the most immediate cause of disunion!!

The South Secedes 438-443 438-443

1860 Presidential Election √ Abraham Lincoln Republican John Bell Constitutional Union John C. Breckinridge Southern Democrat Stephen A. Douglas Northern Democrat

Republican Party Platform 1860 Non-extension of slavery Protective tariff No abridgment of rights for immigrants Government aid to build a Pacific RR Internal improvements at federal expense. Free homesteads for the public domain

1860 Election Results

Secession!: SC Dec. 20, 1860

Establishment of the Confederacy Commitment to individualism and decentralization Support states rights Abolition of slavery IMPOSSIBLE! First Confederate This flag was adopted but never officially enacted. For twenty five days the Confederate States of America had no officially approved flag. This flag was raised in a ceremony on March 4, 1861, it contained seven stars, representing the original Confederate States.

The Confederate “White House” Montgomery The third national flag was adopted March 4, 1865, just before the fall of the Confederacy.

The Leaders of the Confederacy Pres. Jefferson Davis VP Alexander Stevens Secession was normal, responsible & expectable