Leading up to the war and Angering the South!! 1850-1860 THE UNION IN PERIL Leading up to the war and Angering the South!! 1850-1860

THE SOUTH BEFORE THE WAR Rural plantation economy Relied on slave labor Southerners feared the loss of slavery would mean loss of culture Family working the cotton field on a Plantation

THE NORTH BEFORE THE WAR The North had a more diverse economy Industry flourished The North openly opposed slavery in the South and the new territories BOSTON HARBOR

SLAVERY IN THE TERRITORIES The issue of whether slavery in California and the West would be legal led to heated debates in Congress Gold rush led to application for statehood for California CALIFORNIA BECAME A STATE IN 1850

COMPROMISE OF 1850 Southerners threatened secession over issue Henry Clay again worked a Compromise For the North: California would be admitted as free state For the South: A more effective fugitive slave law Residents of New Mexico & Utah would vote themselves-”popular sovereignty” CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE

FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW Under the law, runaway slaves were not entitled to a trial by jury Anyone helping a slave escape was jailed for 6 months and fined $1,000 Northerners were upset by the harshness of the new law and often helped hide fugitive slaves A HARSH FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW FURTHER INCREASED TENSIONS

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD Escape from slavery was dangerous and meant traveling on foot at night As time went on, African Americans and white abolitionists developed a secret network of people who would hide fugitive slaves ”Conductors” would hide runaways in tunnels and even kitchen cupboards

HARRIET TUBMAN One of the most famous conductors was Harriet Tubman Tubman escaped slavery and vowed to help others do the same She made 19 trips back to South and freed over 300 slaves (Including her own parents) HARRIET TUBMAN 1820-1913

UNCLE TOM’S CABIN In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe published her influential novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin The book stressed the moral evil of slavery Abolitionist protests increased Instant best seller sold 500,000 by 1857 Author Harriet Beecher Stowe

TENSION BUILDS IN KANSAS After Stephen Douglas worked to pass the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, Kansas would vote to decide on whether slavery would be legal or outlawed This contradicted the 36’ 30’ of the Missouri Compromise vs.

BLEEDING KANSAS The race for Kansas was on. Both supporters and opponents attempted to populate Kansas to win the vote over slavery As the election neared, a group of pro-slavery “border ruffians” from Missouri attempted to cross into Kansas Violence erupted – Bleeding Kansas is the legacy Finally, after years of fighting, Kansas is admitted as a free state in 1861

NEW POLITICAL PARTIES EMERGE The political landscape by 1856 was very different than it had been just a few years earlier Gone was the Whig Party The Democrats were still alive but faced increasing challenge from new parties An alternative was the Know-Nothing Party Know-Nothing members answered questions by saying, “I know Nothing”

THE FREE-SOILERS “Soil” Another party that emerged in the mid-19th century was the Free-Soilers They were northerners who opposed slavery in the new territories Free-Soilers objections to slavery were based on economics not moral objection to slavery They believed slavery drove down wages for white workers “Soil”

REPUBLICANS EMERGE AS LEADING PARTY In 1854, opponents of slavery in the territories formed a new political party, the Republican Party As the party grew it took on Free-Soilers, some anti-slavery Democrats and Whigs, and Know-Nothings Republicans won all but 3 presidential elections from 1861-1933

THE DRED SCOTT DECISION A major Supreme Court decision occurred when slave Dred Scott was taken by his owner to free states Illinois & Wisconsin Scott argued that that made him a free man Finally in 1857, the Court ruled against Dred Scott citing the Constitution’s protection of property The decision increased tensions over slavery DRED SCOTT LOST HIS CHANCE AT FREEDOM

LINCOLN – DOUGLAS DEBATES The 1858 race for U.S. Senate in Illinois was hotly contested between Republican Lincoln and Democratic Douglas One of the most celebrated debates in history ensued as the topic was slavery in the territories Douglas favored popular sovereignty while Lincoln wanted a Constitutional Amendment “THE LITTLE GIANT” VS. “HONEST ABE”

HARPER’S FERRY While politicians debated the slavery issue, John Brown plotted a major slave revolt On October 16, 1859, he led a band of 21 men, black and white, into Harpers Ferry, Virginia He hoped to seize a large federal arsenal, but troops put down the rebellion Brown was tried and executed ARSENAL BROWN

1860 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Republicans nominated Abe Lincoln while the Democrats split Lincoln won the 1860 election with less than half the popular vote and no Southern electoral votes The Southern states were not happy LINCOLN MEMORIAL

1860 ELECTION RESULTS

SOUTHERN SUCESSION Lincoln’s victory in 1860 election convinced Southerners that they had to act quickly South Carolina led the way, seceding from the union in December of 1860 Mississippi was next, then Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, & Texas Southern delegates met in February, 1861 and formed the Confederate States with Jefferson Davis as President