Growing Crises and Divide

Division Over Slavery The major question after the Mexican-American War was whether or not slavery should be allowed in the new territories. The North viewed slaves as inferior, but that slavery was morally wrong and should be ended. The South viewed slavery as a necessity (to maintain their economy), and more civilized than the northern system of labor found in factories.

Division Over Slavery Both Democrats and Whigs were split over the issue, dividing instead along regional lines. Thus, slavery was a sectional issue. A new political party formed with anti-slavery members of each party. It was known as the Free-Soil Party. The main goal of the party was to keep slavery out of the territories completely (sound familiar?) Both the Whigs and Democrats chose a more moderate solution of popular sovereignty– allowing the voters to decide whether or not to allow slavery.

Protest and Violence A series of homes was established to help slaves escape from the South to the North. This was known as the Underground Railroad. One of the most famous ‘conductors’ was Harriet Tubman, a.k.a. ‘Black Moses’. - She earned this nickname because she would help guide slaves to freedom, much as Moses had done with the Jews from Egypt.

Protest and Violence In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe published the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Influenced heavily by the Second Great Awakening, and her father’s preaching, she wrote the novel to provide some Northerners with a depiction of the horrors of slavery (unfamiliar to many). Many Southerners were angry by the publication because they felt it portrayed all southerners as evil.

Kansas-Nebraska Act In 1854, Stephen Douglas proposed a bill to organize the Nebraska Territory into a state, called the Kansas- Nebraska Act. It was believed that popular sovereignty would decide whether slavery would be allowed or not.

Kansas-Nebraska Act In addition, Douglas amended the bill to split the Nebraska Territory into two– Nebraska and Kansas. Many believed one would be a free state (Nebraska) and the other (Kansas) a slave state. A flood of settlers rushed to Kansas to sway the voting in their favor. Two governments were established. Border Ruffians came from Missouri to form a pro-slavery government; northern abolitionists the other.

Response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act Both governments applied for statehood in 1856. A series of violent battles took place between the two sides, earning the state the nickname of ‘Bleeding Kansas’. After Border Ruffians attacked the anti- slavery town of Lawrence, John Brown, an abolitionist, retaliated by executing pro- slavery settlers. This increased tensions between the two opposing sides.

Violence in the Senate In 1856, Charles Sumner (Massachusetts senator) delivered a speech entitled “The Crime Against Kansas”. Southerners were angered by Sumner’s speech, and further agitated by his personal attacks against Southern representatives. Representative Preston Brooks, the nephew of SC senator Andrew Butler, whom the speech attacked, beat Sumner with his cane. Both sides (North and South) stood by their representatives, electing them as a symbol for their causes. Northerners were enraged by the incident, whereas some Southerners applauded what Brooks had done.