The 1850s: Toward Civil War

Essential Question & Learning Goal Essential Question: Why does conflict develop? Learning Goal: Students will be able to determine the causes that led to the division of the nation, discuss and evaluate political compromises made over slavery, draw conclusions about the Kansas- Nebraska Act, and analyze and compare arguments about whether or not the South had the right to secede before the Civil War.

Search for Compromise Texas Mexican Cession Oregon Territory

Search for Compromise California - free or slave? Southern “fire-eaters” threatened secession Underground RR & fugitive slave issues: Personal liberty laws – were used to counter fugitive slave laws Prigg v. Pennsylvania (1842)

Compromise of 1850 A way to end argument over slavery Suggested by Henry Clay California would enter as a free state No slavery limits in other new territories Fugitive Slave Act Anyone who helped a slave could be fined or go to jail. John C Calhoun and President Zachary Taylor die in 1850; new President Fillmore agrees with the compromise

Compromise of 1850

1852 Presidential Election Who do you think won? John Parker Hale Gen. Winfield Scott Franklin Pierce Free Soil Whig Democrat Wanted to expand the US and did not address slavery Free soil, free speech, free men! (No Slavery) DeSplit the Whig vote over slavery

1852 Election Results

Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854 Stephen A. Douglas wanted to Organize territories of Kansas and Nebraska Both would have been free under the Missouri Compromise Popular sovereignty - People would vote to be a free or slave state Solidified the divide between northerners and southerners

Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854 VIDEO

“Bleeding Kansas” “Border Ruffians” went to Kansas to vote illegally 6,000 people voted in Kansas, but the popn was only 1,500 May 1856- slavery supporters attacked anti-slavery supporters in Lawrence. There were about 50 deaths Border ruffians – pro-slavery supporters from Missouri

“Bleeding Kansas” VIDEO

“The Crime Against Kansas” “[He is] a noise-some, squat, and nameless animal... taking "a mistress who, though ugly to others, is always lovely to him; though polluted in the sight of the world, is chaste in his sight—I mean," added Sumner, "the harlot, Slavery."    Congr. Preston Brooks (D-SC) Sen. Charles Sumner (R-MA) VIDEO

The “Know-Nothings” [The American Party] Nativists – favored native-born Americans over immigrants Anti-Catholics Anti-anyone who is not American 1849 - Secret Order of the Star-Spangled Banner created in NYC

Birth of the Republican Party, 1854 Northern Whigs Northern Democrats Free-Soilers Know-Nothings Other miscellaneous opponents of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Gained support due to events in Kansas

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

1856 Election Results Note Republicans quick rise to threaten southern views

Dred Scott v. Sanford, 1857 Scott lived in a free state, therefore he could be a free man. Chief Justice Roger Taney said that “negroes were not citizens and therefore could not sue in court”. Attempted to sue as a “free man in a free state” after hos owners took him to a free state. Supreme Court decided slaves were not citizens. Slavery could not be legally excluded from U.S. territories.

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates, 1858 "A house divided against itself cannot stand."

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates (Illinois Senate) 1858 Douglas- Let the people decide what to do with slavery Lincoln- We can’t easily stop slavery, but we can keep it from spreading. Idea of what? (popular sovereignty)

Stephen Douglas & the Freeport Doctrine States could legally exclude slavery by refusing to give rights to slave owners. VIDEO Lincoln tried to make Douglas choose a stance between popular sovereignty (Kansas-Nebraska Act) and Dred Scott decision (slavery cannot be excluded from U.S. territories.) Stuck with popular sovereignty for the most part.

John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry, 1859 VIDEO Attacked an arsenal to arm a slave revolt. Defeated and hanged. Southerners found out abolitionists paid for the raid and knew the nation was at the brink of war.