A Dividing Nation THE ROAD TO WAR

I believe this Government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved -- I do not expect the house to fall -- but I do expect it will cease to be divided. --June 16, 1858 House Divided SpeechHouse Divided Speech Abraham Lincoln

Slave vs Free North and South, Free and Slave fought over new states entering the union Northern states wanted more free states Southern states wanted more slaves states. They try to maintain the balance of power in Congress. The question is whether new states in the territories should be free or slave

20.2 Confronting the Issue of Slavery Westward movement leads to new states in the west. In 1819 Ohio, Indiana, Illinois were free states Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi all permitted slavery. Alabama and Missouri applied for statehood. This upsets the balance of slave and free states. Alabama would even things up, but Missouri was another matter.

Slave StatesFree States Georgia TennesseePennsylvania Vermont South Carolina LouisianaNew Jersey Ohio North Carolina Mississippi New York Indiana Virginia AlabamaConnecticut Illinois MarylandRhode Island DelewareMassachusetts KentuckyNew Hampshire 1819 Balance of Power 11 Slave and 11 Free

Missouri was above the Ohio River, the accepted limit of slavery. If Missouri was admitted, it would throw off the balance of power Tallmadge Amendment-Missouri could enter the Union but only as a free state. Southerners were upset by this. Southerners were afraid that the Northerners would try to stop slavery and maybe eventually end slavery. Northerners were afraid that slavery would overtake the western U.S. The North had more voting power in the House than the South They were equal in the Senate

20.3 The Missouri Compromise In 1820, Maine was now asking to come into the Union Henry Clay crafted a compromise –Maine would come in as a free state –Missouri would be slave Congress drew a line at 36 30’ north of that line slavery was banned south of the line slavery was permitted

An uneasy truce: the Union is preserved for the time being The Missouri Compromise (1820)

20.4 The Missouri Compromise Unravels In the 1830’s abolitionist flooded Washington D.C. with petitions The petitions were tabled or put aside indefinitely. Gag Rule 1831 Nat Turner led a slave rebellion that prompts slave owners to clamp down on slavery and fight abolitionist ideas. Slaveholders demanded a Fugitive Slave Law.

In 1846 James Polk was asking for money to fight the war with Mexico. David Wilmot added a provision to the bill that would outlaw slavery in any land acquired from a war with Mexico. The Wilmot Proviso is passed in the House and rejected in the Senate. In 1849 California applied for admission to the union as a free state The south was opposed to this The north welcomed it with open arms What to do with California? How can the union be perserved? Will the south finally secede?

20.5 The Compromise of 1850 Clay’s compromise allowed Cali as a free state. New Mexico and Utah territories would be open to slavery. The slave trade was ended in Washington D.C. The Fugitive Slave Law was passed. Congress accepts the compromise after a long debate.

Henry Clay in Congress Fugitive Slave Law

20.6 The Compromise Satisfies No One Fugitive Slave Law-Northerners didn’t want to enforce it. Any person who didn’t help a slave catcher or helped a runaway slave could go to jail. Northerners taunted and called slave catchers names. Only 299 slaves were returned south

Harriet Beecher Stowe writes Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1852 The book shows the horrors of slavery and turns millions against slavery. Upon meeting Stowe, Lincoln said “so this is the little lady who started this big war” The fugitive slave law and Uncle Tom’s Cabin had brought slavery to the north.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 Stephen Douglas introduced a bill that created the Kansas and Nebraska territories. In these territories, the issue of slavery would be left up to the people. This is known as popular sovereignty Bleeding Kansas Settlers poured into Kansas. Some were pro-slavery and some were anti-slavery. Two governments were set up On May 21, 1856, pro-slavery settlers invaded Lawrence, Kansas and attacked the town. Free-soilers or anti- slavery people were outraged. John Brown retaliates with seven followers by hacking 5 proslavery people to death with swords.

JOHN BROWN

Violence in CongressBleeding Sumner Charles Sumner of Mass makes a speech against what is happening in Kansas called “the Crime against Kansas” Sumner accused Douglas of plotting with the South. He also attacked Andrew Butler of S.C. Two days later, Preston Brooks, Butler’s nephew attacked Sumner on the floor of Congress. He beat him with a cane until it broke in half. Sumner collapsed unconscious and bloody. It takes him 3 ½ years to recover. Southerners applauded Brooks and even sent him canes to replace the one he broke on Sumner’s head.

The Dred Scott Case Dred Scott v Sanford (1857) Slavery spills into the Supreme Court. Dred Scott was a slave that traveled with his owner to Wisconsin where slavery was banned. Scott sued for his freedom saying that his stay in Wisconsin had made him a free man.Supreme Court 9 members-5 from the south including CJ Roger Taney Key Questions 1.As a slave, did Scott have the right to sue in a Federal Court? 2.Did his stay in Wisconsin make him a free man? Later… 3.Did Congress have the power to make any laws concerning slavery in the territories? 4.Was the Missouri Compromise legal?

The Decision Taney delivered the following decision: 1.Scott could not sue in court because he was not a citizen. Nor could he become a citizen. 2.The Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. Slaves are property and according to the 5 th amendment, property cannot be taken from citizens without due process of law. Congress cannot tell slaveholders where they can and cannot bring their slaves. Congress has to protect the slaveholders rights to their property. map on page 285 This changed the map to look like this:

20.8 From Compromise to Crisis During the Kansas-Nebraska crisis, the Republican party is formed. They are opposed to slavery. Lincoln running for Senate in Illinois against Stephen Douglas. House Divided Speech Lincoln-Douglas debates: Douglas thought the issue of slavery was put to rest by the Dred Scott decision. Lincoln saw it as a moral issue.

John Brown’s Raid Plan was to raid the arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, VA. He would lead a slave rebellion and get rid of slavery once and for all. Fails miserably. Robert E. Lee and the Army show up. Most of his men are killed or captured. He is convicted of treason and hanged. “I am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood.”

Election of 1860 Lincoln-Republican from Illinois Douglas-NorthernDemocrat Brickinridge-Southern Democrat Bell-Constitutional Union Lincoln wins the election on a platform of stopping the spread of slavery in the territories. Not even on the ballot in 10 southern states

20.9 Secession South Carolina votes to leave the union on Dec 20, They are fearful of what Lincoln might do to slavery. April 12, 1861 South Carolina opens fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. The issue would now be decided by war. Return the South to the Union.