A nation divided: setting the stage & early conflicts

 Slavery  Political Divisions  Economic Differences  Sectionalism  These attitudes/ideologies will heighten over newly conquered lands—think U.S. Mex. War  Popular Sovereignty  Bleeding Kansas—pro Slave and Freesoilers pour into Kansas after Kansas-Nebraska Act

 Bleeding Kansas refers to the violent sectional conflicts in the American Midwest in the mid to late 1850s.  AKA: Bloody Kansas or the Border War  illustrated the depth of the struggle between “slave” and “free” states.

Bleeding Kansas by Vince Landis

 Border Ruffians: southerners living in Missouri that crossed the border to Kansas in order to help the Southerners win the elections which would decide if the state would be slave or free.  Ruffians hated Northerners and they initiated the Raid of Lawrence, Kansas. They crossed the state border and looted and burned buildings of the free soil community.  The Raid of Lawrence is sometimes recognized as one of the opening shots” of the Civil War.

 People who supported an end to slavery by moving to territories where the slave issue was to be decided (popular sovereignty)

 Another notable “opening shot” of the Civil War in Bleeding Kansas was the Pottawatomie Massacre.  Led by John Brown, this massacre was an abolitionist attack on a proslavery settlement.  Five proslavery men were taken from their homes and hacked to death in the attack.

 Raised in an antislavery home, this militant abolitionist put his life on the line to defend his cause. John Brown had a mission to abolish slavery, and he went to whatever extreme measures were necessary to accomplish this mission.  John Brown emerged as a significant figure in antebellum sectional conflict and was hanged on December 2, 1859 because of his violent actions in his quest for justice.

 The battle took place on August 30, 1856 when pro-slavery forces led by John Reid shot John Brown’s son.  John Brown received warning that hundreds of pro-slavery soldiers were approaching the town of Osawatomie and he quickly assembled a small fighting force.  This battle even went to an extreme of utilizing cannons, further illustrating how deeply divided the country had become. monument for the Battle of Osawatomie

 The violence of sectional conflict was not limited to Kansas. Even Congress witnessed a violent encounter as abolitionist Charles Sumner attacked the South with his words and was attacked by Preston Brooks.  Sumner delivered a speech in Congress titled “The crime against Kansas” in which he even accused senators that were advocates of slavery. In response to this, Congressman Preston Brooks beat him senseless with a cane.

 Brown planned to lead an armed rebellion against the slave states  Northern abolitionist groups supplied 198 breech- loading.52 caliber Sharps carbines ("Beecher's Bibles") and 950 pikesbreech- loadingSharps carbinesBeecher's Biblespikes  There was a large armory at Harper’s Ferry, VA.  The arsenal had over 100K muskets and rifles  Seize the armory, but the next day local militia men pen Brown’s men in  US Marines under Col. Robert E. Lee and Lt. JEB Stuart take over and end uprising  Brown is hero in north, the devil in the south  Brown hanged: many consider him a martyr  Further dividing the nation

On the day of his execution, Brown wrote his last prophecy, which said, “I John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty, land: will never be purged away; but with Blood. I had as I now think: vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed; it might be done.”

 Abraham Lincoln wins a divided ballot  Lincoln’s election is the last straw for many in the South  Lincoln calls for 75K volunteers (in 90 days) which further antagonizes the South  Secession!

Edmund Ruffin fires first shot at Ft. Sumter. Ruffin was a long-time advocate for seccession.

Union Major Anderson

Beauregard was one of Maj. Anderson’s best students at USMA. Now they faced off across Charleston Harbor.