Events Leading to the Civil War 1845-1860

Sectionalism and States Rights

Sectionalism West South North Farming Cash Crops Slave Labor Factories Ranching Cotton Class Differences Pioneer Farms Hunting Mining Lumber Ranching Indian Issues Factories Fishing Whaling Railroads Large Population Cities

Popular Sovereignty in the West Let the people decide if they want slavery or not in the western territories Started by Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois

Compromise of 1850 Admits California as a free state Abolishes slave trade in Washington, D.C. Popular sovereignty in western territories Fugitive slave law***

Abolitionists Quakers William Lloyd Garrison Frederick Douglass Henry David Thoreau Sarah and Angelina Grimke

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe Focuses on slave life in Kentucky and Louisiana Uncle Tom is a good and complacent soul Simon Legree is the evil slave driver Eliza flees to freedom by crossing the icy Ohio River Lincoln called Stowe the “little lady who started the Civil War”

Published in 1852

Underground Railroad and Fugitive Slave Law Fugitive slave law—federal violation for aiding runaway slaves Secret escape routes to Northern free states Harriet Tubman— “Moses” Quakers

Kansas-Nebraska Act-1854 Popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska territories (let the people decide through voting for or against slavery) Led to “Bleeding Kansas” Abolitionists led by John Brown

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Dred Scott v. Sanford

The Dred Scott Case Supreme Court Decision in 1857 Dred Scott sued his master for freedom after Sanford had taken him to a free state Chief Justice Taney wrote the ruling that slaves were property, not citizens and could not sue Slaves could be taken into any state and are still slaves Only a constitutional amendment could overrule this momentous decision Southerners rejoiced and Northerners were outraged

Abolitionist Activity

Brooks-Sumner Incident Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner gave abolitionist speech in 1856 He insulted slave owner Andrew Butler, uncle of Preston Brooks—both from South Carolina Three days later, Congressman Brooks decided that Sumner was beneath dueling since he was no gentleman He beat Sumner with a cane, seriously injuring him Brooks was censured and Sumner became a strong advocate of Radical Reconstruction

The attack on Sumner was applauded across the South

John Brown and Harpers Ferry--1859 John Brown led a “holy war” of escaped slaves against the white race He captured the arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (today, West Virginia) Colonel Robert E. Lee was sent to capture the rebels Many rebels were killed including some of Brown’s sons Brown was captured, tried and hanged Songs and pictures showed Brown as a hero to the abolitionist cause

John Brown—Hero or Criminal?

Other Terms: Gag rule—1835-1844—no anti-slavery discussion in Congress allowed—J. Q. Adams said this violated 1st amendment Free Soil Movement—3rd party 1848-54—against slavery in western territories Wilmot Proviso—1845—proposal to ban slavery in lands won from Mexico—FAILED Nullification Crisis—Jackson vs. SC over protective tariff—do states have a right to nullify federal law?

Presidents Zachary Taylor—Whig Millard Fillmore—Whig Franklin Pierce --Democrat James Buchanan

The Republican Party Formed in 1854 in Wisconsin Principle: against the spread of slavery into the western territories John C. Fremont (Western trailblazer) ran as a Republican for President in 1856 (lost) Abraham Lincoln, a Whig, joined the party and became the first Republican President The party dominated 19th and early 20th century presidencies

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates Seven debates for the two candidates for U.S. Senate from Illinois—1858 Democrat Stephen Douglas (“the little giant”) vs. Republican Abraham Lincoln (“the rail splitter”) “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” (Abraham Lincoln) Douglas promoted popular sovereignty Douglas won the election to Senate

Lincoln vs. Douglas

Election of 1860 Douglas—Democrat—12 electoral votes—29.4% popular vote Breckenridge—National Democrat (Southern)—72 electoral votes—18% popular vote Bell—Constitutional Union—39 electoral votes—12% popular vote Lincoln—Republican--180 electoral votes--39.8% popular vote *After the election, S.C. seceded*

Create a Circle Graph “Slavery: Statistics vs. Myths” ¾ % owned over 50 slaves 2.5% owned 20-49 slaves 4% owned 10-19 slaves 5.75 % owned 5-9 slaves 7% owned 2-4 slaves 5% owned 1 slaves 75% owned no slaves Why, then, did the South fight so hard to keep this institution?

Quick Check 1. Make a chart entitled Events Leading to The Civil War 2. Include three categories: political, social and economic 3. List 12 events under the three categories with at least 3 in each