Unit 10: Road to the Civil War Lesson 3: Secession

Remember Bleeding Kansas? Violence over slavery continued there Violence over slavery continued there Then, in October 1859, abolitionist John Brown brought his fight against slavery into Virginia Then, in October 1859, abolitionist John Brown brought his fight against slavery into Virginia

John Brown’s Raid John Brown was almost 60 years old John Brown was almost 60 years old He thought of himself as an angel acting on God’s behalf by destroying slavery He thought of himself as an angel acting on God’s behalf by destroying slavery Even if it meant he had to kill people

He’d formed a small army of 18 men He’d formed a small army of 18 men On the night of October 16, 1859, they invaded Harpers Ferry, VA (now WV) On the night of October 16, 1859, they invaded Harpers Ferry, VA (now WV)

What did they do there? They occupied a federal storehouse for weapons They occupied a federal storehouse for weapons Then they seized a rifle factory & took several hostages Then they seized a rifle factory & took several hostages

Why? They wanted to use the guns & rifles they’d obtained to arm all enslaved persons in the area and start a slave revolt that would They wanted to use the guns & rifles they’d obtained to arm all enslaved persons in the area and start a slave revolt that would result in freedom for all African Americans result in freedom for all African Americans

By morning, local farmers & militia had rushed to Harpers Ferry, fearing a slave rebellion By morning, local farmers & militia had rushed to Harpers Ferry, fearing a slave rebellion Brown & his men probably could have escaped, but Brown refused He instead tried to negotiate with the militia, but by then they had trapped him

Rumors spread in Washington of a huge slave rebellion Rumors spread in Washington of a huge slave rebellion President Buchanan sent in army troops & a company of marines, commanded by Colonel Robert E. Lee President Buchanan sent in army troops & a company of marines, commanded by Colonel Robert E. Lee On the second morning, the marines, plus a huge crowd, On the second morning, the marines, plus a huge crowd, surrounded Brown and captured him surrounded Brown and captured him

John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry had lasted 36 hours John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry had lasted 36 hours No local people joined his cause 10 of his men, including 2 of his sons, were killed Brown’s men had killed 4 civilians, 1 marine, & 2 slaves

John Brown’s Fate Gov’t authorities convicted him of treason & murder Gov’t authorities convicted him of treason & murder He was sentenced to hang on December 2, 1859 He was sentenced to hang on December 2, 1859

Effects of John Brown’s Raid Some Northerners admired & supported his attempts to end slavery Some Northerners admired & supported his attempts to end slavery Southerners’ reactions consisted of fear, anger, & hatred for the North Southerners’ reactions consisted of fear, anger, & hatred for the North Many feared the possibility of a slave rebellion, and were convinced that the North hoped to produce one

Brown’s raid even affected the Election of 1860 To hurt the Republican campaign, Democrats said the raid was a “Black Republican” plot, meaning they were To hurt the Republican campaign, Democrats said the raid was a “Black Republican” plot, meaning they were accusing Republican leaders of helping Brown plan the raid accusing Republican leaders of helping Brown plan the raid

This was upsetting to Republicans, many of whom admired Brown’s ideals, This was upsetting to Republicans, many of whom admired Brown’s ideals, but not his actions but not his actions They viewed what he had done as a crime

What else did the Republicans stand for in the 1860 Election? They wanted a homestead act, a transcontinental railroad, and a protective tariff They wanted a homestead act, a transcontinental railroad, and a protective tariff These goals, and thus the Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln, These goals, and thus the Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln, appealed to farmers, Westerners, & manufacturers appealed to farmers, Westerners, & manufacturers

How did the South feel about Lincoln & the Republicans? Many hated Lincoln Many hated Lincoln They saw him as an abolitionist & thought he and the Republicans They saw him as an abolitionist & thought he and the Republicans wanted to declare war on the South wanted to declare war on the South They feared that if Lincoln became President, they would lose their voice in the national gov’t His name didn’t even appear on the ballot in 10 Southern states

Interesting… Can you think of anything that Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy had in common??? Can you think of anything that Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy had in common???

Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846 Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846 Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946 Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946 Lincoln was elected President in 1860 Lincoln was elected President in 1860 Kennedy was elected President in 1960 Kennedy was elected President in 1960

Both were particularly concerned with civil rights Both were particularly concerned with civil rights Both wives lost a child while living in the White House Both wives lost a child while living in the White House

Both presidents were shot on a Friday Both presidents were shot on a Friday Both presidents were shot in the head Both presidents were shot in the head Lincoln’s secretary was named Kennedy Lincoln’s secretary was named Kennedy Kennedy’s secretary was named Lincoln Kennedy’s secretary was named Lincoln

Both were assassinated by Southerners Both were assassinated by Southerners The President that followed each of them was a Southerner named Johnson The President that followed each of them was a Southerner named Johnson Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln was born in 1808 Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln was born in 1808 Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908 Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908

John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839 John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839 Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939 Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939 Both names are composed of 15 letters Both names are composed of 15 letters Both assassins were known by their 3 names Both assassins were known by their 3 names

Lincoln was shot in Ford’s Theater Lincoln was shot in Ford’s Theater Kennedy was shot while riding in a Ford Kennedy was shot while riding in a Ford Lincoln was shot in a theater, and his assassin ran & hid in a warehouse Lincoln was shot in a theater, and his assassin ran & hid in a warehouse Kennedy was shot from a warehouse, and his assassin ran & hid in a theater Kennedy was shot from a warehouse, and his assassin ran & hid in a theater

Both assassins were assassinated before their trials Both assassins were assassinated before their trials

Creepy Lincoln, one week before his death, had a dream of someone crying in the White House Lincoln, one week before his death, had a dream of someone crying in the White House When he found the room, he looked in and asked who had passed away When he found the room, he looked in and asked who had passed away The man in the room said the President The man in the room said the President When he looked in the coffin, When he looked in the coffin, he saw his own face

Election Results Lincoln won every free state except NJ Lincoln won every free state except NJ This gave him the majority of electoral votes This gave him the majority of electoral votes However, because it was a 4-way race, he received only 40% (less than a majority) of the popular votes However, because it was a 4-way race, he received only 40% (less than a majority) of the popular votes

How did the South react? The U.S. senators from SC resigned from Congress The U.S. senators from SC resigned from Congress The state legislature called a convention to decide The state legislature called a convention to decide what steps to take in seceding from the Union what steps to take in seceding from the Union

Not all Southerners were as eager to leave the Union, though Not all Southerners were as eager to leave the Union, though Some thought the South could better defend their rights if Some thought the South could better defend their rights if they stayed part of the Union they stayed part of the Union As a result, Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, & Missouri never left the Union

Others proposed several amendments to the Constitution, which included guaranteeing the continuance of slavery Others proposed several amendments to the Constitution, which included guaranteeing the continuance of slavery in the states where it already existed in the states where it already existed

Desire for secession seemed to spread, and by February, 1861, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, & Texas had voted to and by February, 1861, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, & Texas had voted to leave the Union like South Carolina had 2 months earlier leave the Union like South Carolina had 2 months earlier

How was his election a cause of the Civil War? Why did the South dislike him? Why did the South dislike him? They thought he: They thought he: was an abolitionist wanted to declare war on South They feared they: They feared they: would lose their voice in national gov’t What happened after he was elected? Southern states started seceding

On February 4, 1861, delegates met in Alabama to form a new nation- On February 4, 1861, delegates met in Alabama to form a new nation- the Confederate States of America, or the Confederacy the Confederate States of America, or the Confederacy The line dividing the North and South was called the Mason- Dixon Line The line dividing the North and South was called the Mason- Dixon Line

The Confederacy elected Jefferson Davis, a former member of Congress & the cabinet, as president The Confederacy elected Jefferson Davis, a former member of Congress & the cabinet, as president This did not make the North happy

The Civil War Begins The federal gov’t (now pretty much the gov’t of the North) still had 2 forts in the South The federal gov’t (now pretty much the gov’t of the North) still had 2 forts in the South One of them, Fort Sumter, in Charleston, SC, was short on supplies One of them, Fort Sumter, in Charleston, SC, was short on supplies

The fort’s commander sent word to Lincoln that they needed more soldiers & supplies The fort’s commander sent word to Lincoln that they needed more soldiers & supplies Lincoln knew that sending soldiers would anger the South, so he only sent the supplies

Fort Sumter April 12, 1861 Southerners, though, viewed Lincoln’s orders to send supply ships as an act of war Southerners, though, viewed Lincoln’s orders to send supply ships as an act of war The South had surrounded the harbor with cannons, and when they heard of the approaching Northern ships, The South had surrounded the harbor with cannons, and when they heard of the approaching Northern ships, they started to bombard the fort they started to bombard the fort

After 34 hours of bombardment, but with no lives lost, After 34 hours of bombardment, but with no lives lost, the North surrendered Fort Sumter the North surrendered Fort Sumter

The South raised their flag on the fort The South raised their flag on the fort and fired their weapons in victory and fired their weapons in victory Almost immediately, Lincoln began Almost immediately, Lincoln began mobilizing the North for war mobilizing the North for war

Advantages/Disadvantages for Both Armies Northern Advantages: Northern Advantages: More people More people (about 22 million, total) Under “Southern Disadvantages” you can put: Fewer people (about 9 million) 3 million of whom were African American, and most of them weren’t armed for fear they would revolt

Northern Advantage: More industry More industry ($1.5 billion value) ($1.5 billion value) Southern Disadvantage: Southern Disadvantage: Less industry Less industry ($155 million value) Couldn’t produce all equipment they needed

Northern Advantage: More railroad mileage More railroad mileage Could rapidly transport soldiers & supplies Southern Disadvantage: Southern Disadvantage: Less railroad mileage & couldn’t maintain it  Hurt their defense

Northern Advantage: More ships More ships Southern Disadvantage: Southern Disadvantage: Fewer ships

Northern Advantage: More firearms More firearms Southern Disadvantage: Southern Disadvantage: Fewer firearms 32:1 ratio between North & South

Northern Advantage Used the telegraph for communication Used the telegraph for communication 15,000 miles of telegraph cable was laid in the North purely for military purposes 15,000 miles of telegraph cable was laid in the North purely for military purposes Mobile telegraph wagons reported and received communications from just behind the frontline Mobile telegraph wagons reported and received communications from just behind the frontline President Lincoln would regularly visit the Telegraph Office to get the latest news President Lincoln would regularly visit the Telegraph Office to get the latest news

One more Southern Disadvantage: Less food production Less food production

Southern Advantages: Strong support from the people Strong support from the people Only had to wage a defensive war Only had to wage a defensive war

One Northern Disadvantage: Unfamiliar with the territory Unfamiliar with the territory