The Coming Crisis

Economically, culturally and politically Americans had forged a strong national identity With rapid expansion westward the issue of slavery became more important Thoreau, Nathanial Hawthorne, Whitman, Herman Melville, Douglas and Emily Dickinson were scholars who helped feed Americas desire for information

The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables by Hawthorne Moby Dick by Melville Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas by Douglas Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe All of these novels were part of the American Renaissance of literature

Politicians from all sections of the country cooperated b/c they knew their party would not succeed w/o national appeal Sectional differences ran deep in all parties but they knew that a member of their own party was better than that of the opposing party

Issue of balance of power rose again Calhoun, Webster and Clay argued their views for the last time California became a free state NM and UT Territories slavery would be decided by popular sovereignty Slave trade was banned in Washington D.C. Fugitive Slave Law had to be enforced

It was important that the balance of power remained the same in the Senate Stephen Douglas (IL) pushed the compromise through Congress North and South both believed in manifest destiny and soon developed fixed stereotypes of each other The different visions of both regions became fixed

Northern abolitionist had urged slaves to escape and even assisted them along the Underground Railroad Northerners often refused to return runaways which angered the South The act increased the power to capture and return the slaves and became a federal govt. issue

The law penalized those that did not assist in the recapturing of slaves Northern views became even more supportive of abolishing slavery altogether

Gen. Scott (W) vs. Franklin Pierce (D) and Pierce won easily Pierce received a huge percentage of the immigrant vote which showed the power of the political machines Reformers complained of corruption and vote buying

Began by a group of writers and politicians from the NY Democratic Party Supported the principles of Manifest Destiny Americans tried to force the Spanish to sell Cuba to us but it failed Ostend Manifesto- secret document that threatened to take Cuba from Spain and embarrassed the Pierce Presidency

Pierce sent Admiral Matthew Perry across the Pacific to Japan in 1854 Perry was able to negotiate a trading agreement with Japan Pierce’s goal was to expand U.S. influence but his presidency suffered b/c of the slavery issue

Douglas wanted Chicago of his home state of Illinois to become a major railroad center for the transcontinental RR To do this he need the Kansas and Nebraska territory to be organized into states The issue of popular sovereignty, balance in the Senate and the Missouri Compromise became major problems

Debate and protest rose up throughout the country Eventually an agreement was made that called for popular sovereignty to decide the future of slavery in these territories and repealed the Missouri Compromise Neither side was particularly satisfied with the result of this agreement

Supporters from both sides poured into Kansas to determine the outcome of the vote Violence erupted from both sides and several fraudulent elections were held John Brown led his sons on a raid against pro-slavery people and killed 5

Whig Party eventually collapsed Know-Nothing Party (American Party)- rose up and counted many former Whigs as members and were hugely anti-immigrant Know-Nothings resented the immigrants for taking their jobs Eventually the party split over the issue of slavery

Many members were former Whigs or Know-Nothings Stopping the expansion of slavery along with temperance, tariffs and transportation were some of the parties main ideas Because of the divisions within the country the Republicans quickly rose to power

James Buchanan (D) defeated John C. Freemont (R) and Fillmore (KN) The election was divided along sectional lines Republican Party was now a strong sectional party 1856 election had one of the highest voter turnouts ever

Slave who sued for his freedom in 1846 b/c he and his family had spent so much time in free states Chief Justice Roger B. Taney said that slaves/blacks were not citizens and could not sue, Cong. could not deny property rights and slaves were property Huge victory for the South and angered/motivated abolitionists

Proslavery draft written in Kansas that was rejected by two governors but supported by Buchanan Congress eventually defeated the draft Kansas was refused admission as a state mainly b/c of the Const. and fraudulent elections Kansas finally became a free state in 1861

Credit crunch that caused an economic crisis in the North South was not impacted as badly b/c of the high prices of cotton Economic problems were also brought into the sectional argument

1859 John Brown led a raid on Harper’s Ferry in Virginia Harpers Ferry was a federal arsenal and Brown wanted to arm the slaves for a revolt Browns raid failed and he was executed but viewed as a martyr The raid renewed southerners fear of a slave rebellion

Stephen Douglas (Northern Democrats) John Breckenridge (Southern Democrats) John Bell ( Const. Union Party (South) Abraham Lincoln had the support of the Republican Party Republicans did not campaign in the South and Lincolns name did not even appear on the ballot in 10 states

Democrats had divided their vote and Lincoln won with 40% of the popular vote 2 nd highest voter turnout in U.S. history 81.2% Southerners were furious and immediately moved towards secession S. Carolina was the first to secede followed by 6 others states soon after

Southerners feared emancipation of the slaves and that northerners threatened their way of life Buchanan did nothing and Lincoln refused to compromise Horace Greely said “Go in peace” Crittenden Compromise- failed compromise that would have protected slavery, enforced the fugitive slave law and extend the line

Wrote their own Const. that was similar to ours but gave more rights to the states and made the abolition of slavery nearly impossible Jefferson Davis of MS was elected president and Alexander Stephens was VP

Lincoln remained firm in his stance leading up to his March inauguration Fearing assassination Lincoln had to sneak into the capital Lincoln assumed the presidency on March 4 th 1861 and in 6 weeks we would be at war

Strong sectional differences drastically divided the country Americans were unable to solve the issue of the extension of slavery Political parties were torn apart over the issue Election of 1860 led to the outbreak of the Civil War