Growth of a Nation (…2 Nations?)

Slave States vs. Free States As U.S. territory grows, new states are created. States in the North are considered Free States (no slavery) Southern states are considered Slave States. …it’s not necessarily all about slavery.

Slave States vs Free States

Slave States vs. Free States The abolition movement is still in its infancy. The creation of slave states vs. free states is mostly about political & economic power. To understand, we have look at how America had developed two very different ways of life…

Life in the North 2½ times the population of the south due mostly to immigrants looking for work in factories 70% of all US railroad track The North was industrial – 110,000 factories vs. 20,000 in the South In 1860 – production of over $1.5 Billion in goods (the South produced just $155 million)

Life in the South 1.Primarily agrarian 2.“Cotton Is King!” * > 5 million bales a yr. (57% of total US exports). 3.Slow development of industry 4.Rudimentary financial system: $47 million in banking deposits compared to $207 million in the North. 5.Inadequate transportation system: many farmers still used water routes to transport cargo.

Why does the South want Slave States? The South needs to expand their agricultural economy & sees the addition of new states as the perfect answer. HOWEVER… The addition of a new Free State meant 2 more senators & additional congressmen in the House of Representatives that would vote in agreement with other northern states

Protecting a Way of Life Southerners needed to maintain at least an equal number of slave states to free states so that they have equal representation in Congress (or better). …otherwise, legislation would be passed that was agreeable to the northern way of life – not the southern.

The Missouri Compromise Maine admitted as a free state Missouri admitted as a slave state, but.. Slavery not allowed in any new states created above Missouri’s southern border.

Missouri Compromise

Uh Oh – more land, more issues Slave states vs Free states again… The Compromise of 1850 California admitted as a free state Utah & New Mexico as slave territories Banned Slave trade in Washington DC Fugitive Slave Law Escaped Slaves are now the government’s responsibility

Uncle Tom’s Cabin 1852 Uncle Tom’s Cabin 1852  Popular Book that brought cruelties of slavery to the attention of the public

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe So this is the lady who started the Civil War. -- Abraham Lincoln

Kansas – Nebraska Act, 1854 “popular sovereignty” to decide free or slave Pro-Abolition & Pro-Slavery forces flood Kansas to sway the vote often clashing with one another - “Bloody Kansas”

Bloody Kansas This led to a series of violent acts in the divided territory. Tempers flared on all sides of the slavery issue, dragging the country closer to war. Militant abolitionist John Brown & few followers crept into a pro- slavery settlement outside of Lawrence, Kansas. They dragged five men out of their homes & hacked them to death with swords.

Kansas Nebraska

Dred Scott Slaves are property Slaves (& former slaves) were not citizens Property rights are guaranteed by the Constitution (5 th amendment) Missouri Compromise declared unconstitutional

John Brown Brown returns east from Kansas & plans a war in Virginia against slavery. October 16, 1859, he & 21 men (5 blacks & 16 whites) raided the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry.

Election of 1860 Birth of the Republican Party Who was their first candidate? The Republicans win the election without winning any Southern States The South sees this as a complete loss of political power in Washington

Secession 11 southern slave states seceded from the US/Union starting in 1860 w/ S. Carolina –SC, MS, FL, AL, GA, LA, TX, VA, AR, TN, NC Confederate States of America –Capital: Montgomery, Alabama (until May 29, 1861) then Richmond, Virginia –President: Jefferson Davis –VP: Alexander Stephens

Union and Confederacy

Fort Sumter: April 12, 1861