Goal 3 The Civil War and Reconstruction Part 1: The Causes

Compromise of 1850 Bleeding Kansas 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854 Dred Scott v Sanford 1857 Lincoln-Douglas Debates 1858 Lincoln Elected 1860 Fort Sumter Attacked 1861 John Brown raids Harper’s Ferry 1859 Underground Railroad Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin 1852 Brooks Beats Sumner 1854

Compromise of 1850 Created by Henry Clay to solve the controversy between free states and slave states The terms of the Compromise of 1850: 1.California admitted to the Union as a free state (Favored the North) 2.Strict fugitive slave law (Favored the South) 3.Popular sovereignty would be followed in the territories gained from the Mexican Cession allowing residents of the new territories to vote for or against slavery). This would determine the status of states in the future. (Favored the North by effectively replacing the Missouri Compromise).

4.Slave trade, not slavery, would be abolished in DC. (Favored South) Texas relinquished claims on New Mexico in return for $10 million dollars used to settle their debts.

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin In 1852, abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe published the world-wide best seller, Uncle Tom’s Cabin The book created major sectional friction The South criticized the book as an attack on the Southern way of life The North increased its protests against the Fugitive Slave Act When Lincoln met Stowe during the Civil War, he said, “So this is the little lady who made the big war.”

Underground Railroad In reaction to the Fugitive Slave Act, the Underground Railroad was established. It was a network to aid fugitives slaves to freedom from the South to the North. The most famous “conductor” was Harriet Tubman.

Kansas-Nebraska Act Stephen Douglas pushed the Kansas-Nebraska Act through Congress which called for popular sovereignty in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. People from Missouri (slave state) moved to Kansas to vote illegally. A proslavery government was established in Lecompton, Kansas. An anti-slavery government was established in Lawrence, Kansas. In the months to come, Kansas was plagued with an outbreak of violence between the two opposing sides.

Bleeding Kansas The rift in Kansas led to violence and murders. Abolitionist John Brown led the “Pottawatomie Massacre” by kidnapping five proslavery men & killing them. Over 200 people were killed. A civil war broke out in Kansas.

Brooks beats Sumner Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner was verbally attacking supporters of slavery, especially Andre P. Butler of South Carolina. Butler’s nephew (Preston Brooks) entered the Senate floor and attacked Sumner with his cane. Sumner suffers shock and brain damage. Southerners applauded Brooks! They actually mail canes to him saying “Hit him again!”. Northerners saw this as another example of Southern brutality.

Dred Scott v. Sanford Dred Scott was a slave from Missouri (slave state) who lived with his owner for four years in free territory. When they returned to Missouri, his owner died. Scott sued for his freedom, stating that he should be free since he had lived in free territory. Supreme Court Justice Roger B. Taney (appointed by Jackson) ruled that slaves did not have the rights of citizens and could not even sue. He also ruled the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional

Lincoln-Douglas Debates The 1858 Illinois Senate race produced an important debate on the issue of the extension of slavery in the territories. Douglas: did not believe slavery was immoral; believed popular sovereignty would kill slavery in time (Freeport Doctrine) Lincoln: believed slavery was immoral; believed legislation was required to end slavery; slavery should not be allowed to spread. Key to Lincoln: “I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races.” Douglas won the Senate seat, but Lincoln and his beliefs were introduced to the nation.

Raid on Harpers Ferry On October 16, 1859, abolitionist John Brown led a band of 21 men, black and white, to seize the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry, VA. His goal was to arm the men and start a general slave insurrection. Plan failed and Brown was captured and hanged.

Lincoln Elected (1860) No Southern states voted for Lincoln. South Carolina was the first state to secede. The Southern states formed The Confederate States of America (Confederacy) in Jefferson Davis was elected President of the Confederacy. Question: Do states have the right to secede from the Union?

Fort Sumter Attacked (1861) The first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. Confederates took over federal installations in their states. Lincoln considers this an act of rebellion and treason.