USHC Standard 3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of how regional and ideological differences led to the Civil War and an understanding of the impact of the Civil War and Reconstruction on democracy in America. USHC 3.1: Evaluate the relative importance of political events and issues that divided the nation and led to civil war, including the compromises reached to maintain the balance of free and slave states, the abolitionist movement, the Dred Scott case, conflicting views on states’ rights and federal authority, the emergence of the Republican Party, and the formation of the Confederate States of America.

How successful was the abolitionist movement POLITICALLY?  Although the abolitionist movement kept the issue of slavery at the forefront of national conversation, abolitionists did not significantly impact the actions of the national government  The petitions sent to Congress by abolitionists fell victim to the “gag rule”  “gag rule”: a rule that limits or forbids the raising, consideration or discussion of a particular topic by members of a legislative or decision-making body Abolitionists ran for political office under the Liberty Party, but they were not elected

How successful was the abolitionist movement SOCIALLY?  Abolitionists impacted the sentiments of people in both the North and South  The distribution of William Lloyd Garrison’s The Liberator through the mails was banned in the South, which showed the fear the southerners had of the abolitionist movement

William Lloyd Garrison Harriet Beecher Stowe Harriet Tubman The Grimke Sisters John Brown

Who were the abolitionists?  Most Northerners were NOT abolitionists  Abolitionists were not popular, and were sometimes attacked, even in the North  William Lloyd Garrison, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Harriet Tubman, The Grimke sisters, John Brown most notable

What did abolitionists do?  Abolitionists helped some slaves escape to the North on the Underground Railroad *The numbers of escaped slaves were relatively small, especially in the deep South because of the distance to free land  Harriet Beecher Stowe’s book Uncle Tom’s Cabin reached many northern readers and evoked popular sympathy for slaves and anger over the Fugitive Slave Laws  The abolitionist John Brown’s actions at Harpers’ Ferry struck fear in the hearts of slave owners and made them determined to protect slavery and fearful of the intentions of northerners

What did John Brown do?  John Brown’s Raid (John Brown’s Raid on Harpers’ Ferry): an attempt by white abolitionist John Brown to start an armed slave revolt by seizing a United States Arsenal at Harpers Ferry in Virginia in Brown's raid was defeated by a detachment of U.S. Marines led by Col. Robert E. Lee.  Brown was hailed as a martyr by vocal Northern abolitionists, which led Southerners to believe the feeling was generalized in the North (it was not!), which further divided the North and South

MAIN IDEA: The actions of abolitionists were significant but it was the controversy over the spread of slavery to the territories that eventually contributed to secession, war and ultimately abolition.