1. Road to Secession SWBAT: Describe the immediate events that led to the secession of most slave states from the Union

2. Do Now Why was the free-soil platform & the election of Abraham Lincoln so threatening to the South?

3. Raid at Harpers Ferry 1859: John Brown believed time had come to use arms to emancipate slaves Always believed God had destined him to free America’s enslaved population With 16 followers, including his sons, Brown planned to raid the federal armory in Harpers Ferry, VA (WV today) Wanted to arm slaves, so they could participate in the revolt He expected hundreds of slaves to join him Sources claim between 5 - 9 slaves showed up

4. Raid at Harpers Ferry The raid was a failure Brown & most of his followers were either killed (his sons) or captured within 36 hours Brown was arrested by Col. Robert E. Lee

5. John Brown’s Trial Tried for treason against the commonwealth of Virginia  sentenced to death via hanging Interesting Fact: John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln’s assassin, attended Brown’s execution Brown’s courageous & dignified conduct during the trial made him a martyr to northerners John Brown’s Speech: After reading the speech, complete the two guiding questions

6. Breakup of Democratic Party Stephen Douglas- leading Democratic candidate in 1860 Platform: Popular sovereignty, enforcement of Fugitive Slave Act Nomination originally blocked by angry southerners & supporters of President Buchanan  later nominated after delegates from slave states walked out of convention

7. Breakup of Democratic Party Southern Democrats nominated their own candidate, John C. Breckinridge Platform: unrestricted extension of slavery, annexation of Cuba

8. Republican Party Nomination Projected an easy win over divided Democrats Platform: Exclusion of slavery from territories, protective tariffs for industry, free-land for homesteaders, internal improvements to encourage western settlement (a rail to the Pacific!) Republicans turned to the strong debater from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln Southern Secessionists warned if Lincoln won, their states would leave the Union AKA “Fire Eaters”

10. 1860 Election Results Lincoln carried every free state in the North = 59% of electoral votes Breckenridge won the Deep South Together, Breckenridge & Douglas received more popular votes than Lincoln

11. 1860 Election Results

12. Crittenden Compromise After election, Southern leaders who wanted to maintain Union tried to negotiate  Crittenden Compromise Crittenden, Senator of Kentucky, proposed: Guaranteed right to hold slaves in all territories south of the 36°30’ line Southern seceding states rejected the compromise: “too little, too late”

13. The Secession Movement The election marked a fundamental shift in power & the beginning of a long period of Republican rule Slave-owners feared Republican efforts to extend into the South by appealing to non-slaveholders Deep South political leaders voiced independence for their region & believed their way of life was at stake

14. The Secession Movement Before Lincoln took office on March 4, 1861, 7 states had seceded from the Union & formed the Confederate States of America Jefferson Davis was sworn in as President of the Confederate States of America on February 18, 1861, on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol

16. HIPPO!

17. Wrap Up Was it possible to save American democracy in 1860? What steps might have been taken to maintain unity? Why do you think these steps were not taken?

18. How is this 1860 photograph of the Capitol symbolic of the Union at this time?