1. I. Nation in Crisis
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

2. A. Sectionalism Heats Up
Addition of new territory to US keeps slavery issue at forefront
Land from Louisiana Purchase, Mexican Cession – Western territories becoming states
Constant battle in Congress to maintain balance between Free States and Slave States
Southern Congressmen dedicated to protection of legality of slavery
North and West growing due to immigration and migration
South quickly losing power in House of Reps as population stays same in South
John C. Calhoun
South Carolina Senator
Vice President

3. Population Shifts and Congress
Number of Representatives in House of Representatives by Region
1790
1820
1860
TOTAL REP
US Population
105
3,929,000
213
9,638,000
241
31,443,000
North
57 (54%)
1,968,000
124 (58%)
5,219,000
161(67%)
19,681,000
South*
48 (46%)
1,961,000
89 (42%)
4,419,000
76 (31%)
11,133,000
West -
4 (2%)
619,000
*includes slaves counted as 3/5.

4. 1820
1840
1860

5. B. Compromise and Conflict
Missouri Compromise
Missouri requests admission as slave state
Northern Congressmen resist
Compromise
Missouri added as slave state
Maine added as free state
No slave states above 36°30’ line
Delay of Texas annexation over slavery
Wilmot Proviso
During Mexican War, David Wilmot of Pennsylvania
No slavery in any territory taken from Mexico=“Free Soilers”
Passes the House, Fails in Senate
South sees as attack, knows must keep balance in Senate

6. B. Compromise and Conflict
California Gold Rush, 1849
Discovery of gold creates mad rush out west – ‘49ers
Drastic increase in population
Compromise of 1850
California added as a free state
Fugitive Slave Act, 1850
Required federal and state law officers to arrest any runaway slaves
$1,000 fines for not arresting, or helping
Outlaws slave trade in Washington DC
Both North and South not happy with it

7. B. Compromise and Conflict
Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854
Popular sovereignty – people vote to decide
used to determine whether state slave or free.
Nullifies the Missouri Compromise, 36’30
Brooks-Sumner Affair
Bleeding Kansas
Free Soil (“Jayhawkers”) and Slavery proponents both descend on Kansas prior to vote
Fighting breaks out – several killed
Dred Scott decision
Supreme Court case – does a slave become free if they travel into a free state???
Slaves considered property – no right to sue

8. Congressional Balance Over Time

9. C. Abolitionism Movement created support but not political power
“gag rule” in Congress
Abolitionists were not popular anywhere
Often attacked, even in the North
Underground Railroad rescues a couple hundred slaves – very small amount
Big effect is on the hearts and minds of people
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Popular reading in North – story, not news
Banned in the South
John Brown’s Raid, Harpers Ferry, VA

10. D. Republican Party Emerged out of Free-Soil party
“Free-Soilers” opposed the expansion of slavery into the western territories
Free-Soilers were not abolitionists
Republican Party begins in 1854
Adopts Free Soil idea of keep slavery out of West
Return to Missouri Compromise
Adopts many different positions instead of one, and therefore more support is possible
Abolitionists begin identifying with the party

11. E. Election of 1860 Country bitterly divided into sections
Brooks-Sumner Affair
Four candidates run for president
Votes split – creates minority vote
Abraham Lincoln wins – only 39% of vote
As a Republican candidate
Southerners accuse him of being an abolitionist
South sees this as a step towards end of slavery
South Carolina leads seven states in seceding after election – Deep South states
Later the next year four more states would join the Confederate States of America

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