1. Leading up to the war and Angering the South!! 1850-1860
THE UNION IN PERIL
Leading up to the war and Angering the South!!

2. THE SOUTH BEFORE THE WAR
Rural plantation economy
Relied on slave labor
Southerners feared the loss of slavery would mean loss of culture
Family working the cotton field on a Plantation

3. THE NORTH BEFORE THE WAR
The North had a more diverse economy
Industry flourished
The North openly opposed slavery in the South and the new territories
BOSTON HARBOR

4. COMPROMISE OF 1850
The issue of whether slavery in California and the West would be legal led to heated debates in Congress
Southerners threatened secession over issue
Henry Clay again worked a Compromise
For the North: California would be admitted as free state
For the South: A more effective fugitive slave law
Residents of New Mexico & Utah would vote themselves-”popular sovereignty”
CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE

5. FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW
Under the law, runaway slaves were not entitled to a trial by jury
Anyone helping a slave escape was jailed for 6 months and fined $1,000
Northerners were upset by the harshness of the new law and often helped hide fugitive slaves
A HARSH FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW FURTHER INCREASED TENSIONS

6. UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
Escape from slavery was dangerous and meant traveling on foot at night
As time went on, African Americans and white abolitionists developed a secret network of people who would hide fugitive slaves
”Conductors” would hide runaways in tunnels and even kitchen cupboards
One of the most famous conductors was Harriet Tubman
Tubman escaped slavery and vowed to help others do the same
She made 19 trips back to South and freed over 300 slaves (Including her own parents)

7. UNCLE TOM’S CABIN
In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe published her influential novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin
The book stressed the moral evil of slavery
Abolitionist protests increased
Sold 300,000 first year and over 2 million by end of 1850s
Instant best seller sold 500,000 by 1857
Author Harriet Beecher Stowe

8. TENSION BUILDS IN KANSAS
After Stephen Douglas worked to pass the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, Kansas would vote to decide on whether slavery would be legal or outlawed
This contradicted the 36’ 30’ of the Missouri Compromise
vs.

9. BLEEDING KANSAS
The race for Kansas was on. Both supporters and opponents attempted to populate Kansas to win the vote over slavery
As the election neared, a group of pro-slavery “border ruffians” from Missouri attempted to cross into Kansas
Violence erupted – Bleeding Kansas is the legacy
John Brown (Madman, Hero, or Martyr)
Finally, after years of fighting, Kansas is admitted as a free state in 1861

10. NEW POLITICAL PARTIES EMERGE
The political landscape by 1856 was very different than it had been just a few years earlier
Gone was the Whig Party
The Democrats were still alive but faced increasing challenge from new parties
An alternative was the Know-Nothing Party who answered questions by saying, “I Know Nothing”.
Another party that emerged in the mid-19th century was the Free-Soilers
They were northerners who opposed slavery in the new territories
Free-Soilers objections to slavery were based on economics not moral objection to slavery
They believed slavery drove down wages for white workers

11. REPUBLICANS EMERGE AS LEADING PARTY
In 1854, opponents of slavery in the territories formed a new political party, the Republican Party
As the party grew it took on Free-Soilers, some anti-slavery Democrats and Whigs, and Know-Nothings
Republicans won all but 3 presidential elections from

12. THE DRED SCOTT DECISION
A major Supreme Court decision occurred when slave Dred Scott was taken by his owner to free states Illinois & Wisconsin
Scott argued that that made him a free man
Finally in 1857, the Court ruled against Dred Scott citing the Constitution’s protection of property
The decision increased tensions over slavery
DRED SCOTT LOST HIS CHANCE AT FREEDOM

13. LINCOLN – DOUGLAS DEBATES
The 1858 race for U.S. Senate in Illinois was hotly contested between Republican Lincoln and Democratic Douglas
One of the most celebrated debates in history ensued as the topic was slavery in the territories
Douglas favored popular sovereignty while Lincoln wanted a Constitutional Amendment
“THE LITTLE GIANT” VS. “HONEST ABE”

14. HARPER’S FERRY
While politicians debated the slavery issue, John Brown plotted a major slave revolt
On October 16, 1859, he led a band of 21 men, black and white, into Harpers Ferry, Virginia
He hoped to seize a large federal arsenal, but troops put down the rebellion
Brown was tried and executed
ARSENAL
BROWN

15. 1860 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Republicans nominated Abe Lincoln while the Democrats split
Lincoln won the 1860 election with less than half the popular vote and no Southern electoral votes
The Southern states were not happy
LINCOLN MEMORIAL

16. SOUTHERN SUCESSION
Lincoln’s victory in 1860 election convinced Southerners that they had to act quickly
South Carolina led the way, seceding from the union in December of 1860
Mississippi was next, then Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, & Texas
Southern delegates met in February, 1861 and formed the Confederate States with Jefferson Davis as President