1. Drifting towards disunion
Chapter 19
Drifting towards disunion

2. Uncle Tom’s Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe
Galvanized Northerners that slavery
Was morally wrong
South believed it was unfair
Hinton Helper’s Impending Crisis
Argued that slavery hurt poor Southern whites

3. “Bleeding Kansas”
Missouri “border ruffians” move into Kansas to influence the vote for slavery
Abolitionist groups fund free-soil settlers
Violence between sides, “Bleeding Kansas”
Missourians organize pro-slavery govt. and the Lecompton (KS) Constitution
Anti-slavery faction creates own govt in Lawrence, KS

4. Bleeding Kansas

5. John Brown, Abolitionist
May, 1856
Retaliation for pro- slavery attack on Lawrence
Kills 5 pro-slaveryites in Pottawtomie Creek

6. Election of 1856 Democrats-John Buchanan (PA)=popular sovereignty
Republicans- Capt John Fremont= against extension of slavery in the territories
“Know-Nothings”-ex Pres.Millard Fillmore
=anti immigration, anti Catholic
Buchanan wins-see map
Lecompton Constitution (KS): would outlaw future slavery
Endorsed by Buchanan

7. Election of 1856, Buchanan

8. Sumner-Brooks Affair 1856, Sumner (MA) speech “Crimes against Kansas”
Preston Brooks (South) hit Charles Sumner (abolitionist) multiple times with a cane
Affair reveals how inflamed tensions are

9. Dred Scott vs. Sanford, 1857 Slave who sued for his freedom
Supreme Court ruled against him
Ruled that 36’30” provision of Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional as it stripped the rights of slave owners to take their property when they moved
All African-Americans were not citizens, thus ineligible to sue in federal court
An individual’s property can NOT be denied under the U.S. Constitution
Decision deepens the Northern/Southern rift

11. Lincoln - Douglas debates
Over seat for Senate: Douglas won
Freeport question
Slavery in territories? Popular sovereignty or Dred Scott?
Would lead to Republican nomination in

12. Panic of 1857 Overspeculation and inflation
Bank and business (railroad) failure in mid 1857
Tariff Act of 1857: reduced tariff rate to 20%
South feels it cotton economy is stronger than North because it weathered the Panic well.

13. John Brown and Harper’s Ferry, VA 1859
On orders from God, arm slaves to overthrow slavery and establish free African American state
Reaction from North-a martyr, guided by a higher moral purpose
Reaction from South- crazy man acting on orders from Northern Abolitionist, South more suspicious of Northern intentions

14. Lincoln Douglas Debates, 1858
Lincoln (Repub) challenged Douglas (Dem)to debates in advance of Illinois Senate election
Freeport debate, Douglas had to defend popular sovereignty under the Dred Scott decision
He said communities would have to pass and enforce laws to protect slavery for it to exist
This opinion caused deeper division in Democratic Party. South felt it didn’t support Dred Scott decision.
Douglas wins seat, Lincoln gains attention

15. Election of 1860
Republicans-Lincoln=accept slavery where it exists but oppose slavery in territories
Democrats Split
Northern Dem=Stephen Douglas & pop. sovereignty
Southern Dem= John Breckinridge & extension of slavery in territories and annexation of Cuba
LINCOLN WINS

16. Lincoln’s Republican Party
Broad platform for wide appeal included:
No slavery in the new territories
A protective tariff
Rights for immigrants
Transcontinental railroad
Federally finance infrastructure improvements
Free homesteads for citizens on publicly held land
South warned succession if Lincoln won

17. Secession
South Carolina – unanimous vote 4 days after Lincoln’s election, Dec 1860
Initial 7 would form Confederate States of America, Feb 1861, Jefferson Davis President
Assumed the North would let the suceed
Crittenden Compromise- last attempt
Protected right of slave owners to hold their own property below the 36’30” line
Popular sovereignty in any new states
Lincoln rejected. His party platform called for nonextension of slavery

19. Confederate States of America