1. 1820-1860: Increasing Sectionalism & the Road to the Civil War
(Unit III, Segment 1 of 3)

2. The Sectional Crisis

3. Essential Question:
Was the Civil War inevitable?

4. Sectionalism in the Antebellum Era
From , the North & South became vastly different regions
“King Cotton” had transformed the South into a rural region with slavery, little manufacturing, & few railroads
North was industrial, urban

5. Sectionalism in the Antebellum Era
From , the North & South became vastly different regions
The North had industrial factories, cities, paid immigrant workers, railroads, & larger population

6. Sectionalism in the Antebellum Era
These regional differences increased sectionalism -- placing the interests of a region above the interests of the nation
: Sectionalism was mild & resolved by compromise

7. Sectionalism:
The first major issue regarding slavery in the antebellum era focused on Missouri becoming a state in 1820:
Northerners & Southerners did not want to upset the equal balance of free & slave states in the Senate
Northerners did not want slavery to spread beyond the “Deep South”
Southerners did not think Congress had the power to stop slavery

8. Maine broke from Massachusetts & became a free state
In 1820, Henry Clay negotiated the Missouri Compromise “The firebell in the night!”
Maine broke from Massachusetts & became a free state
Missouri became a slave state
Slavery was outlawed in all western territories above the latitude of 36°30'

9. In the 1830s, the issue of tariffs divided North & South
Sectionalism:
In the 1830s, the issue of tariffs divided North & South
Southerners argued that tariffs benefited only the North & made manufactured goods too expensive
John C. Calhoun of SC attempted nullification & threatened secession
President Jackson fought this states’ rights argument

10. Sectionalism:
Texas was not annexed for 9 years because statehood would unbalance the number of free & slave states
In the 1840s, westward expansion brought the issue of slavery up again:
The addition of the Mexican Cession after the Mexican-American War gave Southerners hope that slavery would spread to the Pacific Ocean

11. Sectionalism:
In 1850, California asked to enter the Union as a free state:
Southerners did not want more free states & wanted slavery to be allowed in the southwest territories
Northerners wanted to keep slavery out of the SW & wanted other laws to protect runaway slaves who made it to freedom in the North

12. The Compromise of 1850 solved the sectional dispute between North & South
The people of Utah & New Mexico could vote to allow or ban slavery (popular sovereignty)
The slave trade ended in Washington DC
A stronger Fugitive Slave Law was created that allowed Southerners to recapture slaves in the North
California entered as a free state

13. The Compromise of 1850: Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, & John Calhoun

14. Sectionalism:
From 1820 to 1850, sectionalism in America increased due to
Differences in regional economies & the use of slavery
Westward expansion & the entry of new states to the Union
Growing abolitionism in the North
But, each time a dispute threatened the nation, a compromise was reached

15. Sectionalism in the Antebellum Era
These regional differences increased sectionalism -- placing the interests of a region above the interests of the nation
: Sectionalism was mild & resolved by compromise
: The growth of abolitionism & westward expansion intensified the question of the “morality” of slavery

16. Sectionalism:
Abolitionists & many Northerners despised the Compromise of 1850:
The Fugitive Slave Law allowed runaway slaves (& sometimes “free blacks”) to be recaptured & enslaved
Northerners formed vigilante committees to protect runaways
Abolitionism grew in the North

18. The Underground Railroad was a network of safe houses to help slaves escape to freedom
Harriet Tubman made 19 trips South to lead 300 slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad

19. "So you're the little lady who started this great war!"
Sectionalism:
In 1852 Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Depicted slavery as a moral evil
Became the best selling book of the 19th century
Inspired many in the North to join the abolitionist cause
"So you're the little lady who started this great war!"

20. Sectionalism:
In 1854, Congress passed Stephen Douglas’ Kansas-Nebraska Act
The law used popular sovereignty to give the residents of the territories the right to vote to determine slavery
To do this, Congress repealed (ended) the Missouri Compromise line at 36º30’ in the western territories

21. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854

22. Sectionalism:
Northerners were outraged by the Kansas-Nebraska Act:
Congress allowed slavery to spread into an area of the U.S. where slavery was already outlawed
Northerners formed the Republican Party in 1854 & became committed to the “free soil” movement

23. Sectionalism:
Popular sovereignty failed to settle the slavery question in the West:
When a vote was held in Kansas in 1855 to decide on slavery, thousands of Missouri residents illegally voted
This illegal vote gave Kansas slavery when its residents voted against it
In 1856, a war began between Kansas & Missouri (“Bleeding Kansas”)

24. Free-soilers from Kansas voted against slavery
The vote revealed a pro-slavery victory which led to a violent civil war in Kansas
“Bleeding Kansas”
Thousands of pro-slavery Missouri residents crossed the border & voted for slavery
Free-soilers from Kansas voted against slavery

25. Sectionalism:
From 1850 to 1856, sectionalism in America increased due to:
The growth of abolitionism due to the Fugitive Slave Law, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, & the Kansas-Nebraska Act
The birth of regional (not national) political parties like the Republicans
Sectional tensions were becoming so bad that compromise was not an option

26. Sectionalism in the Antebellum Era
These regional differences increased sectionalism -- placing the interests of a region above the interests of the nation
: Sectionalism was mild & resolved by compromise
: The growth of abolitionism & westward expansion intensified the question of the “morality” of slavery
: The slave issue became “irreconcilable” & led to the Civil War

27. Sectionalism:
In 1857, a slave named Dred Scott sued for his freedom after traveling with his master from Missouri to Wisconsin
The Dred Scott case presented the Supreme Court with 2 major questions:
Does Congress have the power to decide on slavery in the territories?
Is the Missouri Compromise constitutional?

29. Sectionalism:
In Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857), the Supreme Court ruled:
Dred Scott had no right to sue because African Americans were not citizens
Congress did not have the power to stop slavery in western territories so the Missouri Compromise was ruled unconstitutional
Northern abolitionists were furious

30. Sectionalism:
Lincoln was unknown at the time, but during the campaign he argued that Congress must stop the spread of slavery (free soil argument)
In 1858, Democrat Stephen Douglas ran against Republican Abraham Lincoln for the Illinois Senate
Lincoln lost the Senate election, but his argument against slavery made him a popular national figure

31. “A house divided against itself cannot stand
“A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free.” Abraham Lincoln, 1858

32. Sectionalism:
In 1859, abolitionist John Brown led an unsuccessful raid on a federal armory at Harper’s Ferry, VA in an attempt to free slaves in a massive slave uprising
Brown was caught & executed
But he was seen as a martyr by many in the North
Southerners believed Northerners were using violence to end slavery

33. An Ill-fated Raid Goal: arm slaves / promote a slave rebellion
Raid on Harpers Ferry
October 1859
John Brown / 20 men
(5 African Americans) capture
Federal Armory
[Harpers Ferry, Virginia
(now WV)]
Goal: arm slaves / promote a slave rebellion
“One man and God can overturn the universe.”
-- John Brown

34. The Verdict Guilty! “Now, if it is deemed necessary that I
should forfeit my
life for the
furtherance of the
ends of justice, and
mingle my blood further
with the blood of my children and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments -- I submit; so let it be done.” -- John Brown

35. A Prediction?
John Brown left a haunting note to be read after his execution:
“I, John Brown, am now quite
certain that the crimes of this
guilty land will never be
purged away but with Blood.
I had as I now think vainly
flattered myself that without much bloodshed, it might be done.”
Result:
1. South grew less inclined to negotiate and talk peace
2. South began to form militias to protect itself from possible slave insurrections

36. Democrats in the North & South were split over the issue of slavery
Sectionalism:
Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln who argued for “free soil” & a strong national gov’t
The Election of 1860 proved to be the final straw for the South:
Northern Democrats nominated Stephen Douglas who argued for popular sovereignty
Southern Democrats nominated John Breckenridge who argued for states rights & the protection of slavery
Democrats in the North & South were split over the issue of slavery

37. Lincoln won the election without a single Southern vote
Sectionalism:
Lincoln won the election without a single Southern vote
Southerners assumed slavery would soon be abolished & began to discuss the possibility of seceding (breaking away) from the USA

38. Sectionalism:
In December 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union
In 1861, more Southern states seceded & the Civil War between North & South began

39. Sectionalism:
From 1856 to 1860, sectionalism in America increased due to:
Slavery became the most important political issue of the time
Growing Southern fears that the North would end slavery (John Brown’s raid, election of Lincoln)
No compromises could prevent a Civil War between the North & South