1. Did westward expansion cause the Civil War?

2. Know-Nothing Party Nativism – policy of accepting natural born Americans over immigrants Claimed they would “Americanize Americans” Did well in local elections in the North Died out after 1856 – Republican party leaders pushed their overall program further Immigrants offered economic, religious, political, and social/cultural threats – what were they?

3. Political Cartoons Group Activity What is this cartoon saying about immigrants? What symbols are present? What do they mean? What is the first thing that stands out when you look at the cartoon? Who do you think the audience was? What characteristics of nativism are present? Add anything else you think would be important to understanding your cartoon. Be prepared to explain to the class - appoint a speaker.

8. Questions How did immigrants affect national identity? How can we apply nativism in the 1840s and 50s to anti-immigration sentiments in the U.S. today? Do you think today’s sentiments will reach political party status again?

9. Uncle Tom’s Cabin - 1852

10. Compromise of 1850

11. Fugitive Slave Act All citizens North and South ordered to assist in the return of escaped slaves Escaped slaves denied a jury trial Brought slavery to the forefront- those who had been passive about the issue took a side South thinks it will help North does not enforce

12. The Issue of Slavery in the Territories Wilmot Proviso – 1846 Free Soilers: Liberty Party joined forces in 1848 with anti- slavery Democrats and Conscience Whigs to form a new political party. What was their agenda

13. Opposition John C. Calhoun, Senator from S.C. States’ rights theory Congress did not have the constitutional right to prohibit slavery in the territories

14. Stephen Douglas Was out for personal political gain - wants to be president Wanted Chicago to benefit from western development Needed support from Southern Democrats

15. Kansas-Nebraska Act - 1854 Land designated as non-slavery by Missouri Compromise 1820. Dividing the region into two territories. -Kansas: Popular Sovereignty would decide the slave status -Nebraska: Slavery was prohibited

16. Formation of the Republican Party North protested the Kansas-Nebraska bill in 1854 Supported by: – Antislavery democrats – Former Whigs (who split over the issue of slavery) – Free Soilers from the North – Farmers, professionals small business owners, craftsman – Know-Nothings – branch of Republican Party

17. “Bleeding Kansas” Many Americans emigrated to Kansas in order to affect the vote on slavery. A Congressional committee was established in 1856 to deal with the problems in Kansas. Lecompton Constitution

18. John Brown

19. Tragic Prelude - John Steuart Curry, 1937–39

20. Young America Movement Americans inspired by 1848 European republican revolutions, connected to Manifest Destiny, too Want to keep adding territory – spread of slavery William Walker Ostend Manifesto – 1854 Weakening of Democratic Party

21. Lincoln/Douglas Debates - 1858 Ran for a hotly contested Illinois Senate seat Lincoln lost but recognized nationally House Divided Speech Opposed to Dred Scott Decision Believed in Blacks having natural rights, economic rights Believed in white superiority Opposed equal civil rights to free blacks Believed separation in Liberia or Central America was the solution

22. More political events To be covered in detail tomorrow: – Dred Scott Decision – Sumner/Brooks Incident – John Brown and his hanging – Crittenden Compromise – Split of the Democratic Party/Election of Lincoln in 1860 – Secession of South Carolina

23. Questions How can we attribute westward expansion to increased sectionalism? Would the Civil War have been inevitable without westward expansion that occurred in the 1840s/50s? Why do you think it was so difficult for the issue of slavery to be resolved?

24. Did westward expansion cause the Civil War?