1. The Nation Breaking Apart 1846-1861
Chapter 15

2. Growing Tensions Between North and South
Section One

3. North and South Take Different Paths
Industry and commerce
Led to rapid growth of cities
Immigrants and Easterners moved west and built farms
Canals and railroads connected Midwest and East: developed strong ties

4. North and South Take Different Paths
Plantation farming was focus of economy
A few wealthy planters controlled Southern society
Great profits from trade
Great profits from labor of slave
Relied on exports: cotton
Invested in slaves instead of industry
Even poor farmers supported slavery: kept them off the bottom of society

5. Antislavery and Racism
In the North:
Tensions were rising
Many Northern workers feared slaves would replace them in the factories
Abolitionists felt slavery was unjust and should be abolished.
Most Northerners would not go to school, work with or live near African Americans

6. Antislavery and Racism
In the South:
Slaveholders defended slavery
Whites were superior
Helped slaves by introducing them to Christianity
Gave them food, clothing and shelter

7. The Wilmot Proviso
Outlawed slavery in any territory gained in the Mexican War
Southerners claimed the bill was unconstitutional
Slaves were property
Removed the right to take property (slaves) anywhere in U.S.
Congress was divided along regional lines
Passed the House but was defeated in the Southern controlled Senate

8. Free-Soil Party Born from the Wilmot Proviso
A political party dedicated to stopping the expansion of slavery
Won more than 10 seats in Congress in 1848
Made slavery a key issue in national politics
Politicians could not ignore slavery anymore

9. Controversy over Territories
1848: debate on how to deal with slavery in new territories gained by Mexican War
Balance of Congress threatened
California wanted to be free
Southerners wanted to divide California
President Taylor proposed CA apply for statehood before a territory,
Did not give time for slaveholders to move in

10. The Compromise of 1850 Henry Clay drafted a plan:
CA admitted as free state
Slave trade abolished in Washington D.C.
Congress would not pass laws regarding slavery for the rest of the territories won from Mexico
Popular Sovereignty: People of that area will decide
Fugitive Slave Act

12. The Crisis Deepens
Section Two

13. The Fugitive Slave Act Helped slaveholders recapture runaway slaves
Fugitives held without arrest warrant
No jury
Jail terms and fines for those who aided fugitive slaves
Presence of slave catchers in North reminded people of how they were supporting the slave trade

14. Uncle Tom’s Cabin Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852
Portrayed moral issues of slavery
Uncle Tom, an older slave and his life with 3 owners
Popular in North
South felt it falsely criticized the South and slavery

15. The Kansas-Nebraska Act
1854: Stephen A. Douglass of IL propsed that Nebraska territory be divided into NE and KS
Proposed Popular Sovereignty in these territories
People could vote for slavery
Would repeal the Missouri Compromise of 1820
Banned slavery in territories north of MO
Southerners supported and it was passed

17. Bleeding Kansas
Proslavery and anti slavery settlers rushed to Kansas territory
At time there were more proslavery settlers
Kansas legislature was packed with proslavery representatives
Antislavery settlers boycotted official government and formed own government

18. Sack of Lawrence, KS
In May a proslavery mob attacked the town of Lawrence
Destroyed offices, house of the governor of the antislavery movement

19. Pottawatomie Massacre
John Brown, extreme abolitionist, led
Took seven men to cabins of proslavery neighbors and murdered five people
To avenge Sack of Lawrence
Civil War broke out in KS in response
“Bleeding Kansas” went on for 3 years

20. Violence in Congress
May of 1856, at the Capital, Charles Sumner delivered speech toward proslavery forces in KS
Packed with insults
Made fun of A.P. Butler , a senator from SC
Preston Brooks defended Butler by beating Sumner with his cane 30 times.
Southerners cheered Brooks defense of the South
Northerners were shocked at violence in the Senate

22. Slavery Dominates Politics
Section Three

23. The Republican Party Forms
Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 split the Whig party
Northern Whigs formed the Republican party
“Bleeding Kansas” key to Republican rise
Many people blamed Democrats for violence
Nominated John C. Fremont for President in 1856
Republican position on slavery so unpopular in South that his name didn’t appear on the ballot

24. The Election of 1856 Democrats nominated James Buchanan
Had been out of the country since 1853
His goal was to maintain the Union
Didn’t speak out against or for slavery
Know-Nothing Party nominated Millard Fillmore
Party split over slavery
North: Buchanan vs. Fremont
South: Buchanan vs. Fillmore
Buchanan won but Fremont won 11 Northern states

26. The Case of Dred Scott A slave in Missouri
Owner had taken him into territories where slavery was illegal
After owner’s death he sued for his Freedom
Case reached the Supreme Court in 1856
Ruled against him since he was not a U.S. citizen and was considered property by the 5th Amendment
Northerners outraged and turned to the Republican party to halt power of Southern slaveholders

27. Lincoln and Douglas Debate
1858 Republicans nominated Lincoln to run against Democrat Douglass for IL seat in Senate
Lincoln stood against expansion of slavery, “a moral, a social and a political wrong” but didn’t suggest abolishing it.
Douglas argued that popular sovereignty was the best way to address it, most democratic way
Lincoln lost but became popular and strengthened the Republican party

28. John Brown Attacks Harpers Ferry
Brown wanted to inspire slaves to fight for their freedom
Wanted to capture weapons at the U.S. arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, VA
October 18, 1859, 13 whites and 5 blacks killed 4 people in the raid
Sent out the word for slaves to join them but none came
U.S. Marines attacked and Brown and 6 others were captured

29. Reaction to Harper’s Ferry
John Brown was tried and hanged
Abolitionists tolled bells and fired guns in salute.
Southerners were enraged by Brown’s actions and horrified by Northern reactions

30. Lincoln’s Election and Southern Secession
Section Four

31. Political Parties Splinter
Republicans nominate Abraham Lincoln for election of 1860
Democratic party split on slavery and popular sovereignty
Northern Democrats nominate Stephen A. Douglass
Southern Democrats nominate John Breckinridge
Constitutional Union Party nominates John Bell

32. The Election of 1860 North race and South race Lincoln won North
Breckinridge carried most of South
North had more people so Lincoln won Presidency
South felt Republicans wanted to ban slavery so saw the victory as a threat to the Southern way of life

33. Southern States Secede
Southerners had threatened to secede if Lincoln won.
Felt they voluntarily joined the Union so they had right to leave
December 20, 1860 South Carolina seceded from the Union
Within 6 weeks: Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas

34. Confederate States of America
February 1861 became the Confederate States of America
Jefferson Davis elected President
Drafted a Constitution modeled after the Union one
Supported state’s rights

36. The Union Responds to Secession
Secession raised issue of majority rule
Southerners were afraid Northerners would use majority rule to abolish slavery
Northerners felt Southerners did not want to live by rules of democracy.

37. Efforts to Compromise Fail
Crittenden Plan: extend the MO Compromise line to CA, but it failed
Lincoln tried to assure the South that he would not abolish slavery, he would not invade or press the South. Tried to appeal to friendship….
BUT, he would not abandon U.S. government forts in South and they would need supplied soon…….
To Be Continued

38. Take Home Quiz
Answer the questions in the summary part of the last page of your packet. Provide at least one paragraph for each question (total of 3) that includes facts and details to support your answer. Each question is worth 5 points.
1. Why did you think that your #1 most important event was the most influential cause of the Civil War?
2. Do you think that the war would have happened if that event never took place? Why or why not?
3. Which other events did you think were absolutely key causes for war? Why?