Blum - “What gave the old South its special identity?...Not physical isolation..not a difference in population origin..not contrasts in religious

Period 5 – The Civil War

I. Slavery in the South

Slavery in the South

Blum - “What gave the old South its special identity?...Not physical isolation..not a difference in population origin..not contrasts in religious and political philosophy...not even the economics of the North and the South were all together dissimilar...few Southern farmers benefited from the national market economy ...wealth was less evenly distributed...less money was invested in education...fewer towns and industry developed...but all of these were of secondary importance..by far the most significant difference was the presence and survival in the South of Negro slavery..”

Some myths about the Civil War-era

“It was all about States rights, not slavery”

“Northern aggression started the war”

“Everyone in the South owned slaves”

“Most Southerners didn’t own slaves, so they couldn’t have fought to preserve slavery”

“The war was started to end slavery” “The North was full of abolitionists

and non-racists”

The (almost) Death of Slavery 1790 – seen as a dying institution

“peculiar institution” or necessary evil Cotton gin makes it profitable South source of 80% of Britain’s cotton King Cotton

Year Amount (lbs) % of exports

1800 17 million 7

1820 127 million 32

1840 743 million 51

1860 1.7 billion 57

Methods of Meeting Demand short staple cotton replaces long staple cotton increases the area in which cotton could be

profitably grown extension of cotton growing regions westward

as land gave out expansion of slavery

slave trade had been banned in 1808 slave trade still carried on though until 1860 -

though some say as few as 50,000 new slaves entered during the period

slave breeding became a primary occupation in Upper South

II. Southern Society

Planter aristocracy 1850 only 254 people owned 200+ slaves Estates 1000-2000 acres in size Dominant minority▪ 1733 owned 100 or more▪ 6196 50-99▪ 29733 20-49▪ 54595 10-19▪ 80765 5-9▪ 105683 2-4▪ 68820 1

Percentage of Free Population Owning Slaves

Mississippi: 49%South Carolina: 46%Georgia: 37%Alabama: 35%Florida: 34%

Louisiana: 29%Texas: 28%North Carolina: 28%Virginia: 26%Tennessee: 25%

Kentucky: 23%Arkansas: 20%Missouri: 13%Maryland: 12%Delaware: 3%

II. Southern Society

¾ of all Southerners owned no slaves Yeoman farmers Poor, hook worm infested trashy people

(10%) Why would they support this

system?

III. Problems of Slavery: Social

Public education….awful “soil butchery” Financial instability

Cotton is the one crop…if it fails…. Over-speculation of western land Cost of slaves

1830 $300-600 per person

1839 $1300

1860 $1800

III. Problems of Slavery: Social

By 1860, South has $2 billion invested in slaves

“rattlin’ good breeders” sold for $3200

8-13% of all slaves were likely fathered by white men

IV. Treatment of Slaves

Treated “well” due to status as expensive property

Abused both physically and psychologically

Overworked Sunup to sundown, 6 days a week ▪ Depending on season, 70-90 hours of work

Task and gang system Subsistence lifestyle

Grew own food in free time


Fear of slave uprisings Prosser’s Rebellion (VA, 1800) Denmark Vesey (Charleston SC 1822) Nat Turner’s Rebellion (VA 1831)▪ Killed 57 whites; 40-100 blacks killed

Leads to black codes▪ Restrictions on education, movement, and

general freedom’s of black people (free and slave)

Requires tighter control from owners


Degrading situation overall Lack of freedoms Limited ability for advancement (slave for life) Slave trade (most brutal?, breaks up families)

Discrimination not limited to slaves Free blacks in North and south faced limits

“Southerners liked blacks as individuals but despised the race. Northerners professed to like the race but despised individuals.”

V. The Abolitionist Movement

Early attempts to deal with slavery Quakers 1700’s Led to ban in North by 1800

1808 slave trade outlawed First year allowed under Constitution

(Interstate/Slave trade Comp.) Missouri Compromise 1820 Liberia est 1822 Manumission societies


Reasons for movement Extension (or origin) of general reform in

1840’s Recognition of evils of slavery Success of British emancipation 1833 Feelings of hypocracy Failure to die expected death Highly publicized abuse of slaves

V. The Abolitionist Movement Divisions in Movement

North divided 50-50 Free soilers

Leave slavery alone where it exists Prevent slavery in new territory (hence “free

soil”) Why?

Radical abolitionists William Loyd Garrison The Liberator Immediate, uncompensated emancipation

“I will be as harsh as the truth, and as uncompromising as justice. On this subject, I do not wish to think, or speak, or write with moderation..I am in earnest - I will not equivocate - I will not excuse - I will not retreat a single inch - and I will be heard!”

-Garrison, 1831

V. The Abolitionist Movement Moderate abolitionists

Theodore Dwight Weld – gradual, compensated emancipation

“Slavery is the blight of this nation, the curse of the North and the curse of the South...it confounds your politics. It has silenced your ablest men. It has muzzled the pulpit and stifled the press. It is robbed three million men of what is dearer than life; it has kept back the welfare of seventeen million more.” From “Slavery As It Is” (1839)


Northern reaction Hostility, violence▪ Charles Stuart beaten in CT▪ School for free blacks moved to swamp in NH▪ Elijah Lovejoy; press destroyed and

eventually murdered (IL)▪ Homes of blacks destroyed in Philly

Most abolitionists didn’t dare go South


Abolitionist Tactics Moral persuasion Appeal to emotions Newspaper stories of

abuse Underground Railroad Court Battles▪ Nancy Jackson (1837)▪ Amistad (1839)▪ Prigg v Pennsylvania

(1842)


Slow gains made in 1840’s Liberty Party (James Birney)

1840 – 6,797 votes for Pres; 1844 – 62,103

Immigrants, manufacturers & bankers oppose abolitionists: Why?

Reading Check

Explain each of the following in 2 complex sentences each. No book, no phone, no neighbors for help. Fugitive Slave Law John Brown Uncle Tom’s Cabin Popular Sovereignty Kansas-Nebraska Act

VI. Growth of Southern Opposition

South overreacts to Garrison Believes him the leader (more of the

fringe) Remember: abolitionists are divided

Antislavery movements in South disappear

Crackdown on dissent Laws prevent freeing slaves Post office refuse to deliver abolitionist

papers No discussion of issue


Gag rule 1836 Tables all discussion of slavery in

Congress Birth of “apologist” view

Peculiar institution positive good (John C. Calhoun)


Arguments for slavery Scriptural defense: ▪ Curse of Ham; Mosaic Law; Bible doesn’t condemn

Historical defense:▪ Aristotle; superior talents over inferior; foundation of

past civilizations Black inferiority▪ Pseudosciences of “niggerology” and phrenology

Benefits of system to slave▪ More content than “wage slave” in North

Christian conversion▪ Free in Africa-no salvation; slave in America-eternal life

VI. Growth of Southern Opposition Southern Overreaction

Became philosophical issue Backfired against those indifferent to issue 150,000 abolitionists in 1840; 250,000 in

1850 Results

Never majority of abolitionists in North Transformed from economic to moral issue

Compromise? Possible, not likely after abolitionist

movement started Can’t compromise morals

VII. The Compromise of 1850

Wilmot Proviso (1846) – banned slavery in territory gained by Mexico; fails to pass

Questions raised: Can Congress regulate slavery? Northwest Ordinance, Missouri

Compromise Southern view – no power prohibit;

duty to protect it Northern view – moral evil, must

prohibit it

VII. The Compromise of 1850 Compromise ideas

Polk: extend Missouri Compromise Line west Lewis Cass: popular sovereignty

Election of 1848 Dem’s: Lewis Cass (no mention of slavery in

platform) Whigs: Zachary Taylor (no platform) Free Soilers: Martin Van Buren (“free soil, free

labor, free speech, free men”) Whigs win, Free Soilers gain seats in Congress

VII. The Compromise of 1850 Gold Rush (1848)

CA and NM would be slave; MN and OR as free

Gold rush causes confusion, population boom

CA & NM write anti-slavery constitution Fear replaces reason

Nashville Convention (1850), led by Robert Toombs No decision on secession


Taylor as President No political experience (never voted) Admits CA to Union, no compromise Crush secession as Jackson would

(Nullification Crisis) Makes compromise impossible

Clay, Calhoun, Webster seek compromise


Clay, Calhoun, Webster propose compromise CA admitted as free state NM govt organized w/ no mention of

slavery New fugitive slave law Abolish slave trade in D.C.

Taylor dies in July ‘50, Millard Filmore more receptive to compromise Signs most by Sept. ‘50


The North gains… The South gains…

CA admitted as free state Popular Sovereignty in NM

Disputed territory to NM Texas debt payment

Abolition of slave trade in D.C. Tougher fugitive slave law

Effects of Compromise – Who wins?

VII. The Compromise of 1850 Popular support for Compromise

Repeal of Corn Laws (1846) Nashville Convention fails Filmore is moderate HOPE

Effect on parties Northern Dems accept it Whigs split (and die) Free Soilers denounce South splits: Union Party and Southern

Rights Party


Fugitive Slave Law Reminds North of slavery constantly Rallying point for abolitionists South: fails to weigh cost of losing a

slave vs gaining political opponents Unenforceable

Overall Effect: postpones the inevitable conflict

VIII: “Young America” in the 1850’s

Election of 1852 Democrats: Franklin Pierce Whigs: Winfield Scott Pierce wins easily

Demise of Whig party North: likes man, hates platform South: hates man, likes platform Leaves a void in politics…who will fill it?


Excellent time to expand Expansion of trade with Far East and

Canada Treaty of Wanghia Matthew Perry (1853-54) to Japan Canadian Reciprocity Treaty (1854) Attempt to annex Hawaii Central America (rights to canal in

Panama) Clayton-Bulwer Treaty (1850)


Filibustering expeditions Unauthorized military expeditions to try

and incite revolution 1848 – US attempts to buy Cuba; fails 1854 – Ostend Manifesto (angers

Northern abolitionists) Most attempts seen by North as

attempts by South to expand slavery


Uncle Tom’s Cabin – Harriet Beecher Stowe Gadsden Purchase (1853) –

transcontinental railroad to be built, but where?

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) Introduced by Stephen Douglas Divide Nebraska in two Pop. Sover. To decide slave issue Void Missouri Comp. NE – free; KA – slave


Kansas-Nebraska Act is a disaster Fails to realize the moral issue of slavery South feels it must protect expansion of slavery North turned against pop. Sov. North saw Missouri Comp as law; blames south

for not following it Changing Northern attitudes

Violence w/o changing social attitudes would be disaster (FORESHADOWING!!!)

Boston mob tried to free a slave being returned to South


Republican Party forms (1854) Becomes 2nd party (fills Whig gap) Platform of slavery opposition Banned in south (dreaded sectional

party) American (Know-Nothing) Party

Anti-immigrant Voter intimidation Pro-slavery (no chance in North)

IX: Bleeding Kansas

1854 – land office set up to deal with immigrant to Kansas

Southern view: Kansas was key to slavery expanding to Pacific

Northern View: violence necessary to maintain order

Election day: Pro-slavery wins vote; anti-slavery

claims fraud

IX: Bleeding Kansas

1856 – Civil War in Kansas Pro-slave force sacks Lawrence John Brown leads anti-salvery forces 200 dead, federal troops called in

1857 Lecompton Constitution Popular sovereignty was not a viable

option 15 slaves in NE, 1 in KA

IX: Bleeding Kansas

Sumner-Brooks Incedent Charles Sumner (R) Senator MA Verbally attacked pro-slavery forces,

Andrew Butler Preston Brooks (D) Rep; cousin of

Butler Attacks Sumner at his desk, badly

injuring him Expelled from House, reelected anyway

Sumner = Martyr; Brooks = Hero

X: Election of 1856 – Dred Scott

Dem – James Buchanan: pro-Southern

Rep – John Fremont: Fireeaters threaten secession if Fremont

is elected Calls for halt to expansion of slavery and

keep it where it exists Buchanan wins, decent showing by

Repu.

X: Election of 1856 – Dred Scott

Dred Scott Case (1857) Scott was a slave, taken to North on

many occasions Abolitionists use him as test cases (little

legal contention) Major Questions –

Were black Americans citizens? Does Residence in a free state make a

slave free? Does Residence north of 36-30

emancipate slaves

XI: Panic of 1857 & Secession More damaging to North

Overspeculation, inflation, loss of agriculture South sees it as vindication for their

economic system Lincoln-Douglas debates – Illinois

Senate 1858 Lincoln opposed extension of slavery;

protect where it existed Opposed racial equality Opposes divided union

Douglas introduces Freeport Doctrine If people don’t want slavery, don’t enact slave

codes More national presence than Lincoln, but

alienates both sides African slave trade

South wants it reopened US doesn’t enforce it’s unlawfulness▪ 1843-57 – US halts 19 slave ships captured, 6

condemned▪ 1843-57 – Britain halts 600, 562 condemned▪ Likely more slaves imported after 1808 than before

XI: Panic of 1857 & Secession

XI: Panic of 1857 & Secession Harper’s Ferry

John Brown sought to invade South, incite slave rebellion

Attacked federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, captured & hanged

South views it as a part of larger conspiracy

Abolitionists view him as martyr

XI: Panic of 1857 to Secession Election of 1860

Republicans choose Lincoln (less radical candidate)

Appeals to many Northern groups

Democrats are divided, unable to nominate candidate

Smaller factions nominate candidates▪ Douglas, Breckenridge,

John Bell all run

XI: Panic of 1857 & Secession

Election of 1860 Results Lincoln wins with Northern support Not allowed on ballot in South United Dem’s could have won SC threatened to secede if Lincoln won Dem’s had power in most of govt.

December 12 1860 – SC secedes Jan 1861 – GA, AL, FL Feb 1861 – LA, TX; Confederate States of

America formed All before Lincoln takes office

XI: Panic of 1857 to Secession

Reasons for secession Free soil criticism Abolitionist nagging Northern interference Isolation Moral emotionalism Debt repudiation Misread Northern resolve European Nationalism


Confederate Twin Principles Slavery – protected in perpetuation States rights

Doomed from start Slavery made European support unlikely System made war effort difficult (think

Articles of Confederation problems in 1780’s)


Attempts at peace President Buchanan was lame duck, did nothing Crittenden proposal▪ Amendment to guarantee slavery▪ Compensation for lost slaves▪ extend 36-30 for territories

Committee of Thirty Three▪ Protect slavery where it exists▪ Repeal personal liberty laws▪ Admit NM w/ pro-slavery const.

Peace Convention proposed amendments to protect Southern rights; south refused.


XII: The Coming of War

Documents

Blum - “What gave the old South its special identity?...Not physical isolation..not a difference in population origin..not contrasts in religious