Bell Ringer

What are some differences between North and South in the years before the Civil War?

Renewing the Sectional Struggle

Chapter 18

Election of 1848:General Lewis Cass

Democrat Hero of the War of 1812 Supported popular

sovereignty (safe and diplomatic)

Zachary Taylor Whig Hero of the Mexican

War No official stance on

slavery, but owned many slaves

Clay had too many enemies

Campaign Mud-

Slinging General Cass’

supporters tried to paint Taylor as a heartless mercenary, who slaughtered thousands of Mexican soldiers.

He still won.

Issues in the Election of 1848

Popular sovereignty: citizens of each territory would determine the statutes of slavery.

Free Soil Party: Nominated Van Buren Antislavery Northerners Supported federal aid for

internal improvements

Clayton-Bulwer Treaty British influence in Central America was

strong and even growing, despite the Monroe Doctrine

Clayton-Bulwer Treaty stated that neither the U.S. or Britain would take over the area without the other’s agreement.

Zachary Taylor Dates in Office:

March 4, 1849-July 9, 1850

Nicknames: Old Rough and Ready

Political Party: Whig

Major Events: Clayton-Bulwer Treaty Died in office from

cholera

Millard Fillmore Dates in Office:

July 10, 1850 - 1853

Nicknames: The Accidental President

Political Party: Whig

Major Events:

California Joins the Union The overall result of the Gold Rush was

that California had enough people to become a state almost overnight.

Bypassed the territorial stage, drafted a Constitution and prepared to join the union as a free state

Would have disrupted the 15-15 balance in the Senate

End of an Era Congressional Debate of 1850 to address the

possible admission of CA and threats of secession by Southerners.

The “Immortal Trio” spoke at the forum: Clay – The Great Compromiser, suggested compromise Webster – supported compromise and a stricter fugitive

slave law Calhoun – the Great Nullifier, suggested to leave slavery

alone, but elect two presidents – one from the North and one from the South

Compromise of 1850 Stricter Fugitive Slave Law enacted

(“Bloodhound Bill”, no testifying or jury trial, whites that aided escapees fined or jailed, $5 for freedom-$10 for return for officials) Northerners passed “Personal Liberty Laws” to get

around the FSA Popular sovereignty in Mexican Cession lands

(negates MO Comp.) Admission of CA as a free state; NM and UT

allowed to decide by popular sovereignty The slave trade was abolished in D.C.,

symbolically shows that the nation is taking a stance on the subject

Expansion in the Pacific Americans had always expanded

the nation by moving west, so it seemed only natural to look to the Pacific when looking for new markets.

Commodore Matthew C. Perry led four American warships to Japan to convince them to trade with the US in the Treaty of Kanagawa Japan was impressed by the technology

and firepower, causing them to not only begin trade with the US, but to update their own technology to compete with western nations.

America would go on to annex a number of islands in the Pacific Annex: to incorporate a territory into the

domain of a city, country, or state.

Millard Fillmore Dates in Office:

July 10, 1850 - 1853

Nicknames: The Accidental President

Political Party: Whig

Major Events: Compromise of

1850 Commodore Perry’s

Mission to Japan

End of the Whigs – Election of 1852Franklin Pierce

Democrat Supported both the

Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Law

Winfield Scott Whig Mexican-American War hero Supported both the

Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Law

Party split over supporting the cause or the candidate

End of the Whigs

Franklin Pierce Dates in Office:

1853-1857 Nicknames: Young

Hickory of the Granite Hills, Handsome Frank

Political Party: Democrat

Major Events:

Causes of the Civil WarSectionalism on the rise!

Cultural Differences

North

South

“Cotton is King!” Slavery was dying out, but the invention of

the cotton gin prompted the plantation owners to keep their slaves as they now produced a high profit harvesting cotton

The South controlled Britain because 75% of Britain's cotton came from the South

The Planter Aristocracy The antebellum South was more of an

oligarchy-a government ran by a few (the planter aristocracy).  The dominance of aristocracy in the South widened the gap between the rich and poor; aristocrats made all the decisions in their favor in government.

The Southern plantation wife often commanded a sizable household staff of female slaves.

Oak Alley

Plantation

House Slaves House slaves

were in charge of cooking, cleaning, serving meals and caring for children

Generally were dressed better and had better housing accommodations than field slaves; often used as nursemaids for children, and affectionately referred to as “Mammy.”

SouthernMyth

Planter

AristocracyWhite Majority

PWT, “Crackers”, White Immigrants

Blacks (free, mulatto, or slave)

Division of Slave PopulationIn 1860 only about 25% of Southerners

owned slaves.

Slaves to the Slave System The economic

structure in the South became increasingly monopolistic.  The plantation system was very financially unstable.  The temptation to over-speculate (no profit w/material held) in land and slaves caused many planters to plunge into debt.

The White Majority ¾ of Southern white

population didn't own slaves.  These whites were supported slavery because they wanted to eventually own a slave or two and achieve the "American dream" of moving up socially in society. 

The poor nonslave-holding whites were known as "poor white trash”, “rednecks,” and “crackers.”

Next came the mountain whites (“hillbillies”) who lived in the valley of the Appalachian range.  Civilization hadn't reached them yet, and they supported Abraham Lincoln's Union party.

States Rights IssuesIssues

Political Divisions The Constitution (3/5

Compromise) favored the South

Agricultural lifestyle of the South created an environment of individualism and a distrust towards authority.

An Escalating Problem

Missouri Compromise1820

Texas Annexation1845

Compromise of 1850

36°30’

What do these decisions have in

common?

Competition for Kansas Popular sovereignty:

citizens of each territory would determine the statutes of slavery.

Free Soil Party: Antislavery Northerners determined to keep new territories from admitting slavery.

Kansas-Nebraska Act The Kansas–Nebraska Act (1854) created the

territories of Kansas and Nebraska, and allowed settlers in those territories to determine through Popular Sovereignty whether they would allow slavery within each territory.

The unspoken understanding during the Kansas-Nebraska Act was that Kansas would go slave and Nebraska free.

Bleeding

Kansas

Bleeding Kansas: The name given to a series of violent political clashes between free-soilers and “border ruffians” over slavery in the Kansas Territory.

Free-soilers were sending loads of settlers to Kansas.

When the election rolled around, pro-Southern "border ruffians" jumped over from Missouri to Kansas to "vote early and vote often."

The South "won" the election for Kansas to become a slave state. Free-soilers cried foul and set up their own government.

Bleeding Kansas With the chaos and violence, Kansas was being

called "Bleeding Kansas." Kansas had a large enough population by 1856 to

apply for statehood. The pro-slavery government wrote up the Lecompton Constitution which could be approved "with" or "without slavery." But, even if "without slavery" were chosen, slave-owners already present would still be protected. Thus, Kansas would have slaves either way. Abolitionist felt this vote was bogus, boycotted the election,

and thus the Lecompton Constitution . It was sent to Washington D.C. for approval.

Pres. James Buchanan gave his approval, but the Senate had to approve the Constitution.

Stephen Douglas felt the election wasn't true popular sovereignty due to the irregularities of the voting.

The end results were (a) the Democratic party was terribly divided, (b) Kansas was now left in limbo—somewhere in between a territory and a state, and (c) the slavery question was still not answered.

“Bully” Brooks Tension and passion from Bleeding Kansas worked into

Congress. Sen. Charles Sumner (northern abolitionist) insulted the family of a South Carolina congressman.

Preston Brooks, a fellow Congressman and relative the criticized, took offense to Sumner's comments. Brooks reasoned that he should challenge Sumner to a duel, but duels were only for gentlemen and Sumner's comments revealed that he was no gentleman. A beating was what Sumner deserved, at least as Brooks figured.

So, "Bully" beat Sumner with a walking cane. Sumner was severely injured, and Brooks was expelled from Congress only to get re-elected in the next election.

The results of this poor behavior were (a) Sumner's "Crime Against Kansas" speech became a rallying point for the North, (b) Brooks became something of a Southern cult hero, and (c) it became clear that compromise was now over (and replaced by Bleeding Kansas, name-calling, and cane-thwacking).

Dred Scott v. Sanford, 1857

Dred Scott Decision Dred Scott was a Missouri slave whose owner

moved (with Scott) to Illinois and Wisconsin, then back to Missouri. Dred Scott sued for his freedom arguing that since he'd lived in free states, he was free.

The Chief Justice Taney’s decision said Dred Scott (and all slaves) was not a citizen and

therefore not entitled to sue. Said Scott was to remain a slave until he was

freed by his master. Concluded the Missouri Compromise had been

unconstitutional all along Slavery could now invade the North without

obstacles; The South fought for “states’ rights,” which ended up limiting the rights of the northern states.

Bell RingerWhat was the issue in the Dred Scott case? What did this mean for Northern States?

Rising Abolitionism

Free Blacks: Slaves Without Masters Many free blacks settled in New

Orleans.  In the South, the free blacks were

prohibited from having certain jobs and forbidden from testifying against whites in court.  They were known as the "3rd Race." 

In the North, the free blacks as individuals were hated more than in the South – seen as competition for cheap labor (hated by the Irish). 

White southerners liked the black as an individual, but hated the race.  The white northerner professed to like the race, but disliked the individual.

Plantation Slavery By 1860 there were nearly 4

million slaves in America. Because the price of "black

ivory" (slaves) was so high, slaves were smuggled into the South despite the importation of African slaves into American ended in 1808.  Most slaves were the offspring of slaves already in America.

Planters regarded slaves as major investments, and often were spared the most dangerous work – that was reserved for worthless Irish immigrants.

A large enslaved mulatto population emerged from the forced relations of white masters.

Life Under the Lash

"Black Belt"- region where most slaves were concentrated; the Deep South.

Conditions varied from region to region, farm to farm Often worked from dawn

to dusk Whipped for slow work or

insubordination No civil or political rights

Blacks managed to sustain family life in slavery.  “Until death or distance

do you part” Blacks molded their own

distinctive religious forms from a mixture of Christian and African elements. Negro Spirituals Santeria

The Burdens of Bondage Slaves were not permitted

to read because reading brought ideas and ideas brought discontent.

Slavery in the South was known as the "peculiar institution.“

Idea of black “laziness” came from slowed work pace

Underground Railroad Harriet Tubman: most

famous “conductor”; nicknamed “Moses”

Negro Spirituals used as code to help slaves escape to freedom

A stricter Fugitive Slave Law pushed by Southerners in Congress

Methods of

Rebellion Slaves rebelled by

breaking tools, working at a slower pace, stealing from their masters, or feigning sick.

Nat Turner’s Rebellion: A failed slave rebellion that resulted in the deaths of 50 whites and demands for stricter laws on punishments for rebellious slaves.

Nat Turner’s Rebellion Nat Turner, a slave owned by

Joseph Travis of Southampton, Virginia, believed that he had been chosen by God to lead a slave rebellion. In February 1831, an eclipse of the sun convinced Turner that this was a supernatural sign from God to start an insurrection. Turner and about seven other slaves killed Travis and his family to launch his rebellion. In all, about 50 whites were killed.

Turner had hoped this his action would cause a massive slave uprising but only 75 joined his rebellion. Over 3,000 members of the state militia were sent to deal with Turner's gang, and they were soon defeated. In retaliation, more than a hundred innocent slaves were killed. Turner went into hiding but was captured six weeks later. Nat Turner was executed on 11th November, 1831.

Consequences for Slaves

The South Lashes Back In 1832, southern states were moving to

make the emancipation of any kind illegal.  The Southerners argued that slavery was supported by the Bible (there were slaves in Egypt,

The Gag Resolution required all anti-slavery appeals to be tabled without debate in the House of Representatives.

In 1835, the government ordered the southern postmasters to destroy abolitionist material due to anti-abolitionist mobbing and rioting at a postal office in Charleston, South Carolina.

“So this is the little lady who started this war.”

-- Abraham Lincoln

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Uncle Tom’s Cabin A novel

dramatizing the cruelties of slavery

It touched readers emotionally and created widespread antislavery support among northerners.

Sold 300,000 copies inthe first year.

Different perspectives of the book:Northerners Southerners

“What kinda Yankee

abolitionist propaganda is

this?!”

“What a horribly cruel

system!”

Early Abolitionism American Colonization Society-

founded in 1817; focused on transporting the blacks back to Africa. Republic of Liberia- founded in 1822

as a place for former slaves. The Second Great Awakening

inflamed the hearts of many abolitionists against the sin of slavery.

Theodore Dwight Weld- abolitionist; wrote the pamphlet American Slavery As It Is (1839) – an earnest plea for abolition.

Radical Abolitionism William Lloyd Garrison-

wrote a militantly anti-slavery newspaper The Liberator;

 one of the founders of the American Anti-Slavery Society

Promoted "immediate emancipation" of slaves in the United States

Publicly burned a copy of the Constitution.

Radical Abolitionism John Brown: A violent

abolitionist who used militant actions to abolish slavery

Commanded forces in battles in the Bleeding Kansas campaign. At Pottawatomie Creek he killed and chopped up 5 slavery supporters.

Raid on Harper’s Ferry: Brown raided a federal arsenal in hopes of inciting slave rebellion. It failed, and he was tried, convicted, and hanged.

He became an instant martyr for the abolitionist cause.

Radical Abolitionism Sojourner Truth-

freed black woman who fought for black emancipation and women's rights.

Frederick Douglass- lectured widely for abolitionism; looked to politics to end slavery. Was a consultant for Abraham Lincoln.

The Abolitionist Impact on the North

Abolitionists were, for a long time, unpopular in many parts of the North.  The southern planters owed much money to the northern bankers-should the Union dissolve, the debts would be lost.  New England textile mills were fed with cotton raised by the slaves-if slavery was abolished, then the vital supply would be cut off and there would be unemployment.

"Free soilers" opposed extending slavery to the western territories

Drifting Toward Disunion

Chapter 19

Competition for Kansas Since it was opened to popular sovereignty and

was perched to grow, Kansas became the new slavery battleground.

The unspoken understanding during the Kansas-Nebraska Act was that Kansas would go slave and Nebraska free.

Competitionfor Kansas

Northerners were sending loads of settlers to Kansas.

When the election rolled around, pro-Southern "border ruffians" jumped over from Missouri to Kansas to "vote early and vote often." The South "won" the election for Kansas to become a slave state and set up a government at Shawnee Mission.

Free-soilers cried foul and set up their own government in Topeka.

Thus, after the election, there were two governments: one slave and based on a bogus election, and one free and illegitimate.

Things worsened when a roving gang of pro-slavery hoodlums, led by the outlaw William Clark Quantrill, shot up and burnt down free-soil Lawrence, Kansas. The slavery issue was certainly not solved.

The violence continued when John Brown and men set out for revenge for Lawrence. At Pottawatomie Creek he killed and chopped up 5 slavery supporters.

Franklin Pierce Dates in Office:

1853-1857 Nicknames: Young

Hickory of the Granite Hills, Handsome Frank

Political Party: Democrat

Major Events: Gadsden Purchase Kansas-Nebraska

Act Ostend Manifesto

Election of 1856 The Democrats chose

James Buchanan. He had considerable experience but was not affiliated with the growingly unpopular Kansas-Nebraska Act.

The American Party was a newcomer. They were better known by their nickname, the Know-Nothing Party.

The Republicans chose John C. Fremont, the "Pathfinder" and hero of the Mexican War.

The election was ugly, complete with mudslinging and charges of conspiracy and scandal. Fremont was accused of being Catholic

which hurt his votes.

James Buchanan Dates in Office:

1857–1861 Nicknames: Ten-

Cent Jimmie Political Party:

Democrat Major Events:

Panic of 1857 The economics of the situation weren't

particularly bad, but the psychological fallout for a troubled time was very strong. Causes for this panic were: (a) inflation caused

by California gold, (b) over-production of grain, and (c) over-speculation (the perennial cause), this time in land and railroads.

The North was hit hardest. The South was largely unaffected, supposedly proving that cotton was indeed king.

At the same time, a Homestead Act was passed by Congress but vetoed by Pres. Buchanan. The fear was that it would drain Northern

workers to the cheap land and Southerners feared the west would fill up with free-soilers.

The tariff rate also went up due to the panic. The prior rates had recently been reduced to only 20%, due to Southern complaints, but the new law sent them right back up.

Lincoln – Douglas Debates The Illinois Senate race of 1858 took the national

spotlight. The Democrats put up Sen. Stephen Douglas and the Republicans put up Abraham Lincoln.

Douglas was likely the "biggest name" Senator of the day and expected to easily be re-elected over backwoodsy Lincoln.

Lincoln challenged Douglas to a series of debates and Douglas accepted. The "Lincoln-Douglas debates" were a series of seven debates spread across Illinois.

Freeport, Il. Lincoln asked Douglas if the people of

a territory voted slavery down, despite the Supreme Court saying that they could not do so, which side would he support, the people or the Supreme Court?” This put Douglas in a lose-lose situation.

“Freeport Doctrine” - Douglas' response stated that despite the court's ruling, slavery could be prevented from any territory by the refusal of the people living in that territory to pass laws favorable to slavery. Likewise, if the people of the territory supported slavery, legislation would provide for its continued existence.

The South turned against Douglas. Had initially loved Douglas because he'd

opened up so much land to popular sovereignty.

Douglas shot down Kansas' bid for statehood as a slave state—upsetting the South.

Finally, the Freeport Doctrine infuriated the South when he turned his back on the Supreme Court’s pro-South, Dred Scott decision.

The , which had been his goal all along. Douglas had "won the battle but lost the war"—in winning the 1858 Illinois Senate election, it cost him the 1860 presidential election.

James Buchanan Dates in Office:

1857–1861 Nicknames: Ten-

Cent Jimmie Political Party:

Democrat Major Events: Pony Express Dred Scott v.

Sandford Southern Secession Establishment of the

Confederate States of America (CSA)

States’ Rights Slavery

Tariff Disputes Different Economies Cultural Differences

Sectional Causes of the Civil War

_____% 1-9 Slaves_____% 10-49 Slaves_____% 50+ Slaves

Emergence of the Republican Party

Birth of the Republican Party Founded in the Northern states in

1854 by anti-slavery activists, modernizers, and ex-Free Soilers.

The main cause was opposition to the Kansas–Nebraska Act; the Northern Republicans saw the expansion of slavery as a great evil.

By 1858, the Republicans dominated nearly all Northern states.

Lincoln – Douglas Debates

The Illinois Senate race of 1858 was fought between Democrat, Sen. Stephen Douglas, and the Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln. Douglas was likely the "biggest name" Senator of the day

and expected to easily be re-elected over backwoodsy Lincoln.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates: Lincoln challenged Douglas to a series of debates to prove his worth as a candidate. Douglas shot himself in the foot with Southern Democrats by

making a pro-free soil comment. He would win the Senate election, but lose the opportunity for the presidency two years later.

Election of 1860 The South feared that if Lincoln won the election that he would try to abolish slavery.

South Carolina announced that if Lincoln was elected, they would secede from the Union in protest.

Lincoln felt secession was impractical since the south could not geographically separate.

By the time he took office, 7 states would have seceded from the Union.

Bell Ringer

Which of the themes we discussed last class do you think had the biggest effect on causing the Civil War?

Escaping SlaveryNegro spirituals as code

Secret code! Many songs sung by Southern slaves were

used as code to spread word about upcoming escape attempts.

Wade in the Water Swing Low, Sweet Chariot Follow the Drinking Gourd Keep your hands on the Plow Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning

Take a guess! Moses/

Abraham/old man

Wade in the Water

Jordan River Drinking gourd Turn my eyes to

the rising sun Turn my eyes to

the setting sun

Harriet Tubman, conductor along the Underground Railroad

Escape through the river so the hounds can’t track you

Mississippi or Missouri River

Big Dipper, points due North

We escape at dawn towards the East

We escape after dusk towards the West

The Compromise of 1850To solve the growing tension between free

and slave states and the question of what to do with the newly acquired territories, the Compromise of 1850 was developed.

Let’s keep score!

Compromise of 1850

CA admitted as a free state

Utah and New Mexico territories could vote on whether to permit slavery

Slave trading was abolished in Washington D.C.

A strong fugitive slave law was passed to ensure the return of runaway slaves

Result:

Advantage: NORTH

SOUTH

NORTH

SOUTH

EVEN STEVEN!

Failure of the Compromise of 1850

The Compromise didn’t work. Why? It could not hold the country together when the root of the problem was so deeply embedded in the fabric of our country.