Secession and War

• After John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry, The South blamed the Republican party

• The issue of slavery finally caused a break in the Democratic Party

• Northern Democrats nominate Stephen Douglas and supported popular sovereignty

• Southern Democrats nominated John Breckenridge of Kentucky and support slavery…

The Election of 1860A Split occurred in the Democratic Party, which allowed Lincoln to win the election of 1860.

Lincoln Nominated

• Many Southerners feared that a Republican victory would encourage slave revolts

• Lincoln elected in Nov. 1860-did not appear on any southern states ballots yet won 180 electoral votes out of 303.

• Stephen Douglas only wins Missouri and part of New Jersey

Lincoln promised that slavery could continue where it existed, but could not spread to new territories or states

The South Secedes

• Attempts were made to compromise

• It was proposed to protect slavery south of the line set up by the Missouri Compromise line and in any future territories

• Lincoln says, “Now we are told that the government will be broken up, unless we surrender to those we have beaten.”

• South Carolina led other states in seceding from the Union

• More Populous North outvoted the South

• On December 20, 1860, South Carolina held a special convention and voted to secede

The Confederacy • For Lincoln, the issue was “whether in a free government the minority have the right to break up the government when they choose.”

• President did not take office till March 4, 1861-So Lincoln is powerless-Buchanan’s response-”I can’t stop them.”

• What would happen w/ VA,MD,NC,KY, TN, MO, and AK?

• These slave states chose to remain in the Union…

• By February, 1861, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia had joined South Carolina and also seceded.

• Delegates from these states met and formed their own country, the Confederate States of America (CSA) and chose Jefferson Davis from MS as their president

• Justified leaving on theory of State’s Rights –they argued that the US did not enforce the Fugitive Slave Act and denied the Southern states equal rights in the territories.

President Lincoln’s Inaugural

Address March 4th, 1861

• “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.”• Stated that

secession would not be permitted

• He pleads with the South for reconciliation

Fort Sumter • Union forces inside Fort Sumter sent word to Lincoln that they were low on supplies and the Confederates were demanding their surrender

• Lincoln sent word to the South that he was sending in an unarmed resupply force

• Before forces arrived, Jefferson Davis bombed Fort Sumter

• War is on! Lincoln called for 75,000 troops to volunteer

• VA, NC, TN, and AK join the Confederacy

• No deaths but Confederates capture the Fort and hoisted their flag

The Civil War began when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina