The Secession CrisisThe Secession Crisis

Project HistoryProject History

April 28, 2010April 28, 2010

Battle Hymn of the RepublicBattle Hymn of the RepublicNovember, 1861November, 1861

Clay’s CompromiseClay’s Compromise

Admit California as Free StateAdmit California as Free State

Stricter Fugitive Slave LawStricter Fugitive Slave Law

Popular Sovereignty Organize New Popular Sovereignty Organize New Mexico and Utah TerritoriesMexico and Utah Territories

U.S. Assumes Texas Debt for Texas U.S. Assumes Texas Debt for Texas Acquiescence in Border DisputeAcquiescence in Border Dispute

Slave Trade Prohibited in D.C.Slave Trade Prohibited in D.C.

Rio Grande near Creede, Rio Grande near Creede, ColoradoColorado

Why did the Civil War Occur?Why did the Civil War Occur?

South Seceded and North Decided to South Seceded and North Decided to FightFightWhy North Decide to FightWhy North Decide to FightWhy Did South Decide to SecedeWhy Did South Decide to SecedeMain issue: Slavery in the TerritoriesMain issue: Slavery in the TerritoriesImmediate cause: Election of Republican Immediate cause: Election of Republican President opposed to expansion of slaveryPresident opposed to expansion of slaveryHistorian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.—”moral Historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.—”moral log jam”log jam”

Why North Decide to FightWhy North Decide to Fight

Easiest Question to AnswerEasiest Question to Answer

Political Suicide for Republicans and Political Suicide for Republicans and Lincoln to preside over destruction of Lincoln to preside over destruction of UnionUnion

Secession Powerful Challenge to Lincoln Secession Powerful Challenge to Lincoln Administration---had to be metAdministration---had to be met

Strong Sense of Nationalism in North—Strong Sense of Nationalism in North—Public not Tolerate Breakup of UnionPublic not Tolerate Breakup of Union

Slavery in the TerritoriesSlavery in the Territories

After Mexican War--Most Southerners After Mexican War--Most Southerners Satisfied with Squatter Sovereignty for Satisfied with Squatter Sovereignty for Mexican Cession TerritoryMexican Cession Territory

Compromise of 1850--Utah and New Compromise of 1850--Utah and New MexicoMexico

1854 South Demands Squatter 1854 South Demands Squatter Sovereignty in Louisiana Territory as WellSovereignty in Louisiana Territory as Well

Kansas-Nebraska BillKansas-Nebraska Bill

Slavery in the TerritoriesSlavery in the Territories1857--Dred Scott Case1857--Dred Scott CaseRuled Missouri Compromise Illegal--Deprived Ruled Missouri Compromise Illegal--Deprived Slaveholder of Property without Due Process (5th Slaveholder of Property without Due Process (5th Amendment)Amendment)Taney: “They had for more than a century before been Taney: “They had for more than a century before been regarded as beings of an inferior order; and altogether regarded as beings of an inferior order; and altogether unfit to associate with the white race…; and so far unfit to associate with the white race…; and so far inferior, that they had no rights which the white man inferior, that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect; and that the negro might justly was bound to respect; and that the negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit.”and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit.”

Freeport DoctrineFreeport Doctrine

By Implication--Squatter Sovereignty By Implication--Squatter Sovereignty UnconstitutionalUnconstitutional

1858, Stephen Douglas, Freeport Doctrine—1858, Stephen Douglas, Freeport Doctrine—slavery can still be restrained “for the reason slavery can still be restrained “for the reason that slavery cannot exist a day or an hour that slavery cannot exist a day or an hour anywhere, unless it is supported by local police anywhere, unless it is supported by local police regulations”regulations”

1860, South Demanded Congressional Slave 1860, South Demanded Congressional Slave CodeCode

Political Power of SouthPolitical Power of South

South Political Power at PeakSouth Political Power at Peak

Controlled Democratic Party--Only Truly Controlled Democratic Party--Only Truly National PartyNational Party

1850s--South Controlled Sympathetic 1850s--South Controlled Sympathetic Northern Presidents “doughfaces”--Pierce Northern Presidents “doughfaces”--Pierce and Buchanan, Supreme Court and Senateand Buchanan, Supreme Court and Senate

1789-1861--Presidency, 49 years; 23 of 36 1789-1861--Presidency, 49 years; 23 of 36 Speakers of House; 20 of 35 Supreme Ct. Speakers of House; 20 of 35 Supreme Ct. Justices.Justices.

Why Secede if Politically Why Secede if Politically Powerful and ProsperousPowerful and Prosperous

Immediate Cause--Election of LincolnImmediate Cause--Election of Lincoln

Lincoln Minority President---Only Elected Lincoln Minority President---Only Elected Because Democratic Party SplitBecause Democratic Party Split

Democratic Party Split by South Democratic Party Split by South Aggressively Demanding Federal Slave Aggressively Demanding Federal Slave CodeCode

Why South Do This--Was Expansion of Why South Do This--Was Expansion of Slavery in Territory Worth Destroying Slavery in Territory Worth Destroying South’s Political PowerSouth’s Political Power

Why Secede?Why Secede?

Some evidence that radical southerners wanted Some evidence that radical southerners wanted to whip up sentiment for secession—not to whip up sentiment for secession—not interested in compromiseinterested in compromiseBut why? Little evidence that many southern But why? Little evidence that many southern slave owners planning to take slaves into slave owners planning to take slaves into territories---feared soil not adequate to support territories---feared soil not adequate to support plantation economyplantation economySouth still controlled Supreme Court and SenateSouth still controlled Supreme Court and SenateLincoln and Republicans only against expansion Lincoln and Republicans only against expansion of slavery into territories not statesof slavery into territories not states

Factors Behind South’s Factors Behind South’s IrrationalityIrrationality

Historical phenomenon can’t be Historical phenomenon can’t be explained by imposing logic or explained by imposing logic or rationality on South’s actionsrationality on South’s actions

Three factors that help explain Three factors that help explain South’s actionSouth’s action

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Uncle Tom’s CabinTom’s Cabin

Portrays Slavery as Horrible InstitutionPortrays Slavery as Horrible Institution

South had same liberal, Christian, South had same liberal, Christian, democratic valuesdemocratic values

Shared these values with North—but after Shared these values with North—but after 1830 tried to suppress these values—1830 tried to suppress these values—kept slavery for economic and social kept slavery for economic and social reasonsreasons

Moral tension—more slavery attacked Moral tension—more slavery attacked more desperate South became in more desperate South became in defending slavery and denying shared defending slavery and denying shared valuesvalues

Hinton Helper’s Hinton Helper’s Impending CrisisImpending Crisis

Helper from N.C.—hated slavery for evil Helper from N.C.—hated slavery for evil effects on white non-slave owning yeoman effects on white non-slave owning yeoman farmerfarmerAttacked plantation system—bring Attacked plantation system—bring economic ruin to small, white farmereconomic ruin to small, white farmerBook suppressed in South—reaffirmed Book suppressed in South—reaffirmed great fear in South—that Southern whites great fear in South—that Southern whites not reliable on slavery. Before 1850 slavery not reliable on slavery. Before 1850 slavery great unifying institutiongreat unifying institutionSlavery institution to control blacks and one Slavery institution to control blacks and one of social mobilityof social mobility

Fear of SlavesFear of Slaves

Fear of Slave ConspiraciesFear of Slave Conspiracies1859--John Brown’s Raid1859--John Brown’s RaidMississippi—frenzy—100 whites Mississippi—frenzy—100 whites hanged suspected of instigating slave hanged suspected of instigating slave insurrectioninsurrectionDuring this hysteria election of 1860 During this hysteria election of 1860 took placetook place

Factors Creating Social Factors Creating Social Irrationality in SouthIrrationality in South

Terrible Fear of Slave Insurrections and Terrible Fear of Slave Insurrections and Ultimate Emancipation--Fear of Chaos and Ultimate Emancipation--Fear of Chaos and Dislocation, Social and Sexual Equality--Dislocation, Social and Sexual Equality--Republicans Seen as Agent of AbolitionismRepublicans Seen as Agent of AbolitionismSouth had terrible feeling of vulnerability and South had terrible feeling of vulnerability and isolationisolationSouth Shared with North Christian, Liberal, South Shared with North Christian, Liberal, Democratic Values—Values that told them that Democratic Values—Values that told them that slavery wrong and immoralslavery wrong and immoralGuilt Heightens Fear of Slaves---Moral TensionGuilt Heightens Fear of Slaves---Moral Tension

The Union and the Civil WarThe Union and the Civil WarLincoln--”Central idea of secession is the essence of Lincoln--”Central idea of secession is the essence of anarchy.” Question of Whether “minority have the right anarchy.” Question of Whether “minority have the right to break up the government whenever they choose.”to break up the government whenever they choose.”

Union Forces: War About Defending Union, Union Forces: War About Defending Union, Republicanism and Personal Liberty.Republicanism and Personal Liberty.

Terrible Losses: 620,000 Dead--360,000 Union Terrible Losses: 620,000 Dead--360,000 Union Soldiers---260,000 Confederate Soldiers.Soldiers---260,000 Confederate Soldiers.

5% Southern Whites Killed--25% White Males of 5% Southern Whites Killed--25% White Males of Military AgeMilitary Age