Chapter # 14

The Sectional Crisis

PowerSouthern states did not want northern states to have more seats in the SenateThe south feared the north would push rules favored to the north

Problems with SlaveryThe Constitution gave the Federal government the power to abolish slave tradeNo definite authority to regulate or destroy itEasy to condemn slavery but not easy to find a solution1840’s majority of northerners disliked slaveryAlso detested abolitionism

Popular SovereigntyPeople could vote for or against slaveryAlso called Squatters Sovereignty

Election 1848

Zachary Taylor – WhigLewis Case – DemocratMartin Van Buren – Free-soiler

Compromise of 1850California – Free statePeople of Utah and New Mexico territories would decide for themselves to allow slaveryCongress abolished the sale of slaves on Washington D.C.Slavery itself would remain legal in Washington D.C.New fugitive slave law

Kansas-Nebraska Act Issue of Popular sovereigntyStephen Douglas wanted to keep the democrats unitedHis actions actually split the partyKansas Nebraska Act would violate the Missouri Compromise

Bleeding KansasAnt-slavery and pro-slavery people flocked into Kansas and NebraskaBoth groups elected their own governmentPut neighbors against neighbors Much of the money for rifles was raised by abolitionists – Beecher’s Bibles

Lecompton ControversyKansas wanted to become a stateAnti-slavery – majorityElection riggedAnti-slavery – boycotted votePro-slavery won complete control

The new Constitution would be voted down if presented to state votersAnti-slavery – gained control of territorial legislatureAuthorized second referendum – slavery / Lecompton Constitution voted down

Cultural Sectionalism

Baptist Church had divided into Northern and Southern – over slavery issueThe north denounced slaveryThe south used the Bible to defend slavery

Uncle Tom’s CabinWritten by Harriet Beecher StowVillain = Simon LegreeExample of writing = northern literatureFueled the anti-slavery movementShowed the cruelties of slaveryPortrayed the slaves as people with feelings

Dred ScottSlave that sued for freedomStated he was in a free state and therefore should be freeChief Justice Roger Taney – used 5th AmendmentSlaves are property – Government can not deprive people of their property

Pro-slavery – had tried to make Kansas a slave state even though the majority of citizens wanted a free stateFueled the sectional quarrelOpened a gap between southern (pro-slaver) democrats and northern

Lincoln - Douglas DebateLincoln said”A house divided against itself cannot stand.” (1858)The country cannot survive ½ free ½ slaveUsed the Kansas-Nebraska Act and Dred Scot to show a plot to make slavery nationalTried to link Douglas to pro-slavery conspiracy

Douglas and Lincoln debated the issues of slavery Lincoln defended white supremacy but denounced slaveryDouglas stated that slavery would only exist as long as legislators allowed it

John BrownRaid –Harpers Ferry 1859Thought of himself as God’s chosen instrumentPurge the land with bloodHe and 18 men seized the arsenal

Thought he would raise an army of slavesRide through the south freeing the slavesCaptured and hungUS Marines –Colonel Robert E. LeeSpread fear to southern slave ownersAnti-northern feelings

Election of 1860Abraham Lincoln – RepublicanNorthern and southern democrats split the voteLincoln elected without majority of popular voteSouth Carolina became the 1st state to secede from the Union