15.4
Secession and War
One HUGE questionWould the Union break
up?
Issue of slavery was rearing its ugly head again
1860 Election
CandidatesA northern wing of
the Democratic party nominated Stephen Douglas
What did Douglas believe in?
What was his nickname?
I vow too…….Uphold SlaverySouthern Democrats
nominated John C. Breckinridge
Supported Dred Scott decision
Youngest Vice President (James Buchanan)
Buried in the same cemetery as Henry clay
One of a kindJohn Bell
Constitutional Party
No position on slavery
Die-hard former Southern Whigs and Know Nothings who felt they could support neither the Democratic Party nor the Republican Party
Abraham LincolnRepublican
Leave slavery where it existed but exclude it from territories
Southerners feared slave revolts
What is a revolt?
Introducing our new President…..LINCOLN!!
180 electoral votes out of 303
40% of popular vote
Won every Northern state
And the damage is…Douglas 30% of popular vote
Won Missouri and 3 of the 7 electoral votes
Breckinridge took the South
Bell took most border states
Basically the North outvoted the South
Opponents Outcome
Going, going, going,…..December 20, 1860
South Carolina voted to secede
Leaders in Washington worked frantically to make a last-minute compromise
CompromiseAmendments to the
ConstitutionProtect slavery south
of the 36* 30 n. latitude line
What compromise does this remind you of?
in all territories “now held or hereafter required.”
RepublicansAngrySlavery is unacceptableLincoln “now we are
told”believed the
government would be broken up
“the government shall be broken unless we surrender to those we have beaten.”
Rejected the plan
“we spit upon every plan to compromise.”
“no human power can save the Union.”
Southerners
….Going GONE!Texas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia
New Nation
New government
Confederate States of America
Confederate PresidentDemocratic Party
Married to Zachery Taylor’s daughter
Burped a lot
South’s reasons for successionStates’ rights
States argued that they voluntarily entered the Union
Constitution was a contract among independent states
National government violated the contract
Refusing to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act
Denying southern states equal rights in the territories
Positive ReactionsSoutherners
welcomed secession
People rang Church bells
Fired cannonsCelebrated in the
streets
The South “will never submit”
Negative ReactionsSome Southerners
were alarmed
Robert E. Lee “I see only that a fearful calamity is upon us.”
In the North some abolitionists wanted the southern states to leave
What’s going to happen?Before Lincoln was
inaugurated
Buchanan sent a message to Congress The states had no
right to secedeBut he had no power
to stop them
Lincoln’s addressPeople from North
and South wondered what Lincoln would say at his inauguration
Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas
Secession would not be permitted
Enforce the laws of the United States and hold federal property
“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Through passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.”
And so it begins…After the address…. Confederate forces
seized some forts in the U.S.
Lincoln did not take the forts back….. WHY?
However, allowing them to keep the forts would be admitting their right to secede.
Fort SumterDay after inauguration
Commander at Fort Sumter sent a message (Charleston Harbor)
Supplies are low
Confederates are demanding surrender
Lincoln sent an unarmed expedition with supplies
Confederate president Davis attacked the fort
April 12, 1861
High seas prevented Union ships from reaching the fort
AftermathLasted 33 hours
Surrendered April 14
Thousands of shots were fired
No one died
Confederate flag was raised
The Civil War had begun