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THE CIVIL WAR ERA Unit Overview (1844-1877)
THE CIVIL WAR ERAUnit Overview (1844-1877)
Big PictureThe passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act rocked the sectional boat to the point of disrepair. However, abolitionists in the North and “fire-eaters” in the South refused to patch a hole in the sinking ship of state. The question of slavery’s expansion dominated the politics of the 1850s, and was exacerbated by events that brought sectional tensions to a fever pitch, climaxing in the secession of seven Southern states.
Abolitionist Literature Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)
Harriet Beecher Stowe—evangelic abolitionist Showed the horrors of slavery
Splitting of families and violence Best-seller
The Impending Crisis of the South (1857) Hinton R. Helper—North Carolinian
Argued that non-slaveholding whites suffered most from slavery
Banned in the South Published in the North
The Contest in Kansas Demographics
Northerners Mostly pioneers seeking richer
lands Free-soilers
New England Emigrant Aid Company
Invest in 2,000 abolitionist settlers
Southerners Squatters Few slaves
Popular Sovereignty (1855) Proslavery Missourians stuff
ballot boxes—win election
Bleeding Kansas Proslavery government
Shawnee Mission Fraudulent—backed by Pierce
Antislavery government Topeka Illegal
Wakarusa War Land claims
Sack of Lawrence Antislavery settlement
Pottawatomie Massacre John Brown
The Caning of Sumner Charles Sumner
MA Senator—abolitionist “The Crime Against Kansas” speech (1856)
Sumner insults Andrew Butler (SC Senator) and “…his harlot slavery.”
Preston Brooks SC Representative Defended his cousin with a cane
Sumner out of commission for 3 ½ years MA reelects him in absentia
The Election of 1856 Candidates
(D) James Buchanan (PA) “Kansas-less” Popular Sovereignty
(R) John C. Frémont (CA) “The Pathfinder” Prohibition of slavery’s expansion
(KNP) Millard Fillmore (NY) “Nativist” platform
Results Buchanan: 174 Frémont: 114 Fillmore: 8
The Dred Scott Decision Dred Scott v Sanford 1857
Missouri slave sues for freedom Resided in free territory (IL & WI)
Chief Justice Taney opinion: Black slaves
not citizens—could not sue in federal courts Property—can be taken into ANY territory legally
5th Amendment Deemed any ban on slavery unconstitutional
Missouri Compromise! Reaction
North—furious South—delighted
Lecompton Constitution (1857) Kansas has population for statehood
Mostly free-soilers Proslavery legislature drafts state constitution
Voters could only vote for or against slavery Provision allows for slaves to remain even if it is
rejected Free-soilers boycott elections
Buchanan backs Lecompton Constitution Stephen Douglas protests
Constitution goes to popular vote—fails to pass Fractures Democratic party
The Financial Crash of 1857 Causes:
California Gold Overproduction of grain Land and RR speculation
Hardships North (South was unscathed)
5,000 business close Hunger and unemployment
Demands Free farms!
opposition Protection—tariff
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Illinois Senatorial Election (1858) Abraham Lincoln (R)
Springfield attorney 110 votes for VP in 1856
Stephen Douglas (D) Incumbent from Chicago Champion of popular
sovereignty Debates
“Freeport Doctrine” Douglas disavows Dred
Scott Implications
Douglas purged from Southern ranks
Lincoln’s stock rises
Harpers Ferry Raid John Brown
Schemes to foment slave rebellion “Secret Six”
Seize arsenal at Harpers Ferry and arm slaves October, 1859 Invade South with 20 men
Fails disastrously Kills innocent people Slaves fail to rise up Surrounded by marines—captured Brown
Convicted of murder and treason Insanity?
Martyred on the gallows
Democrats Disrupted Democratic Convention
Charleston, SC Douglas front-runner for nomination
“Fire-Eaters” revolt Freeport Doctrine Walk out on convention
Convention dissolves Baltimore, MD
Douglas supporters win out Southerners walk out
Rival convention organized Nominate John C. Breckinridge (KY)
Expand slavery into territories—annex Cuba Constitution Party—John Bell
The Election of 1860 Candidates:
(R) Abraham Lincoln (IL) Non-extension of slavery Protective tariff Civil rights for immigrants Transcontinental railroad Internal improvement (west) Free homesteads
(D) Stephen Douglas (IL) (D) John Breckinridge (KY) (CU) John Bell (TN)
Lincoln wins! Minority president
The Secession Exodus South Carolina
Unanimous vote to secede—20 December1860 MS, FL, AL, GA, LA &TX follow suit
Confederate States (of America) convene Montgomery, AL—February, 1861
Appoint Jefferson Davis president Senator (MS) Military and administrative experience
Lame Duck Interlude Doughface Buchanan
“Wait and See” policy Constitutional authority?
The Failed Crittenden Compromise
Senator James Henry Crittenden (KY)
Drafts amendments to appease the South
18 December 1860 Blends MO
Compromise with popular sovereignty
Lincoln rejects compromise
Elected on non-extension of slavery platform
