14 The Sectional Crisis 1848 1860 Basic Issue

14. The Sectional Crisis 1848 - 1860

Basic Issue of the Civil War Abraham Lincoln n “The real issue in this controversy – the one pressing upon every mind – is the sentiment on the part of one class that looks upon the institution of slavery as a wrong, and of another class that does not look upon it as a wrong. “ Jefferson Davis n “All we ask is to be left alone. ”

Historians Identify Four Causes of Civil War • Slavery North saw a moral issue while the South saw an economic one • Constitutional Disputes Nullification and States’ Rights • Economic Differences Industrialization in the North and King Cotton in the South • Political Blunders and Extremism A lot of mistakes and over reacting on both sides

Conflict Over Status of Territories Manifest Destiny dictates the expansion of the US. n As territories became states the issue of free or slave status continued to boil. n Southerners view any attempt to limit the expansion of slavery as a threat. n

Free Soil Movement Northern Democrats and Whigs n Position that all blacks – slave and free – should be excluded from the Mexican Cession n No African Americans in the territory meant no problems n United Abolitionists and Racists n

Democratic Position: Popular Sovereignty Made famous by Stephen Douglas in the Lincoln - Douglas Debates. n Matter would be decided by a vote of the people who settled the territory. n

Election of 1848 n Democrats: Lewis Cass § Popular Sovereignty n Whigs: General Zachary Taylor * § No stand on slavery n Free Soilers: Martin Van Buren § No African Americans in territories

The Compromise of 1850 Admit California as a free state n Divide Mexican cession into two territories (Utah and New Mexico) Vote to decide slavery n Settle disputed land between Texas and New Mexico n Ban slave trade in D. C. n New Fugitive Slave Law n

Three Great Voices Daniel Webster: Massachusetts n John C. Calhoun: South Carolina n Henry Clay: Kentucky n

Fugitive Slave Law n n Compromise persuaded southerners to accept the statehood of California Rigorous enforcement caused tension in the North n Underground Railroad is organized to avoid the Fugitive Slave Law

Literature on Slavery Anti-Slavery Postion n n Harriet Beecher Stowe Henton Helper Pro-Slaver Position • George Fitzhugh

Election of 1852 n Whigs: Gen. Winfield Scott § Ignored slavery § Focused on improving roads and harbors n Democrats: Franklin Pierce § Northerner who favored Fugitive Slave Law

Kansas Nebraska Act (1854) Stephen Douglass of Illinois n Needed southern approval of transcontinental train route through Chicago n

Provisions n Divide Nebraska Territory into two Kansas n Nebraska n Settlers would be free to decide the issue of slave or free. n Violated the Missouri Compromise (1820) n

New Parties n Know-Nothing Party Northern n Nativists n Anti Catholic and Anti-immigrant n n Republican Party Reaction to the Kansas-Nebraska Act n Coalition of Free Soilers and Anti-slavery Whigs n Stop the spread of slavery n

Election of 1856 n Republicans: John C. Fremont No expansion of slavery ¨ Free homesteads ¨ Probusiness protective tariff ¨ Know-Nothings: Millard Fillmore n Democrats: James Buchanan n Tried to distance themselves from Kansas-Nebraska Act ¨ Won ¨

“Bleeding Kansas” Both pro-slavery forces and anti-slavery forces began to pour into Kansas n Fighting broke out between sides n

Caning of Senator Sumner

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) Held as a slave in Missouri n Taken to Wisconsin for two years n Went to Missouri court and sued for freedom n Appealed to the Supreme Court n Chief Justice Roger Taney (Southern Democrat n

Decision People of African descent were not U. S. citizens n Dred Scott had no right to sue in a federal court n Congress did not have the right to deprive any person of property without due process n Congress could not exclude slavery in any territory n Missouri compromise (1820) was unconstitutional. n

Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858) n Stephen Douglass: Democrat Champion of popular sovereignty n Last hope of holding the North and South together n n Abraham Lincoln: Republican Against the expansion of slavery n Slavery as a moral issue n South viewed him as a radical n n Seven debates

Freeport, Illinois Lincoln questioned how Douglas could reconcile popular sovereignty with the Dred Scott decision. n Freeport Doctrine: slavery could not exist in a community if the local citizens did not pass and enforce laws for maintaining it. n Douglas won the election but lost the support of southern Democrats. n

Off Year Election, 1858 Gains by Republicans concerned Southerners n Antislavery plank n Economic program favoring northern industrialists at the expense of the South. n Felt a Republican victory in 1860 would spell disaster for the South. n

John Brown’s Raid at Harpers October, 1859 n Harpers Ferry, Virginia n Small band of followers attempt to start a slave uprising. n Siege lasted two days n Arrested by Robert E. Lee n Convicted of treason and hanged n

Election of 1860 Democratic: Stephen Douglass (Illinois) n Southern Democrats: John C. Breckenridge (Kentucky) n Republican: Abraham Lincoln (Illinois) n Constitutional Union (Former Whigs, Know -Nothings and moderate Democrats): John Bell (Tennessee) n

Deep South Secedes South Carolina n Florida n Georgia n Alabama n Mississippi n Louisiana n Texas n

James Buchanan Served for five months after Lincoln’s election n Did nothing to stop secession n

Those Voting for Secession. . n n Tradition of the American Revolution Right to national independence Dissolve a constitution that no longer protects them Thought Lincoln would not fight

The Outcome Was Obvious