DRIFTING TOWARD DISUNION 1854 1861 Chapter 19 Harriet

DRIFTING TOWARD DISUNION 1854 -1861 Chapter 19

Harriet Beecher Stowe 1811 - 1896 So this is the lady who started the Civil War. -- Abraham Lincoln

Consequences of Uncle Tom’s Cabin Ø Profound influence on public opinion l l l Ø Moved northerners on the fence into antislavery camp. Made many willing to go to war to end Slavery. Made European public unsympathetic to South Sold several Million copies; translated into 20 languages

Kansas in Flames Ø Popular Sovereignty was working poorly in Kansas. Why? Ø Nature of Kansas settlers. Ø New England Emigrant Aid Society Ø South feels cheated. Why? Ø Prospects for Slavery in Kansas Ø Jayhawkers vs. Bushwackers Ø Bogus Election, Bogus Laws Ø Lawrence Burned

“Bleeding Kansas” Border “Ruffians” (pro-slavery Missourians)

John Brown’s Massacre

Madman or Martyr?

Lecompton Constitution 1857 KS applies for statehood. Ø Issue of slavery in Kansas squarely in the crosshairs. Ø Pro-slavery forces determined to make the Kansas a slave state. Ø Lecompton Constitution. Ø Anti-Slave forces think the Constitution is a sham. Why? Ø What do Free-soil forces do? Ø Now issue lands in the lap of Congress. Why? Ø

Lecompton Constitution in Congress Ø Pres. James Buchanan supported Lecompton Constitution. Why? Ø Northerners howled in protest. Ø Sen. Douglas fought tenaciously against it. Why? Ø Temporary alliance with Republicans. Ø Defeated and sent back to Kansas. Ø Result in Kansas. Ø Douglas’ political courage

“The Crime Against Kansas” • Sumner: "Hirelings picked from the drunken spew and vomit of an uneasy civilization. " • Brooks beats him with his cane. • North is outraged and the Crime Against Kansas speech is printed and sold by the thousands. Sen. Charles Sumner (R-MA) • The Sumner-Brooks clash revealed how dangerously inflamed passions were becoming between North and South. Congr. Preston Brooks (D-SC)

Election of 1856 Democrats Nominate James Buchanan. Ø Reject weak Pierce and Dynamic Douglas. Why? Ø Why is Buchanan “safer”? . Ø Experienced, but weak. Ø Platform is for popular sovereignty Ø

Election of 1856 Ø Ø Rise of the Republicans John C. Fremont. Platform Know-Nothings (American Party ) chose Millard Fillmore. l What is basic position of this party? Who do last remnants of the Whigs also endorse? Ø What does south threaten to do if Fremont is elected? Ø Impact on election? Ø

1856 Election Results

Dred Scott v. Sanford, 1857 On March 6, 1857, The Dred Scott case puts the pooh right into the fire. Ø One of the opening blasts of the Civil War. Ø What did the Court rule? Ø Why did it inflame the passions of the North? Ø

Financial Crash Of 1857 Ø 1857 economic panic Ø Causes? Ø Hits North harder than South. Why? Ø Consequences? Ø North demands a homestead act. l l South strongly opposes. Why? Ø 1860 Congress passed the Homestead What happens to it? Act.

Abe Lincoln Approaching Fury After Kansas-Nebraska Act and Dred Scott, emerged as leading voice against both in Illinois and in new Republican Party. Ø Picked to run against Douglas for Ill. Senate. Ø Little political experience, but forceful orator. Ø Background on Lincoln. Ø

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates, 1858 A House divided against itself, cannot stand.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates Ø 7 debates between August and October 1858. Ø Most famous debate in Freeport, Illinois. Ø Freeport Doctrine. Consequences for Douglas? Ø Douglas wins election even though Lincoln probably had more votes. Why? Ø Debates make Lincoln a national figure and gets him the presidential nomination in 1860.

John Brown Strikes Again Ø Brown scheme to attack the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Va. l Ø What is his logic? Attacked Oct. 1859; killed 7 innocent people including a free black l l Reaction of slaves Robert E. Lee. Convicted of murder and treason. Ø Executed, and became a martyr for radical abolitionists. Ø Reaction in South and consequences? Ø

Disruption Of The Democrats Ø Ø Ø Election of 1860 was the most fateful in American history; peace or civil war was on the line. Democrats (deeply divided) Douglas leading candidate of the northern Dems. South regarded him as a traitor. Why? Buchanan not re-nominated. Why?

Dems Divided Southern delegates walked out; 1 st secession of the Southerners. Ø Democrats tried again in Baltimore. Ø l Ø Result? . Platform?

Southern Nominees Ø Southern Democrats chose John C. Breckenridge (Buchannon’s VP). l l Ø He is a moderate from the border state of Kentucky Platform? Buchanan endorses this ticket. Constitutional Union Party. l l l What groups? Nominate John Bell of Tennessee. Platform? .

Republicans Smell Victory Republicans smell victory with Dems divided. Ø Seward most prominent and popular Republican. Why doesn’t he get the nomination? Ø Nominate Lincoln as second choice on strength of past performance against Douglas. Ø

Republican Party Platform in 1860 § The Republican Platform had a little bit of something for everyone. § To win Republicans must broaden their base and appeal on issues beyond Slavery. § Non-extension of slavery (for the core of the party). § Protective tariff (for the Northern Industrialists). § No abridgment of rights for immigrants (for immigrants). § Government aid to build a Pacific RR (for the Northwest). § Internal improvements at federal expense. (West) § Free homesteads for the public domain (for farmers).

1860 Election Results Lincoln gets only 40% of the vote, and virtually all of it came from free states. In ten southern states he wasn’t even allowed on the ballot.

Presidential Election of 1860 (showing popular vote by county) • Lincoln did not win any states below the Ohio river, but decisively won those above the Ohio • These maps dramatically show the demographic split in the nation. Also show that the middle border states are less clearly secessionist

Electoral Upheaval Of 1860 Ø Southern fire-eaters elated. Why? Ø Nature of the vote in the South. Ø Despite Lincoln victory, the South not that bad off. Why? l l Still control the Supreme Court and Still control 30 votes in the senate.

Secession Four days after the election South Carolina’s legislature voted to call a special convention on Secession, which voted unanimously to secede. Ø Six other states quickly follow suit. Ø

Confederacy Born Ø Ø Ø Feb. 1861 create Confederate States of America Jefferson Davis becomes President. West-Point graduate, Former Senator from Mississippi, former Secretary of War. Has lots of governmental experience and is an able politician, but not good at delegating and chronic-ill health.

Crittenden Compromise Secession led to desperate search for one more compromise. Ø Senator James Henry Crittenden Ø Crittenden Compromise: Ø l l Terms? Why rejected by Lincoln?

Farewell To Union Ø Why did the Southern States secede? They had a majority of the Supreme Court and could block any attempt to amend the Constitution to prohibit slavery. Ø Discuss

Fort Sumter: April 12, 1861