Road to Civil War 1820 1861 Sectionalism An

Road to Civil War 1820 -1861

Sectionalism • An exaggerated loyalty to a particular region of the country • Distinct division are formed – Beliefs – Policies • 1819 – there is a balance of “free” and “slave” states – Missouri (“slave” state) asks for admission into the US.

Missouri Compromise • Henry Clay’s proposal – To keep the balance, Missouri admitted as “slave” and Maine as a “free” state – All future states below the 36 degree parallel would be “slave” states • Compromise worked for next 25 years…

Great Race… • 1840 s, New territories are growing – Texas won Independence from Mexico – US Mexican war would free other territories (California & New Mexico) – Oregon & Utah • Convert new territories territory –Introduce slavery in hopes of that it will join the US as a “slave” state –Others fought hard to keep slaves out of new territories in hopes that it would be a “free” state

Compromise of 1850 • No balance of states, South might secede – To leave or withdraw from union • Henry Clay suggested: • Disagreement –From John C. Calhoun • Support –From Daniel Webster – California enters as a free state – New Mexico will decide dispute – Strong fugitive (runaway) slave law

Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 • Underground Railroad – Network of “safe” houses used to harbor runaway slavers that were owned by antislavery blacks and whites • New Fugitive Slave Act – All people (from North and South) must assist in the capture of runaway slaves – People will be convicted of a crime for assisting runaway slaves • This gave slave-owners and slave catchers a great deal of power in the North

New Powers granted by Fugitive Slave Act • Slave catchers went to extreme lengths – Sometimes captured longtime escaped slaves – Sometimes freed blacks were taken back and enslaved • Extreme nature of capture upset many Northerners to not support the Act • Disregard for the law upset many Southerners since right to property were key

Kansas-Nebraska Act • Kansas-Nebraska Act – Allow for Popular sovereignty • People will vote to pick if state will become “free” or “slave” state – Many northerners were upset, the Act opened a large territory to slavery – The Act barely passes in Congress • Franklin Pierce – 1853 –Seeking statehood: Kansas and Nebraska –North of line established in Missouri Compromise

Kansas vote: “free” or “slave” • Violence erupts in Kansas – People (pro and anti slavery) rush to Kansas for vote • 1500 registered voters • 6000 people casts votes – Pro-slavery groups hire thugs to roam borders – Anti-slavery groups attack towns and groups • John Brown (abolitionist) leads a little civil war in Kansas.

The Division spreads further • John Brown’s raids cause division • Political party division – Whig party is gone – Northern and Southern Democrats split over issue – Republican party (anti-slavery) forms • Election of 1856 –Democrat James Buchanan wins presidency

Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857) • Dred Scott Case – Scott was a slave who lived in Missouri – In 1830, this master, took him to Illinois, a “free” state for several years. – He would later return w/ his owner back to Missouri – Under Missouri law, “once free, always free” – Scott (w/ anti-slavery lawyers) sued for his freedom – His claim: He was not a slave anymore because he lived in a “free” state for several years and was now free because of that

Scott decision • Living in a “free” state does not make you free – Slaves are property – 5 th amendment protects the government from taking away property – No state has the power to ban or outlaw slavery • is it against the law to bring your car into another state? – Popular sovereignty was not legal because not even the voters could decide if slavery was okay

Supreme Court ruling makes things worse • This was the Supreme Court suggested • Many Northerners were upset by court ruling

Lincoln-Douglas Debates • 1858 – Race for Senator of Illinois – Lincoln believe that Slavery was wrong – Douglas won election, but Lincoln’s stance on Slavery gained him national reputation

John Brown raids again • John Brown attacks – A strong supporter of anti-slavery (abolitionist) movement – This time he raids Harpers Ferry, Virginia – He and his troops are caught and sentenced to hang –His death inspired some to continue the fight to abolish slavery

Election of 1860 • Lincoln represents Republicans – Stance: Leave slavery alone, but don’t allow it to spread • South saw victory as the end of slavery –Threats to secession change to reality! • Lincoln wins presidency

South Secedes • December 1860 – South Carolina hold special convention • Votes to secede from Union (US) – Many wanted to save the Union, but how? – The issue has been compromised for nearly 40 years and nothing had worked • Was secession the only option?

The Confederacy • 1861 – Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, & Georgia had joined S. Carolina – The CSA (Confederate States of America) was formed – Jefferson Davis was elected president • WHY? – The justification was State’s Rights • States were being denied their right to freedom of choice (choice to have slavery) • Being denied property (5 th Amendment)

Not all left, but now what? • Not every state left – Virginia, Kentucky, N. Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, & Arkansas • Every one is anxious to see what newly-elected President A. Lincoln will say or do • “I see only that a fearful calamity is upon us. ” – Robert E. Lee • “We are not enemies, but friends. Though [things] may be strained, it must not break our bond. . . ” – President A. Lincoln

Fort Sumter • U. S. had forts all through South – South took control of forts – Lincoln as not content in allow that to happen – Fort Sumter, in S. Carolina was low in supplies – Lincoln told S. Carolina he was going to send an unarmed expedition with supplies • The decision to attack the expedition or Fort was left up to the Confederacy and S. Carolina

Fort Sumter • April 1861 – Confederacy (south) attacks Fort Sumter before supplies arrive – Nobody is killed, but Confederacy (south) captures the fort

Shots are fired • Lincoln calls for 75, 000 Union (north) troops • Remaining Southern states join the Confederacy The Civil War has officially started!