THE CIVIL WAR BEGINS The Path to War
THE CIVIL WAR BEGINS
The Path to War A New Political Party The Dred Scott Decision • Antislavery Whigs and Antislavery Democrats joined with the Free Soilers and created the Republican Party • The new party had great strength in the north • Democrat James Buchanan won the Presidential election in 1856 on a platform of popular sovereignty • Enslaved man who's owners took him to live in a free state • When they died, he sued for his freedom • Chief Justice Taney said since he was a slave he had no rights • He also said that the Missouri Compromise and popular sovereignty were both unconstitutional
Meet Famous Abe • 1858 Illinois Senate race introduced us to Abraham Lincoln. • Personally he opposed slavery, but felt there was no easy way to to eliminate it, just stop its spreading • Southerners really started to feel threatened • Even though he lost the election- he was a new force in the growing Republican Party
Raid on Harpers Ferry • October 16, 1859 John Brown led a group of people, including slaves in a raid. • The plan failed and he was tried, found guilty of murder and treason and was hanged. • When the south found he was supported by the north, the south’s fear of a conspiracy were confirmed.
Elections of 1860 • The Democratic party was split between the North and the South • The Republican Party nominated Abraham Lincoln who narrowly won the election
The South Secedes South Carolina goes First • November 20, 1860 • Senator John Crittendon proposed a plan to leave the Missouri Compromise as the boundaries • February 1861 -Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia go next • Met in February to form a new nation Confederate States of America • President-Jefferson Davis • Felt they were justified in leaving the Union cause they entered voluntary • Lincoln said that secession was unlawful and would not be permitted, but pleaded with the South for reconciliation
Fort Sumter • Union fort located in South • Confederates attacked and opened fire on the fort on April 12, 1861 • The fort surrendered two days later • No lives were lost • Lincoln called for volunteers to fight the Confederacy • Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas voted to join the Confederacy
The Civil War has Begun
- Slides: 8
