The Road to Secession The 1850s Candidates Zachary

The Road to Secession: The 1850’s

Candidates Zachary Taylor Lewis Cass “Old Rough & Ready” Democrat Whig

Results • Taylor wins

The Statehood of CA • Applied to be a free state in 1850 • Problems? – Upset the sectional balance – 15 free & 15 slave – Influence UT & NM to become free as well

Wishes of the North & South North: – CA admitted as a state – Abolishment of slavery in Washington, DC South: – Maintain sectional balance – The end to runaway slaves

The Compromise • Written by Henry Clay • Provisions: – CA admitted as a free state – Abolition of the slave trade in DC – Popular Sovereignty in NM & UT – A stringent Fugitive Slave Law passed

Why it passed • Taylor opposed • But he died July 9, 1850 – Millard Fillmore became president – Congress eager to end sectional crisis

Popular Sovereignty • Autonomous people of a territory should determine themselves the status of slavery in their territory • Proposed by Stephen Douglas (IL) • Became a major political issue of the 1850’s

Fugitive Slave Law (1850) • Provisions: – Law enforcement everywhere had to assist with runaway slaves – Those that helped runaway slaves would be fined and jailed – Captured slaves were not entitled to trials/juries – Many free blacks conscripted back into slavery • Problems for the North: – Called it the “Bloodhound Bill” – Some states refused to enforce – Major boost for Abolitionist movement

Harriet Beecher Stowe • In 1852 she wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin – Anti-slavery novel – Inspired by the Fugitive Slave Law (1850) • Became a bestseller – Sold 300, 000 copies in the 1 st year – Over 2 million within a decade • Helped focus Northern anger against slavery • South angry that it was so popular

The End of the Great Triumvirate • The three great statesmen from the three areas of the country • Had managed to reach compromises and maintain harmony in the country John C. Calhoun – South Henry Clay – West Daniel Webster – North Died 1850 Died 1852

Candidates in 1852 Franklin Pierce Winfield Scott Democrat “Old Fuss & Feathers” Whig

Results • Pierce wins

Death of the Whigs • Main personalities have passed away • Party split in election of 1852 because of Scott’s stance on slavery – North somewhat supported, wanted Fillmore to be nominee – South did not support • 1852 was last Whig nominee for president

The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) • Stephen Douglass proposed – Wanted to build a transcontinental RR – Never passed because of North vs. South issues • The law passed and created 2 new territories, Kansas & Nebraska – Slave issue determined by Popular Sovereignty – Assumed NE would be free & KS would be slave

• Problem? – It repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820

Northern Reaction:

Impact on Democrats • Begins to splinter the party • Northern Democrats do not want to see the expansion of slavery • Southern Democrats happy about the possibility of expanding slavery

Birth of the Republican Party (1854) • Formed in reaction to Kansas- Nebraska Act • Mutt group: – – – Whigs Some Northern Democrats Free-Soilers Know Nothings Opponents of K-N Act • Formed around an issue – SLAVERY • Outlawed south of the Mason-Dixon Line • Became main party of the North almost overnight

Bleeding Kansas • KS ready to become a state in 1855 • Election held to decide Pro or Anti Slavery • Anti-slaverites flood the region from the North – Called “Free Soilers” • Pro-slaverites pour in from MO – Called “Border Ruffians” • Border Ruffians won • Free Soilers establish their own government

Bleeding Kansas • 1856, the two groups began to attack one another • Civil War in Kansas over slavery – Only 2 slaves lived there • Statehood denied

Caning of Charles Sumner • Violence in KS spills into U. S. government • Charles Sumner is an abolitionist senator from MA • Gives a speech “Crime against Kansas” condemning violence & slavery – Also insults Senator Andrew Butler (SC) • 2 days later, Preston Brooks attacked Sumner

Candidates James Buchanan Democrat Popular John C. Fremont Millard Fillmore Republican American End the Expansion of Anti-Immigration Slavery Policies

Results • Buchanan wins

Who is Dred Scott? • Slave who traveled with his master into North several times • While in the North, he legally married & had children • In 1846 in MO, he sued his master for freedom

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) • Case goes to the Supreme Court • Decision handed down in 1857 by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney – Main theme of his tenure in office was the defense of slavery • Wanted to end the debate about slavery once and for all • Provisions: – No African-American (free of slave) were citizens of the U. S. , they were property • Therefore no right to sue – Ruled the MO Compromise unconstitutional • Congress could not restrict the expansion of slavery

Reaction • Northern proponents of Popular Sovereignty: – Horrified – No stopping the expansion of slavery • Republicans: – Entire party platform is now illegal – Refused to honor decision because the Supreme Court is controlled by the South • Democrats: – Split apart into 2 factions – North vs. South

Lecompton Constitution (1858) • Two Constitutions written in KS in 1855 – Lecompton Constitution was for a Slave KS – Topeka Constitution was for a Free KS • Buchanan in favor of the Lecompton Constitution • Tried to bring KS in as a Slave State in 1858 • Created a huge controversy in Congress • More fighting • KS still not made a state

Illinois Senate Seat • Lincoln nominated by Republican party – Makes famous “House Divided” speech • Running against Stephen Douglas • Lincoln challenges Douglas to a series of debates A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half

Freeport Doctrine • Most famous debate • Lincoln challenges Douglas on Dred Scott decision • Douglas issues his “doctrine” – Territories can vote against having slavery • Angers Southern Democrats – Loses chance for becoming president • Douglas wins election

John Brown • Fervent abolitionist • Wants to make VA a free state • Attacks armory in Harper’s Ferry Oct. 1859 • Fails & is hung • Seen as a martyr in the North • Seen as a huge problem in the South

Candidates Abraham Lincoln Stephen Douglas Northern Democrat Republican John Breckenridge Southern Democrat John Bell Constitutional Union Party

Results • Basically two elections – one in the North, one in the South • Lincoln wins

Crittenden Amendments • Proposed by John Crittenden Dec 1860 • Last attempt at compromise • 36º 30’ extended to Pacific – North of line no slavery – South of line popular sovereignty • Rejected by Lincoln – No compromise, but wanted to avoid war

Southern Secession Begins • SC begins the exodus in Dec 1860 • Pres. Buchanan does nothing

War begins April 12, 1861