Background to the Civil War Political Parties Wilmot Proviso Compromise of 1850 Uncle Tom’s Cabin Kansas Nebraska Act--“Bleeding

Kansas” Republican Party Dred Scott John Brown Election of 1860

Political Parties Democrats—strongest in South More democratic Generally pro-slavery Whigs—stronger in North More elitist Generally anti-spread of slavery BUT there were southern Whigs and

northern Democrats

Wilmot Proviso (August 1846)

Proposal to prohibit slavery in new territories gained from Mexico

Divided upon sectional lines Northern Democrats supported Whigs supported

Possible solutions Extend Louisiana Purchase line across Popular sovereignty (Lewis Cass,

Stephen Douglas)—but when? Cass became Democratic nominee in

1848 Whigs nominated Zachary Taylor Northern Whigs did not support Taylor Free Soil Party formed

Zachary Taylor

Southern slaveholder William Seward (antislavery) was

chief advisor Southerners regretted his election Virginia newspapers—Richmond

Whig and Richmond Enquirer

Compromise Proposal (Clay)

California admitted free New Mexico and Utah with no

reference to slavery Texas territory reduced; Texas

debts assumed Slave trade abolished in DC but

slavery itself guaranteed

Speeches

Webster: “speak as an American” Calhoun: “equilibrium destroyed” Seward: “slavery an unjust,

backward, dying institution. . . Higher law than Constitution”

Compromise of 1850

President Taylor died in July Millard Fillmore (Buffalo) becomes

president Fillmore disliked Seward (NY

factions) and favored compromise Stronger fugitive slave law added Compromise passed

William Graham (NC) to brother, Jan. 1851

“I think the settlement of the last session and the firm course of the Administration in the execution of the fugitive slave law have given a new lease to slavery. Property of that kind has not been so secure for the last twenty-five years.”

Fugitive Slave Law Most divisive of the compromise

measures Law of 1793 allowed southerners to

come North capture fugitive slaves Northern “liberty laws” gave

captives legal rights Law of 1850 gave captives no legal

rights

Prigg v. Pennsylvania (1842)

Prigg appealed conviction for kidnapping

Supreme Court ruled Pennsylvania liberty law unconstitutional

But also that enforcement of 1793 fugitive slave law was federal responsibility

Northern reaction to Fugitive Slave Law

Some northern states passed more liberty laws

Northerners formed community committees to aid runaway slaves

Underground Railroad Southerners saw vast conspiracy

Fugitive Slave Law (1850)

First 15 months, 84 fugitives returned, only 5 released

During decade, 332 returned, 11 declared free

No statute of limitations Many blacks went to Canada

Cases

William and Ellen Craft—protected by Boston anti-slavery group

Shadrach—waiter had escaped from Virginia—captured in Boston but rescued and sent to Canada

Thomas Sims—captured and sent South

Christiana, Pennsylvania (Sept. 1851)

Maryland slaveowner killed and son wounded attempting to capture slave. Resisters charged with treason, but case collapsed

Fugitive Cases

William McHenry (Jerry) rescued from police station in Syracuse

Henry “Box” Brown Henry Long Anthony Burns

Henry Long

Russell County Virginia owner Long worked in Richmond Escaped to New York Returned to Richmond Sold south Richmond Enquirer covered story

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe Best seller of all time in proportion

to population Southerners hated it: “detestable

and monstrous” Pro-slavery novels: Uncle Robin in

His Cabin in Virginia and Tom Without One in Boston

Kansas Nebraska Act

Stephen Douglas Transcontinental RR Popular Sovereignty Repeal of Missouri Compromise End of Whigs Formation of Republican Party Emergence of Lincoln

“Bleeding Kansas”

Anti-slavery leaders to fight there New England Emigrant Aid

Company Amos Lawrence Pro-slavery settlers from Missouri

outnumbered anti-slavery Kansans Violence broke out—1855-56

John Brown in Kansas

"These men are all talk. What we need is action - action!"

Pottawatomie massacre James Doyle and two sons (slave-

catchers and members of the Law and Order Party)

Pro-slavery MissourianDavid Aitchison

To Jefferson Davis and Robert Hunter:“We are organizing. We will be

compelled to shoot, burn & hang, but the thing will soon be over. . . .If we win we carry slavery to the Pacific Ocean, if we fail we lose Missouri Arkansas Texas and all the territories.”

Violence in Senate

Sumner caned by Brooks, May 1856

Northerners outraged Southern students contributed to

buy Brooks new cane Southern reaction outraged

Northerners even more

Republican Party

1854 Response to Kansas-Nebraska Act “Free Labor, free land, free men.” Opposed expansion of slavery

President Buchanan, 1856 Considered pro-South Accepted Lecompton Constitution

for Kansas (pro-slavery) Northerners considered it a fraud Split Democratic Party More fighting in Congress Lecompton defeated; Kansas

statehood delayed until 1861

Dred Scott

Belonged to army surgeon from Missouri

Had been taken to Illinois, Minnesota Scott sued for freedom in 1846 Went to federal court

Dred Scott

Supreme Court heard case 3 questions: Could Scott sue in federal court? Was he free from stays in free

territories/state? Was Fort Snelling in Minn. Territory

free territory?

Dred Scott Chief Justice Roger Taney issued a comprehensive pro-slavery

ruling: Blacks could not sue in federal

courts Stay in free territory did not make

him free Congress had no right to ban

slavery in territories

Harper’s Ferry, 1859

Reaction to Harpers Ferry Raid

Search Valley project newspapers Southerners used words like

“outrage,” “rebellion” Northerners generally supported

cause, but criticized methods

Election of 1860

Lincoln—Republican Douglas—Democrat (northern) Breckenridge—Democrat

(southern) Bell—(Constitution and Union—

mostly Whigs)

National Results, 1860

39.8% 29.5% 18.1% 12.6%

Electoral College, 1860

Election of 1860

Voting by precinct—Augusta http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/VoS/ta

blesandstats/augusta/aelection60_1.html

Voting by precinct—Franklin http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/VoS/ta

blesandstats/franklin/frelection60_1.html