Causes of the Civil War

State’s Rights vs. Slavery

Wilmot Proviso

August 1846◦Introduced amendment

“the acquisition of any territory from the Republic of Mexico…neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist”

Southerners opposed the amendment because they felt it would shift the balance of slave and free states.

House passed it, Senate struck it down, but it deepens the divide between the North and South.

Nullification Crisis

Andrew Jackson vs. John C. Calhoun and South Carolina

South Carolina protested high tariffs (taxes on imports)

John C. Calhoun (SC Senator)◦Doctrine of Nullification◦State could refuse to enforce a law it saw as

unconstitutional◦Threat of succession◦Henry Clay organizes compromise

California Gold Rush - 18491848–Gold discovered near Sacramento, CA

Rush of settlers to California◦“gold fever!!!”◦49ers◦Rapid growth of population

Compromise of 1850Created by Henry Clay (Kentucky)

Territories of New Mexico & Utah◦ Popular sovereignty –

territories will choose for themselves whether to be free or slave

Slave trade abolished in Washington D.C.◦ Sale ended; Slavery

continued

California admitted as free state (31st state)◦ Result: Balance of free

and slave states has been disrupted in Congress

Fugitive Slave Act◦ More strictly enforced

Fines up to $1,000 6 month imprisonment

Texas-New Mexico boundary resolved◦ $10 million

Compromise of 1850 cont’d

Compromise of 1850 cont’d• Compromise Fails to Pass in Congress

Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois took over for Clay

Broke it up into parts that were voted on individually

◦ Compromise passed over 8 months

Stephen A. Douglas

Henry Clay

Fugitive Slave Act

Most controversial part of compromise

Required citizens to assist in recovery of fugitive slaves

“Fugitives” denied right to jury trial◦Tried by special commissioners

$5 if fugitive was released $10 if fugitive were sent with claimant

More federal officials enforcing law

Underground RailroadSlaves taken “station” to

“station” by “conductors”

Most famous “conductor”◦ Harriet Tubman◦ 19 trips – freed around 300

slaves◦ https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylqQibHXL_4&list=PLhIkzwvHFoBbqS0Ze-1M-T7QXrb6lcJVp

Slave narratives◦ Love between family members◦ Respect for elders◦ Bonds of friendship◦ Christian principles

Slaves viewed as people…not property

Raised the question of whether or not slavery was just◦ Sold over 300,000 copies in the

first year

Increased protests of northern abolitionists

Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe - 1852

Kansas-Nebraska ActSubmitted by Stephen Douglas

PopularSovereignty

http://teachingamericanhistory.org/neh/interactives/sectionalism/lesson3/

Bleeding KansasElection for territorial

delegate◦ Census – 2,905 eligible voters◦ Votes cast – 6,307

Missourians◦ “Border Ruffians”

Sumner (Mass.) vs. Butler (S.C.)◦ Sumner delivers speech attacking

proslavery beliefs◦ Butler’s nephew attacks Sumner

January-1856 Proslavery govt. - Lecompton

Abolitionists organize rival govt. - Topeka

Fighting between proslavery settlers and abolitionists◦Over 200 killed in attacks by end of 1856

Dred Scott v. SanfordDred Scott – slave from Missouri

◦Claimed he had become free by living in free territory for several years

Courts decision:◦Slaves didn’t have the rights of citizens

◦Living in Missouri when he began law-suit No claim to freedom

◦Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional 5th Amendment

◦Cannot be denied life, liberty, and property without due process of law

Congress could not forbid slavery in any part of the territories**Supreme Court cleared the way for extension of slavery**

Lincoln vs. Douglas

Fight for Illinois senate seat Debates between:

Stephen Douglas◦ Compromise of 1850◦ Kansas-Nebraska Act

Abraham Lincoln

Stephen Douglas Believed in popular sovereignty  Accused Lincoln of being an abolitionist.

Abraham Lincoln Tried to make Douglas look like defender of slavery Thought slavery was a “moral, social and political wrong that should not be

allowed to spread.”

Douglas wins the Senate seat◦ Further divides the North and South wings of the Democratic Party◦ Republicans start looking at Lincoln as a candidate for the Election of

1860

John Brown’s Raid

John Brown and 21 (black & white) men raided Harpers Ferry, VA◦ Goals:

Seize federal arsenal Give guns and weapons to slaves Start slave uprising

Federal troops surrounded Brown’s men◦ 2 day siege

Emerson◦ Referred to Brown as a martyr

“make the gallows as glorious as the cross”

Brown charged with treason, conspiracy, and murder◦ Dec. 1859 – Hanged for treason

Views of Brown◦ North – hero◦ South – symbol of northern ruthlessness

John Brown’s

Raid

Lecompton

Topeka

John Brown's Raid

Election of 1860

Election of 1860

Days after election South Carolina holds convention to decide state’s future

◦ Dec. 20 1860 – South Carolina secedes

◦ By February 1861 – Georgia, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama had joined

Lincoln wins:◦ Wins electoral votes BUT

loses popular vote◦ Did not win a single

southern state

Southerners felt as though they had lost their political voice in the national govt.