Drifting Toward Disunion1854-1861

Guiding Questions & Lecture

Chapter 19The American Pageant, 13th edition

Quickwrite Doc. 102: How does the Chicago Tribune

view the Supreme Court’s decision on Dred Scott v. Sanford, and what does it suggest that citizens do?

OR Doc. 103: How does Stephen Douglas say

that slavery will be enforced in a territory or state?

Key Topics Uncle Tom’s Cabin “Bleeding Kansas” Dred Scott Case Panic of 1857 John Brown’s Harpers Ferry Raid Lincoln’s Election Secession Begins

Other Significant Topics Pottawatomie Massacre Lecompton Constitution of Kansas Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Douglas’s Freeport Doctrine

Congressman Brooks attacks Senator Sumner

Crittenden Compromise

Notable People Harriet Beecher Stowe John Brown Stephen Douglas James Buchanan Dred Scott Abraham Lincoln James Henry Crittenden Jefferson Davis

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Who was Harriet Beecher Stowe?

Author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin Lincoln called her “the little woman who wrote

the book that made this great war” Inspired by her evangelical reform roots and her

reaction to Fugitive Slave Law Story of kindly older slave, Tom; angelic girl Eva;

villainous Simon Legree

US Reactions to Uncle Tom’s Cabin

What were the northern and southern reactions to Uncle Tom’s Cabin? Led many northerners to ignore Fugitive Slave

law Inspired many young men to fight for the Union Southerners called it an “unfair indictment”;

Stowe had seen little of slavery Another wedge between North and South

European reactions to Uncle Tom What was the European reaction to Uncle

Tom’s Cabin and how did this influence the outcome of the Civil War? Very popular abroad, especially in France and

Britain Once the war started, British and French

governments chose not to help the South as their own common people were strongly opposed to slavery (as inspired by Uncle Tom)

“Bleeding Kansas” What was the original status of the Kansas

Territory? Following the Kansas-Nebraska Act, it became

open to settlement with popular sovereignty re: slavery

(1820 Missouri Compromise had been repealed) Expected that Kansas would become slave and

Nebraska free

“Bleeding Kansas” continued Who settled in the Kansas Territory?

Westward-moving farming settlers (generally anti-slavery)

Northern abolitionists with “Beecher’s Bibles” Armed southern slave owners

“Bleeding Kansas” continued What happened during the Kansas

territorial legislature election of 1855? “border ruffians” from slave state Missouri came

and voted in Kansas, electing a fraudulent legislation; set up in Shawnee Mission

Angry free-soilers set up their own illegal legislature in Topeka

What was the result of the first territorial

legislature election in Kansas? Free-soil town of Lawrence burned by

proslavery raiders Abolitionist John Brown and followers hacked

up 5 men (presumed proslaveryites) at Pottawatamie Creek; led to reprisals

Fighting spreads, 200+ killed

Lecompton Constitution To apply for statehood, Kansans had to vote

for Lecompton Constitution Residents were to vote for one of two versions, one

with and one without slavery BUT if the no-slavery version won, existing slaves

would be preserved & slave-owners protected Free-soilers were furious, boycotted election &

constitution was approved Douglas pushes Congress to require entire

Constitution to be voted on, for or against It lost, & Kansas remained territory till 1861

Brooks and Sumner Why did Brooks attack Sumner?

Senator Sumner of Massachusetts was a prominent abolitionist, widely disliked for his cold arrogance. Gave virulent anti-slavery speech

SC Senator Brooks responded to the verbal attacks on his state and colleague by viciously beating Sumner; led to serious injuries

Sumner and Brooks How did the North and South respond,

respectively? In the North, Sumner’s speech became a

bestseller and Brooks was called “uncouth” and “cowardly”

The South reelected Brooks after his forced resignation; sent 100s of canes to Brooks in support

The “first blows of the Civil War”; divide deepens

The Dred Scott Case What was the basis of Dred Scott’s Case

before the Supreme Court? Having lived with his master for 5 years in free

territories, black slave Scott sued for his freedom

Dred Scott loses How did the Supreme Court rule on the Dred

Scott Case? Why? Ruled that Scott was a slave and not a citizen,

therefore he could not sue Since a slave was private property, he or she

would remain a slave no matter where (5th Amd.) Denied constitutionality of Missouri Compromise,

and Congress’s right to ban slavery anywhere; also a blow to popular sovereignty

Reactions to Dred Scott How did the North and South respond?

Northerners were furious; many suggested that the Supreme Court ruling was simply an “opinion”, called court a “southern debating society” (majority of justices were Southern)

Southerners were thrilled with ruling, and appalled at Northern disrespect for Supreme Court; questioned viability of the Union and constitution

Panic of 1857 What caused the Panic (or Crash) of 1857?

Currency inflated by Calif gold Surplus grain (Crimean War) Speculation on land and railroads

Which sectors of the country were most affected? North most affected (grain growers) 5000 businesses failed

Results of the Panic What two proposals came out of the Panic

of 1857? Was either successful? Homestead Act—to make 160 acre farms

available for 25 cents/acre; successfully vetoed by Southern leaning President Buchanan

Tariff of 1857—reduced duties to 20%; Northern industry blamed their woes on reduced protection and govt surplus disappeared

The Panic in the Long Term What was the long-term impact of the Panic

of 1857? Pro-homestead and pro-tariff Republicans

pushed their agenda in 1860 election (Lincoln) Southerners entered the Civil War with

unrealistic confidence as they had fared well during panic; “cotton was king”

Lincoln-Douglas Debates Why was Lincoln called “Honest Abe”?

Refused cases he could not defend in good conscience

How did Lincoln put Douglas on the spot at the Freeport debate? “Suppose the people of a territory should vote

slavery down?” In light of Dred Scott judicial opposition was of

real concern

Douglas’s Freeport Doctrine What was the essence of Douglas’s

Freeport Doctrine? Regardless of the Supreme Court, slavery would

stay out if the people voted it out Slavery-protecting laws would not be passed by

territorial legislatures without popular support Slavery would ultimately die out if the people did

not support it

Debate Helps Lincoln in the End How did Douglas’s success in 1858 help

Lincoln win the presidency in 1860? Though in the context of a series of local debates

the Lincoln-Douglas debate brought Lincoln into the national limelight thru newspaper coverage

Douglas’s positions led to a split between northern and southern Democrats, and two Democratic opponents for Republican Lincoln

Harpers Ferry What was John Brown’s intention at the raid on

Harpers Ferry? To lead a slave uprising against the South and establish a

free state for blacks Seized the federal arsenal there, killing 7 innocents and

injuring at least ten more; quickly captured by the Marines

Why did he fail? Black slaves did not rise up with him; very few even knew

about his plan

The Impact of Harpers Ferry How did the Harpers Ferry Raid further

antagonize North/South relations? For many northerners—often ignorant of his

previous violence—Brown became a hero of the Abolition Movt. Brown’s calm at his execution enhanced this image

To the South the glorification of Brown was incomprehensible; many believed that most northerners shared Brown’s extreme views

Sectional wedge driven deeper

Lincoln’s Election Why did the Democrats fail to win the 1860

election? The Democratic party was split into two sectional

factions after the southern wing of Democrats “seceded” from the party convention at Charleston

Douglas elected at 2nd convention at Baltimore Southern Democrats set up a rival convention

and elected Breckinridge Constitutional Union party further splits the vote

Lincoln’s Election continued What was the Republican platform in 1860?

Nonextension of slavery Protective tariff Immigrant rights Pacific railroad Federally-supported internal improvements Free homesteads

Secession Begins Why did South Carolina secede from the

Union after Lincoln’s election, and what was Buchanan’s reaction? SC had vowed that if “sectional” Lincoln won that

they would secede; SC saw Lincoln’s victory as a signal that the southern cause was at risk

Ever since Calhoun, SC had used secession as a threat; finally fulfilling its “destiny”

Buchanan did little to stop secession; in fact there was little he could do

The Crittendon Compromise What was the Crittenden Compromise?

Slavery to be prohibited in territories north of 36 30’, but protected in territories south of it

Future states could come in free or slave, as they chose

Why did Lincoln reject Crittenden Compromise? Lincoln committed to his opposition to extension

of slavery Could lead to larger problems with new territories

(Cuba…)

Secession Proceeds Which six southern states first followed

South Carolina’s example? Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia,

Louisiana, Texas (most southern) In February 1861 the Confederate States of

America were formed, selected ex-Senator Jefferson Davis as their president

Soon four more would join secession (Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee)

Inspiration for Rebellion How did events in Europe influence the

South’s decision on secession? The successful nationalist movements in Europe

inspired the South to establish its own nation

US history also set an example: as the 13 colonies left England, so the southern states would leave the Union