Road to Secession Note Entry #2

Road to SecessionNote Entry #2

Why Did the South Secede?

Growing influence of Abolitionists

2. Growth of Republican Party- new political party that is opposed to the expansion of slavery out west.

3. Election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 (Republican)- southern fear that he will want to end slavery/their way of life.

4. Failure to Compromise anymore .

What Compromises?Missouri Compromise 1818, Maine created as a free state, Missouri = Slave stateSouth of 3630 latitude in Louisiana territory would be open to slaveryCompromise of 1850 California = free stateUtah and New Mexico = let people decide Slave trade prohibited in D.C.Fugitive slave law whats a fugitive?

What Compromises? (Cont)Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)Created Kansas and Nebraska territoriesRepealed the 36 30 ruleCitizens vote ----What is that called? Popular Sovereignty - How might this act create more tension and even violence?Bleeding Kansas!

If the people of Kansas want a slaveholding state, let them have it, and if they want a free state they have a right to it, and it is not for the people of Illinois, or Missouri, or New York, or Kentucky, to complain, whatever the decision of Kansas may be Stephen DouglasHarpers Ferry- VA

John Brown leads 21 men to create an uprising at the federal arsenal

Instead, caught and put to death butmade the gallows as glorious as a cross

North views him as hero

South views him and other abolitionists as threatStart building an army!

Violence reaches senateCharles Sumner vs. South (Preston Brooks)Dred Scott vs. Supreme CourtOwner took him from Missouri (slave state) to Illinois and Wisconsin (free states) then back to Missouri. So is he free or slave now?Supreme court rules against him he isnt a citizen so he couldnt even sue the federal courtViolates 5th Amendment?

So? Creates more tension! North thinks Supreme court is influenced by southerners, southerners excited the case guarantees extension of slavery

Lincoln Elected - 1860Slavery was immoral but did not expect people to give it up unless Congress abolished it with an amendment

Stop spread of slavery

Won less than half of popular vote and no electoral votes from south.

Secession!South Carolina secedes 1st Become the Confederate States of AmericaCapital = Richmond, VirginiaPresident = Jefferson Davis

Notice how far the capitals are away from each otherWar Begins

Battle of GettysburgJuly 1863, 3-day battleUnion VictoryTurning pointOver 51,000 deathsGettysburg Address NovemberRemade America

Emancipation Proclamation

War EndsUnion engages in total war - use of all political, military, economic energies to conduct a warShermans March to the Sea Scorched EarthSouth loses resources, men are hungry and demoralizedLee surrenders at Appomattox April 1865Generous terms of surrender Why?

CasualtiesThe war being at an end, the southern states having laid down their arms, and the questions at issue between them and the northern states having been decided, I believe it to be the duty of everyone to unite in the restoration of the country and the reestablishment of peace and harmony. Robert E. Lee April, 186513th Amendment December 1865Neither Slaver nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist with the United States

14th (1866) States can not deny rights and privileges to any U.S. citizen.U.S. citizen = any person born or naturalized in the United States

15th (1870) no person can be kept from voting because of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.Lincoln Assassinated5 days after surrender April 14, 1865Ford Theater Shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth Confederate Sympathizer1st presidential assassination