Slavery in the Slavery in the TerritoriesTerritories

Missouri CompromiseMissouri Compromise

Missouri entered as a slave stateMissouri entered as a slave state

Maine entered as a free stateMaine entered as a free state

No slavery above the 36° 30´ lineNo slavery above the 36° 30´ line– (Except MO itself)(Except MO itself)

Missouri Compromise (1820)Missouri Compromise (1820)

Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850

Californians requested statehood in Californians requested statehood in 1850 as a free state1850 as a free state

Fear of upsetting the fragile balance Fear of upsetting the fragile balance of free and slave statesof free and slave states

Henry Clay of Kentucky proposed a Henry Clay of Kentucky proposed a planplan– Sought a middle groundSought a middle ground– 5 separate laws5 separate laws

Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850

1.1. Congress would admit California as free stateCongress would admit California as free state

2.2. People of N.M. and Utah would decide People of N.M. and Utah would decide

3.3. Congress would abolish the sale of enslaved Congress would abolish the sale of enslaved people, but not slavery, in D.C.people, but not slavery, in D.C.

4.4. Texas would give up claims to N.M. for $10 Texas would give up claims to N.M. for $10 millionmillion

5.5. Fugitive Slave ActFugitive Slave Act- All citizens of the U.S. ordered to assist in the All citizens of the U.S. ordered to assist in the

return of escaped slavesreturn of escaped slaves- Would deny a jury to escaped slavesWould deny a jury to escaped slaves

Debating the CompromiseDebating the Compromise

The “great and primary” cause of the The “great and primary” cause of the crisis was that the North now had crisis was that the North now had “the exclusive power of controlling “the exclusive power of controlling the government.” the government.”

- South Carolina’s John C. - South Carolina’s John C. CalhounCalhoun

How so? North had larger population, How so? North had larger population, more seats in House and more votes in the more seats in House and more votes in the electoral collegeelectoral college

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

Stephen Douglas of Illinois proposed Stephen Douglas of Illinois proposed creation of two new territoriescreation of two new territories

People in territories would be permitted to People in territories would be permitted to decide whether slavery would be alloweddecide whether slavery would be allowed

Both territories would be above 36 30’NBoth territories would be above 36 30’N A repeal of the Missouri Compromise?A repeal of the Missouri Compromise? Attempt to please both North and SouthAttempt to please both North and South

Changes in Political PartiesChanges in Political Parties

By end of 1850s, Whig party had By end of 1850s, Whig party had largely disappearedlargely disappeared– Unhappy with its leaders’ compromises Unhappy with its leaders’ compromises

on slaveryon slavery Rise of American Party (“Know Rise of American Party (“Know

Nothings”)Nothings”)– Promoted nativismPromoted nativism

Republican Party (1854)Republican Party (1854)

““Bleeding Kansas”Bleeding Kansas”

Free-soilers sent to Kansas from NortheastFree-soilers sent to Kansas from Northeast Many proslavery settlers crossed into Many proslavery settlers crossed into

Kansas to vote illegallyKansas to vote illegally By 1855, Kansas had antislavery capital at By 1855, Kansas had antislavery capital at

Topeka and slavery capital at LecomptonTopeka and slavery capital at Lecompton Tensions led to violent raids and counter-Tensions led to violent raids and counter-

raids that won the territory the grim raids that won the territory the grim nicknamenickname

Election of 1856Election of 1856 Democratic candidate James Democratic candidate James

Buchanan Buchanan – Supported compromise of 1850Supported compromise of 1850

Republican candidate John FremontRepublican candidate John Fremont– First republicanFirst republican– First to run in opposition to slaveryFirst to run in opposition to slavery

Buchanan WinsBuchanan Wins

Northern President (PA) with Northern President (PA) with Southern sympathiesSouthern sympathies

Pledged to his supporters in South Pledged to his supporters in South that he would stop “the agitation of that he would stop “the agitation of the slavery issue” in the Norththe slavery issue” in the North

Violence Reaches Violence Reaches Congress…LiterallyCongress…Literally

1856, Senator Charles Sumner (MA) 1856, Senator Charles Sumner (MA) gave speech “Crimes Against Kansas”gave speech “Crimes Against Kansas”– Criticized Stephen Douglas (IL) and Criticized Stephen Douglas (IL) and

Andrew Butler (SC) Andrew Butler (SC) Butler’s nephew (Preston Brooks) Butler’s nephew (Preston Brooks)

brutally beat Sumner with a cane brutally beat Sumner with a cane

Dred Scott Decision (1857)Dred Scott Decision (1857)

Scott v. SandfordScott v. Sandford

Scott, enslaved man in Missouri, filed Scott, enslaved man in Missouri, filed suit against his ownersuit against his owner– Argue he and his wife had once lived in Argue he and his wife had once lived in

free territories/states where slavery was free territories/states where slavery was illegalillegal

Court, under Chief Justice Roger Court, under Chief Justice Roger TaneyTaney– Ruled 7 to 2 against ScottRuled 7 to 2 against Scott– Scott (and all slaves) are not citizensScott (and all slaves) are not citizens– Living in free territory doesn’t make you Living in free territory doesn’t make you

freefree– Congress did not have the power to ban Congress did not have the power to ban

slavery anywhere (private property)slavery anywhere (private property)

Lincoln / Douglas Debates Lincoln / Douglas Debates (1858)(1858)

““A house divided against itself cannot A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved-I do not expect Union to be dissolved-I do not expect the house to fall-but I do expect it will the house to fall-but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other.”one thing, or all the other.”

– – Lincoln, Speech in Springfield, 1858Lincoln, Speech in Springfield, 1858

Lincoln Douglas Debates Lincoln Douglas Debates (1858)(1858)

Illinois Senate raceIllinois Senate race Stephen Douglas (“Little Giant”), DemocratStephen Douglas (“Little Giant”), Democrat

– Slavery in new states should be determined by Slavery in new states should be determined by ‘popular sovereignty’‘popular sovereignty’

– Avoid angering SouthAvoid angering South Abraham Lincoln, RepublicanAbraham Lincoln, Republican

– Stop spread of slaveryStop spread of slavery– Says Blacks should have basic human rights, Says Blacks should have basic human rights,

but doesn’t advocate social, political or but doesn’t advocate social, political or economic equalityeconomic equality

John Brown (1859)John Brown (1859)

John Brown attacks Harpers Ferry, VA John Brown attacks Harpers Ferry, VA to incite slave uprisingto incite slave uprising

Robert E. Lee, then a Federal Army Robert E. Lee, then a Federal Army Colonel, leads troops to capture Colonel, leads troops to capture BrownBrown

John Brown is hangedJohn Brown is hanged The South becomes obsessed with The South becomes obsessed with

securitysecurity

Election of 1860Election of 1860

Democrats SplitDemocrats Split– Southern Democrats – BreckenridgeSouthern Democrats – Breckenridge– Northern Democrats – DouglasNorthern Democrats – Douglas

Constitutional Union Party – John BellConstitutional Union Party – John Bell Republican Party – Abe LincolnRepublican Party – Abe Lincoln

Lincoln carries every northern state Lincoln carries every northern state but New Jersey (split w/ Douglas)but New Jersey (split w/ Douglas)

Last Effort for CompromiseLast Effort for Compromise

Crittenden Compromise (Kentucky Crittenden Compromise (Kentucky Senator)Senator)– Constitutional amendment to guarantee Constitutional amendment to guarantee

right for southern states to maintain right for southern states to maintain slaveryslavery

– Reinstate Missouri Compromise line, Reinstate Missouri Compromise line, extend it across countryextend it across country

Rejected by RepublicansRejected by Republicans

December 18, 1860

Frederick Douglass’ EscapeFrederick Douglass’ Escape