Slavery and Sectionalism The Political Crisis of 1848-1861
Slavery? In the Territories Gold Rush
Slavery? In the Territories Compromise of 1850 Dead on arrival/president Taylor dies/douglas Separate Legislation 1. California Free 2. NM and Utah-popular sovereignty 3. Smaller Texas/debt removed 4. Banned Slave Trade/DC 5. Fugitive Slave Act Sectional divided begins N/S and Free Labor/Slave Labor Which side won???
Senator Foote (MS) Senator Benton (MO)
We get to vote free or slave We get to vote free or slave Political Realignment I think we may go free I ll protect YOU!!! Not!!! Over my dead body!!! Kansas-Nebraska Act Introduced by S.A. Douglas Provisions Repealed ban on slavery above 36 30 2 territories Opposition Northern Whigs & Dems -line was untouchable Free- Soilers & Abolitionist- Slave Power Passed Congress on sectional, NOT party lines/tearing parties apart Result- death of Whig party and creation of Republican party
Political Realignment Republicans-antislavery Free-Soilers Ex-Whigs Antislavery-Democrats Know-Nothings-anti-foreign Nativism native American s belief in their superiority to the foreign born (German & Irish Catholics) American Party /Know Nothing Party Condemned Both Parties Restrict office to native-born No fund for parochial schools 5 to 21 years for citizenship Big Question???? Who would emerge as the next second party??? Anti slavery or immigrant?
Political Realignment Ballots and Blood Border Ruffians (pro slavery) Le Compton Constitution Antislavery settlers New England Emigrant Society Amos Lawrence Lawrence Constitution US Congress- issue Le Compton Const. Senate (Democrats) approved House (Republicans) did not Failed attempt Crime Against Kansas Bleeding Kansas Sacking of Lawrence/John Brown President Pierce sent 1,300 troops to KS
Political Realignment You are a Black Republican! Presidential Election of 1856 Republican John C. Fremont Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Men, and Fremont Democrat James Buchanan Northerner with Southern tendencies American Millard Fillmore REPUBLICANS ANNOUNCE A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT -A VERY STRONG, SECTIONAL SHOWING DEMOCRATS WIN PRESIDENCY BUT ELECTIONS SHOWS STRENGTH OF NEW REPUBLICAN PARTY AND INDICATES THAT MORE PEOPLE SAW SLAVERY AS A THREAT TO US THAN IMMIGRANTS (KNOW NOTHINGS DECLINE)
Political Realignment Deepening Controversy 1857 Dred Scott v. Sandford Supreme Court-Taney Slaves were property not people, and as such no right to sue Congress no right to regulate slavery in Terr.» Southern Position Comp of 1820 void/violates 5 th Amendment Pres. Buchanan supports Slave Power Conspiracy» White House-Pro slave» ½ Congress- Pro Slave» Supreme Court-Pro Slave 1857 Le Compton Constitution approved by Senate and Buchannan and rejected by House and Senator Douglas Kansas indefinitely a Territory (until 1861)
A House Divided Lincoln-Douglas Debates 1858 Series of debates that focused on the issue of slavery Lincoln (Rep) Slavery immoral/stop the spread to terr. Douglas (Dem) Popular Sovereignty Douglas wins Senator seat/ Lincoln becomes National figure A House divided can not stand, and I believe this Government cannot endure permanently half-slave and half free. He is a Black Republican and he wants to elevate blacks
A House Divided John Brown s Raid 1859 Seized Federal Arsenal in Harper s Ferry, VA Captured and hung for treason Brown hero in the North? Brown struck fear in the South?
Election of 1860 Democrats split North-Stephen A. Douglas Popular Sovereignty South- John C. Breckinridge Pro Slavery Constitutional Union John Bell Republican Abraham Lincoln-moderate Platform» No extension of slavery into new territories Sectional Outcome Lincoln wins with 40% A House Divided
A House Divided Lincoln s Platform No extension of slavery into new territories Homestead Act to encourage westward expansion (free land) High Tariff for Northern industries Transcontinental RR Internal improvements paid by federal govt
A House Divided Secession South Carolina holds convention and unanimously secedes 6 others soon followed Confederate States of America Jefferson Davis (Senator/War)-Pres Alexander Stephens-VP Slavery legal- Constitution Key principles of Confederate constitution: Secession is a legal and natural right Individualism (property rights) and states rights President Buchanan Lame duck Crittenden Compromise Proposed Slavery Amendment Failed :Lincoln no/ CSA no
A House Divided Fall of Fort Sumter Lincoln would not surrender Federal property Lincoln re- supply fort/csa would not allow April 12, 1861 CSA assault and take fort Lincoln Calls 75,000 army Civil War has begun
Fort Sumter: April 12, 1861