The 1850s:

1. The 1850s: Road to Secession By: Jay JohnstonLeavenworth HS

2. 1852 Presidential Election √Franklin Pierce Gen. Winfield Scott John Parker Hale DemocratWhigFree Soil

3. 1852Election Results

4. Presidents of the United States • George Washington; Federalist (1788) • John Adams; Federalist (1796) • Thomas Jefferson (1800) • James Madison (1808) • James Monroe (1816) • John Quincy Adams (1824) • Andrew Jackson; Democrat (1828) • Martin Van Buren; Democrat (1836) • William Henry Harrison; Whig (1840) • John Tyler; Whig (1841) • James K. Polk; Democrat (1844) • Zachary Taylor; Whig (1848) • Millard Fillmore; Whig (1850) • Franklin Pierce; Democrat (1852)

5. The 1850’s - The Slavery Question • KEY EVENTS: • Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) • Kansas Territory violence “Border Ruffians” (1855) • Caning of Charles Sumner (May 22, 1856) • John Brown raid on Pottawatomie Creek (May 24, 1856) • LeCompton Constitution (1857) • The Impending Crisis of the South (1857) • Supreme Court Dred Scott decision (March 6, 1857) • Panic of 1857 – Tariff of 1857 • Lincoln-Douglas Debates (Fall 1858) • Freeport Doctrine • Harper’s Ferry Raid • Election of 1860 • Crittendon Compromise – Crittendon Amendments

6. The Fight Begins • New territories would continue to be a source of strife as the battle for the expansion of slavery would intensify • The area of concern would actually be the Louisiana Purchase territory, which had thought to be handled by the 1820 Missouri Compromise • This admitted Missouri as a slave state, but banned slavery north of the 36, 30 line • Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois, pushed for the repeal of this provision in order to get Kansas and Nebraska accepted as territories • This leads to a bloody fight in the Kansas territory

7. Missouri Compromise, 1820

8. Compromise of 1850

9. The Death of the Missouri Compromise • By 1853 settlement increased dramatically in the Kansas territory • However, land settlement and the desire for railroads across territory west of Missouri would require its organization as an official territory • In 1853 the House passed a bill creating a the Nebraska territory north of Oklahoma to Canada • The Missouri Compromise had set up this land excluding slavery • Having already lost California (Compromise of 1850), slavery forces were determined to salvage something from Nebraska • Missouri was especially adamant about not being surrounded on 3 sides by free soil, would rather it “sink in hell” (Mo Sen. David Atchison)

10. The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) • To help solve the problem Stephen Douglas proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act in January 1854. • This act would essentially repeal the Missouri Compromise by letting the people of a territory decide for themselves whether to become a free or slave state • This principle is popular sovereignty. • Due to pressure from Atchison, Douglas tweaked the bill to split Kansas and Nebraska into two separate territories • This was part of Atchison’s plan to have Kansas become a slave state and Nebraska free • President Franklin Peirce to signed off on it • The act passed, but Northerners were enraged by what they saw as a sellout to the South.

11. Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854

12. Stephen Douglas – Illinois Senator • This bill raised a firestorm in American politics • The bill got the attention of another Illinois figure: Abraham Lincoln • He was an anti-slavery Whig who had served in the Illinois legislature and Congress • He acknowledged the constitutional right to hold slave property where it already existed, but believed it was morally wrong • Even with strong opposition from Abolitionists, Free Soilers, and northern Whigs the Kansas-Nebraska bill passed

13. Death of the Whigs • The slavery issue divided the Whigs, as northern Whigs became disgusted with Whig leaders’ willingness to compromise on slavery. • Issues such as banks, which had once been central to the Whig Party, had been resolved, and many Whig leaders were dead or dying. • The passage of the Kansas-Nebraska officially completed the end of the Whig Party, their political power had completely faltered • Southern Whigs left and became Democrats after Whig President Zachary Taylor had supported a free California • Northern Whigs soon scattered to other parties to get away from the negative Whig label • leads to Republican Party

14. Rise of the Republicans • During the summer of 1854, disgusted Northerners launched a new political party that they named the Republican Party. • This party that became the most popular landing place for former northern Whigs • The Republican name was first reported in use in 1854 • The Republicans argued against slavery and fought for the repeal of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Fugitive Slave Act.

15. Birth of the Republican Party 1854 • WHO ARE THEY?!?!?! • Northern Whigs. • Northern Democrats. • Free-Soilers. • Know-Nothings. • Other miscellaneous opponents of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

16. Bleeding Kansas • Soon there began a mass influx of settlers in the Kansas territory in the fight to decide its fate • Thousands of free soiler New Englanders poured in to begin anti-slavery movements within the state • In opposition many Missourians and Southerners also moved in • Missourians, labeled “border ruffians”, became alarmed by the growing amount of free soil settlers crossed the border and voted illegally thousands of times • The border ruffians succeeded as Kansas elected a pro-slavery territorial legislature • The territorial governor pleaded with President Franklin Pierce to nullify the election • the President instead listened to Atchison (MO) and had the governor removed • The new legislature legalized slavery in Kansas even the majority of Kansas settlers were against slavery • Kansas soon became the leading issue in national politics as the two camps waged war against each other • Pro-slavery forces made their camp in Lecompton • Anti-Slavery forces made the base and legislature in Lawrence

17. “Bleeding Kansas” Border “Ruffians”(pro-slavery Missourians)

18. “The Crime Against Kansas” Senator Charles Sumner(R-MA) Congressman Preston Brooks(D-SC)

19. The Caning of Charles Sumner • In this debate Charles Sumner of Massachusetts gave a passionate and well-publicized speech in the Senate on May 19 and 20, 1856 • In it he said the Missourians were Murderous robbers who had destroyed the innocence of Kansas by introducing the horrors of slavery into it • He also ridiculed southern senators including Andrew Butler of South Carolina • Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina wanted to defend his cousin’s honor against Sumner • Two days after Sumner’s speech, Brooks walked into the Senate Chamber and beats Sumner with a heavy cane • Southerners were excited by this event • Brooks was seen as a hero defending southern values • He received gift canes with the inscription “hit him again” • He is censured by the House and resigns but is soon reelected again

20. Effects – Summer of Violence 1856 • Republicans gain support and thousands of voters in the affair and the incident reflects that barbarianism of slavery and its supporters • “Bleeding Kansas” was used as a rally cry against slavery - showed Southern barbarism • In May 1856 an army of pro-slavery Missourians marched to Lawrence, Kansas • On May 21 they sacked the town and burned several buildings • A rival force of free-soilers arrive, but a little too late • One of these free soil “captains” was John Brown • He was an abolitionist zealot who considered himself anointed by the Lord to avenge slaveholders • Leading a small band neat Pottawatomie Creek on the night of May 24 1856 Brown drags 5 men from their cabins and has them killed • This sets off a violent war in Kansas during the summer of 1856 where raids on both sides kill hundreds • It subsides when President Pierce sends a new territorial governor and 1,300 troops to squash the violence

21. The Election of 1856 • By 1856 the Republicans were the largest party in the north • Their main platform was the abolition of slavery • Were the first truly sectional party THE ELECTION: • All three major parties were eager to choose candidates with no ties to “Bleeding Kansas.” • American Party Nominates Millard Fillmore • Republicans nominate John C. Fremont • Democratic nominee James Buchanan won the election, promising to stop “the agitation of the slavery issue.” • President Buchanan hoped that the Supreme Court would resolve the slavery issue.

22. 1856Election Results

23. Dred Scott v. Sanford, 1857

24. Dred Scott • The Supreme court had a majority of justices from slaves states (5), including Chief Justice Roger B. Taney • Dred Scott • Slave • His owner had military posts in Wisconsin and Illinois • Recently moved back to Missouri • After owner’s death he sued for his freedom on grounds that his stay in Wisconsin where slavery was outlawed • The supreme court declared that the Missouri Compromise ban on slavery was unconstitutional • The Supreme Court’s March 1857 Dred Scott v.Sandforddecision angered antislavery forces. • In the decision, the Court reasoned that slaves were the property of their owners • The Constitution protected the right to own property • It ruled that slaves were not citizens, had no right to sue in court • They could not be considered free even if living in a free state or territory. • The decision meant that Congress had no power to ban slavery anywhere.

25. Picture/J.Brown JOHN BROWN • Violent abolitionist • Involved in the Bleeding Kansas • Murdered 5 pro-slavery men in Kansas • Wanted to lead a slave revolt throughout the South by raising an army of freed slaves and destroying the South.

26. Picture/J.Brown JOHN BROWN • Attacked a U.S. Ammunition depot in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia in Oct. of 1859 to capture weapons and begin his slave revolt.

27. Picture/J.Brown JOHN BROWN • Unsuccessful and captured by USMC under the leadership of Robert E. Lee • Put on trial for treason.

28. Picture/J.Brown Hanging JOHN BROWN • He was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. • His last words were to this effect:“I believe that the issue of slavery will never be solved unless through the shedding of blood.” • Northerners thought of John Brown as a martyr to the abolitionist cause. • Southerners were terrified that if John Brown almost got away with this, there must be others like him in the North who are willing to die to end slavery. • South’s outcome: To leave the U.S. and start their own country.

29. John Brown: Martyr or Madman?

30. Reading/Tubman on Brown

31. Reading/Lincoln on Brown

33. Lincoln-Douglas Debates • The issue over the spread of slavery invigorates Lincoln’s political career • Lincoln believed slavery and American ideals of freedom and liberty could not coexist • He runs for Illinois senate in 1858 against Stephen Douglas • The two engaged in a series of 7 debates in the race where slavery became the central issue • At the time state legislatures elected U.S. senators • Douglas declared himself not an advocate of slavery, but an advocate of the right to choose it • He, like many northerners, did not want free blacks in Illinois • He was against black citizenship • Even with staunch abolitionists views, Lincoln backed away from talk of equality • His arguments often came back to the Declaration and Constitution, that all men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

34. The Lincoln-Douglas (Illinois Senate) Debates, 1858 A House divided against itself, cannot stand. • “I believe this government cannot endure permanently have slave and half free…It will become all one thing or all the other”

35. Stephen Douglas & the Freeport Doctrine PopularSovereignty?

36. The Freeport Doctrine • Douglas won the election in a close vote as Democrats had taken a slight majority hold in Illinois • But Lincoln wins popularity and notoriety which will place him on the national scene • In the Freeport Debate, Lincoln tries to trick Douglas and catch him in a choice of his own philosophies • He was trying to force Douglas to choose between Dred Scott decision (legalized slavery in all territories) and popular sovereignty (Kansas-Nebraska Act) • Douglas replied that even if Dred Scott had legalized slavery in free territories, it was up to each state to enforce it • In essence, he chose popular sovereignty • This helps him win the election but alienates Southern Democrats • Southern Democrats tried to pass a federal slave code in 1859 which Douglas opposed

37. Picture/ L&D Debates LINCOLN--DOUGLAS DEBATES Lincoln got Douglas to admit that Popular Sovereignty could work against the expansion of slavery….. Southerners would not support Douglas for the presidency in 1860

38. Presidents of the United States • George Washington; Federalist (1788) • John Adams; Federalist (1796) • Thomas Jefferson (1800) • James Madison (1808) • James Monroe (1816) • John Quincy Adams (1824) • Andrew Jackson; Democrat (1828) • Martin Van Buren; Democrat (1836) • William Henry Harrison; Whig (1840) • John Tyler; Whig (1841) • James K. Polk; Democrat (1844) • Zachary Taylor; Whig (1848) • Millard Fillmore; Whig (1850) • Franklin Pierce; Democrat (1852) • James Buchanan; Democrat (1856)