The Road to the Civil War

1. The Road to the Civil War Notes

2. The Road to the Civil War . Conflicts over slavery and Compromises • Slavery inLouisiana Purchase? • Manifest Destiny---The belief that white man was destined to own all the land from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

3. Manifest Destiny American belief that the US would control all the land between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It is God’s will that we own it all!

4. California Gold Rush

5. The South began to actually enforce the Fugitive Slave Law:Any slave that escapes must be returned to its owner no matter what state he/she is in. • ABOLITIONISTS RESPOND • Denounced by Abolitionists • Harriet Beecher Stowe’s, Uncle Tom’s Cabin is published • Abolitionists refuse to enforce the law • Underground Railroad becomes more active

6. In 1856 Kansas Territory was opened up to popular sovereignty for slavery. This lead to Bleeding Kansas. Both sides (abolitionists and slave holders) fighting for the state. • First violent outbreaks between north/south. • First battles of the Civil War begin in Kansas in 1856. • Kansas/Nebraska Act led to several acts of violence between pro-slavery settlers and anti-slavery settlers (totally overblown by media – border ruffians from South).

7. In 1856 the Republican Party is founded specifically to fight slavery. • Fremont lost by a bare margin, and proved that the Republicans could take the entire election w/o the South, if they all voted together (South begins to get angry and suspicious about American politics)

8. The Dred Scott Decision • Slave from Missouri traveled with his owner to Illinois & Minnesota both free states. • His master died and Scott wanted to move back to Missouri---Missouri still recognized him as a slave. • He sued his master’s widow for his freedom since he had lived in a free state for a period of time. • Court case went to the Supreme Court for a decision-----National issue • Can a slave sue for his freedom? • Is a slave property? • Is slavery legal?

9. Outcomes of the Dred Scott Decision • Slaves cannot sue the U.S. for their freedom because they are property. • They are not citizens and have no legal right under the Constitution. • Supreme Court legalized slavery by saying that : • Congress could not stop a slave-owner from moving his slaves to a new territory • Missouri Compromise and all other compromises were unconstitutional • Supreme Court hands down the Dred Scott decision • North refused to enforce Fugitive Slave Law • Free states pass personal liberty laws. • Republicans claim the decision is not binding • Southerners call on the North to accept the decision if the South is to remain in the Union.

10. John Brown • Violent abolitionist • Involved in the Bleeding Kansas as a northern fighter • 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. • Attacked a U.S. Ammunition depot in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia in Oct. of 1859 to capture weapons and begin his slave revolt.

11. Unsuccessful and captured by USMC under the leadership of Robert E. Lee • Put on trial for treason.

12. Outcomes of John Brown’s Raid • 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.

13. Lincoln-Douglas Debates • Lincoln and Douglas both running for the U.S. Senate in Illinois in 1858. • The debates were followed by the country because both candidates were interested in running for the Presidency in 1860. • Slavery was the issue • Lincoln stated: A House Divided against itself cannot stand. Either we become one or the other. The Constitution had ultimately put slavery on the path to extinction. • Was against the EXPANSION of slavery • Douglas believed that slavery should be decided by the people. • Popular sovereignty

14. The Freeport Doctrine: “Honest Abe” tricked Douglas into admitting that Popular Sovereignty could work against the expansion of slavery (what do if S.C. says slavery cannot be touched?)….. Southerners would not support Douglas for the presidency in 1860

15. Election of 1860 • Country is polarized over the issue of slavery. • Once Lincoln is elected as president, South Carolina will secede from the U.S. along with several other Southern States to form the Confederate States of America---CSA

16. Election of 1860 • The divided Democrats nominated Douglas – perhaps not the most popular candidate since he had alienated Southerners • The republicans nominated Lincoln • Southern Democrats offered their own candidate, John C. Breckinridge from Kentucky • A fourth group appeared - the Constitutional Union party led by John Bell of Tennessee. Their platform was to save the Union • The Republicans ran on a platform of free-soil, protective tariffs, and internal improvements

17. Southern secessionists threatened to leave the Union if Lincoln won the election • Lincoln was not an abolitionist. He wanted to compensate the slave owners, but he was afraid to make any statement that would alienate anyone • 60% of the voters did not vote for Lincoln, but he won the election. In 10 southern states he wasn’t even on the ballot • South Carolinians rejoiced since now they had a reason to secede • Even all the other votes combined would not have stopped Lincoln winning

18. Secession • Four days after the election, South Carolina voted unanimously to leave the Union • Within weeks six other states in the lower South also left • Four more joined later, bringing the total to eleven • In 1861 seven of the states met in Montgomery, Alabama to form the Confederate States of America and chose Jefferson Davis as president • The lame duck Buchanan believed the Constitution did not give him the power to act, so he literally did NOTHING (BEST. PRES. EVER)