1. CHAPTER 4: THE UNION IN PERIL
BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE CIVIL WAR

2. The “Causes” of the Civil War
1. SLAVERY: as a growing moral issue in the North, versus its defense and expansion in the South.
2. CONSTITUTIONAL DISPUTES: over the nature of the federal Union and states’ rights.
Was the Constitution an agreement among “We the People” or was it a contract among the various states?

3. The “Causes” of the Civil War
3. ECONOMIC DIFFERENCES: between the industrialized North and the agricultural South over such issues as tariffs, banking and internal improvements.
4. POLITICAL BLUNDERS AND EXTREMISM
Weak political leadership
Fanatics

4. Consequences 1
Both sides saw their way of life or core values threatened.
Southerners saw the North as threatening their property and culture
Northerners saw the South as violating the values stated in the Declaration of Independence – “all men are created equal” & “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”

5. Consequences 2
Southerners saw Northerners as “lawless” fanatics who would stop at nothing to end slavery
Northerners saw Southerners as a “slave conspiracy” that wanted to spread slavery throughout the U.S.
Both sides stopped talking, stopped listening and saw the other side as dangerous enemies.

6. THE DIVISIVE POLITICS OF SLAVERY
Over the centuries, the Northern and Southern sections of the United States developed into two very different cultural and economic regions
There were also differences in geography and climate, as well as religious differences

7. THE SOUTH BEFORE THE WAR
Rural plantation economy
Relied on slave labor
“Peculiar Institution” created tension
Southerners feared the loss of slavery would mean loss of culture
Family working the cotton field on a Plantation

8. THE NORTH BEFORE THE WAR
The North had a more diverse economy
Industry flourished
The North openly opposed slavery in the South and the new territories
The North was more urbanized than the South
BOSTON HARBOR

9. DRIFTING TOWARD DISUNION 1854-1861

10. SLAVERY IN THE TERRITORIES
The issue of whether slavery in California and the West would be legal led to heated debates in Congress
Gold rush led to application for statehood for California
CALIFORNIA BECAME A STATE IN 1850

11. Westward Expansion Causes Conflict Over Slavery

12. OVERVIEW: ISSUE OF SLAVERY IN THE TERRITORIES
1. Free-Soil Movement
Supported the Wilmot Proviso
Believed that all blacks – slave and free – should be excluded from the Mexican Cession
Did not demand the end of slavery
Sought to keep the West a land of opportunity for whites only
White majority would not have top compete with the labor of slaves or free blacks
Free-Soil Party: “free soil, free labor and free men”
Proposed free homesteads (land grants to small farmers)

13. OVERVIEW: ISSUE OF SLAVERY IN THE TERRITORIES
2. Southern Position
Any attempts to restrict the expansion of slavery was a violation of their constitutional right to take and use their property as they wished.
3. Popular Sovereignty
Instead of Congress determining whether to allow slavery in a territory
Let the matter be determined by a vote of the people who settled it

14. I. The Basic Problem
A. NOT the morality of slavery B. NOT slavery in the South

15. THE FREE-SOILERS “Soil”
Another party that emerged in the mid-19th century was the Free-Soilers
They were northerners who opposed slavery in the territories
Free-Soilers objections to slavery were based on economics not moral objection to slavery
They believed slavery drove down wages for white workers
“Soil”

16. -- Economic Reason: Land and Jobs for White Workers

17. -- Political Reason: The “Slave Power” and the 3/5 Clause

18. The Popular Sovereignty Panacea
Mexican American War set the stage for Slavery Controversy
Threatened to divide the union
Issue: What to do with new territory?
Wilmot Proviso
What it said
What happened to it
Whigs and Democrats wanted to keep lid on Slavery Controversy

19. California Gold
The discovery of Gold in California in 1848 blew the lid off the slavery issue.
California Gold Rush Country

20. Problem #1: California – Free, Slave or Two States?

21. California Constitution
Citizens write a constitution and apply or statehood as non-slave state.
This will put slave states in the minority.
The feces hits the fan in the South.
South rises in violent opposition to admission of California.

22. Why Was South So Concerned?
South had the presidency, majority of the cabinet, and majority of the Supreme Court.
The cotton economy was good and seemingly held the north and Europe in an economic bind.
South not concerned about the immediate outright abolition of slavery.

23. Concerns of the South Loss of balance in Senate
Rest of the Mexican Cession
Slavery in D.C.
Texas land claims
Biggest Concern: Run-Away Slaves and enforcement of Fugitive Slave law

24. COMPROMISE OF 1850 Southerners threatened secession over issue
Henry Clay again worked a Compromise
For the North: California would be admitted as free state
For the South: A more effective fugitive slave law
Residents of New Mexico & Utah would vote themselves-”popular sovereignty”
CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE

25. The Compromise of 1850: CA = free state
Popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico

26. Terms of the Compromise
Pro-North:
Cal. admitted as a free state;
Terr. in dispute between TX and NM goes to NM, so more likely to go free
abolition of slave-trade (but not slavery) in Wash. DC.
Pro-South:
NM and Utah slavery issue to be decided by popular sovereignty;
more stringent Fugitive Slave Law.
$3.10 Million to Texas

27. Twilight Of The Senatorial Giants
1850 all these issues come to a head.
Southern fire-eaters threaten cession
Crisis was looming.
Three Senatorial Giants tackle the issue in the Senate. Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and Daniel Webster.
Webster and Clay urge compromise and reasonable concession to south.
Calhoun argues for Const. Amendments to protect the South.

28. Breaking The Logjam
Zachery Taylor (elected 1848) was poised to veto the compromise.
1850 President Taylor suddenly died; Vice President Millard Fillmore took the presidency.
Fillmore supports the compromise
Clay, Webster and Stephen Douglas work hard to get Compromise supported in North, and it generally is.
Fire-eaters in South unhappy.
Nashville convention

29. No Slave Trade in Wash. DC

30. Fugitive Slave Law South demanded a harsher fugitive slave law. Why?
Only losing about 1000 slave a year out of population of 2 Million.
More slaves are freed by self-purchase and manumition.

31. FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW
Under the law, runaway slaves were not entitled to a trial by jury
Anyone helping a slave escape was jailed for 6 months and fined $1,000
Northerners were upset by the harshness of the new law and often helped hide fugitive slaves
A HARSH FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW FURTHER INCREASED TENSIONS

32. UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
Escape from slavery was dangerous and meant traveling on foot at night
As time went on, African Americans and white abolitionists developed a secret network of people who would hide fugitive slaves
”Conductors” would hide runaways in tunnels and even kitchen cupboards

33. HARRIET TUBMAN One of the most famous conductors was Harriet Tubman
Tubman escaped slavery and vowed to help others do the same
She made 19 trips back to South and freed over 300 slaves (Including her own parents)
HARRIET TUBMAN

35. Backfiring Slave Law Reaction in North to Fugitive Slave Law.
Provisions:
Slaves not allowed to testify and denied a jury trial.
Commissioner who handled the case got twice as much if the slave was returned.
Northerners who aided slaves to freedom subject to heavy fines and jail.
Northerners could be ordered to assist in capture of run-aways

36. Election of 1852 Dems. Hopelessly divided.
Nominate Franklin Pierce, a pro-southern, northerner. Compromise candidate.
Weak and indecisive.
Scant public record, and thus not much to offend either part of party
Platform for Compromise of 1850 and Fugitive Slave Law

37. Election of 1852--Whigs Nominate Winfield Scott.
Great general, but not well liked by people. Stuffy.
Whigs hopelessly divided.
Election turned largely on issues of personality.
Pierce wins in a landslide.
Effective end of Whig Party.

38. UNCLE TOM’S CABIN
In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe published her influential novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin
The book stressed the moral evil of slavery
Abolitionist protests increased
Instant best seller sold 500,000 by 1857
Author Harriet Beecher Stowe

39. Consequences of Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Published 1852
Profound influence on public opinion
Moved northerners on the fence into anti-slavery camp.
Made many willing to go to war to end Slavery.
Made European public unsympathetic to South
Sold several Million copies; translated into 20 languages

40. The Gadsden Purchase
Nation desperately needs a trans-continental RR to tie California to nation.
Both North and South want the route.
Why?
Southern Route is easier.
Gadsden Purchase.
Nebraska territory.
South doesn’t want this. Why?

41. Gadsden Purchase, 1853