1. Unit 5: The Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877)
The Union in Crisis and Road to War (1850 – 1861)

2. Election of 1860 & Secession
Daily Learning Target
I can identify and evaluate the major events and issues that promoted sectional conflicts and strained national unity in the Antebellum period.
Missouri Compromise
Compromise of 1850
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Dred Scott Decision
Kansas-Nebraska Act
John Brown’s Raid
Election of 1860 & Secession

3. The Union in Crisis (1850-1860) Guiding Questions
Can you think of a time in your life when you’ve had a major disagreement with someone close to you?
What does it really take to compromise and come to a workable solution?
Identify some of the sectional issues/ problems that plagued the U.S. during the Antebellum period?
Will compromise be enough to hold the Union together?

4. The Sectional Conflict Widens (1820-1860)
Sectionalism = The North and South were drifting apart. Why? What did the cotton
How were they different?
North had greater population
Factory System vs. Plantations
Free Immigrant labor in the North vs. Slavery in South
N Railroads vs. S Waterways
$1.5 B North vs. $155 M South GNP
Balance of Power in Congress favored the North. Why?

5. The Missouri Compromise
In 1820 Missouri wanted to enter Union as a slave state.
Problem = Balance of Power in Congress b/c representation is equal in the US Senate
Henry Clay (KY) – proposed Maine enter as free state to balance out Missouri.
36°30’ N would be dividing line between slave and free.
This was supposed to settle the issue once and for all. So what happened?

6. Manifest Destiny and the Mexican-American War 1846 - 1848

7. The Wilmot Proviso (1846)
Congressman David Wilmot (PA) introduced a bill long before the Mexican-American War ended that would ban slavery in any territory won from Mexico.
The abolitionists in Congress and the U.S. supported it? Why?
Due to the balance of power in Congress, the bill twice passed the House, but was defeated in the Senate. Why?

8. The Compromise of 1850
The Mexican War of increased the size of the USA once again.
Many settlers had already migrated to California. Why?
Henry Clay (KY) proposed:
CA be admitted as a free state
NM and UT territories would vote on slavery (Popular Sovereignty)
Slave Trade (not slavery) abolished in Washington, D.C.
Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 – Southerners were angry due to the Underground Railroad. Why?

9. Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)
Authored by abolitionist, Harriet Beecher Stowe
Described the cruelties of slavery. Uncle Tom was a slave content with slavery as long as his owner was kind. Simon Legree, a northerner who owned a plantation in Louisiana, was the villain and eventually whips Tom to death.
She was not a great writer, but tried to blame the system and not Southerners as evil.
Sold 300,000 copies in 1st year; only the Bible sold more copies during the era!
It was printed in many languages and even adapted into a play.
Southerners were outraged, and ironically many African Americans. Why?

10. Bleeding Kansas! (1854 – 1856)
Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) opened territories to slavery via popular sovereignty. Senator Stephen A. Douglas (IL) wanted a railroad from Chicago to California. Why?
He needed Southern votes, so his bill effectively voided the Missouri Compromise of How?
Free-soilers vs. Border Ruffians fought for control of territorial government in Kansas.
Abolitionist John Brown kills 5 pro slavers in KS (55 dead in all)
Violence spreads to the Senate floor as abolitionist Senator Charles Sumner (MA) is caned!

11. Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

12. Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
Dred Scott, a Missouri slave, sued his master’s widow for his freedom in 1846.
he lived in free state of Illinois & thought he should be free
The Court said 5-4 (1) Scott was a slave and non citizens had no right to sue (2) Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional because Congress couldn’t legally ban slavery in any U.S. territory (due process/ property rights)
Abolitionist Frederick Douglas predicted this would actually expedite slavery’s end? Why?
Chief Justice
Roger B. Taney
Dred Scott

13. John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry
Oct old John Brown comes out of hiding with his 5 sons + 13 others.
His plan is to attack a federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, VA with the hope of starting a slave rebellion.
Brown took hostages; the slaves didn’t rise up but the townspeople did; federal troops retake the arsenal and capture Brown, who was seriously wounded. 10/19 were killed in the skirmish.
He was sentenced to death in Virginia by hanging for treason & murder.
He became a martyr for the cause of abolitionism!
Southerners were glad to see him hang, but were angered, shocked, and scared at the same time. Why?

14. The Election of 1860 leads to Secession
1854 – Republican Party formed to stop spread of slavery.
Four candidates were running for office
Democratic Party split between N and S. Why?
Lincoln wins electoral vote with only 40% of popular vote but carries no Southern state!

15. Secession. South Carolina leaves on Dec. 20, 1860
Secession! South Carolina leaves on Dec. 20, By April 1861, there would be 11 total in the Confederate States of America (CSA).

16. Exit Slip: The Union in Crisis
1. A strong fugitive slave law and California’s admission to the Union as a free state were all part of the
Missouri Compromise. b. Compromise of 1850.
c. Wilmot Proviso d. Wade-Davis Bill.
2. Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852) convinced many Northerners that
a. slaves lived better than factory workers.
b. slavery was a necessary evil.
c. slavery was cruel and morally wrong.
d. slaves were generally happy in bondage.
3. “Bleeding Kansas” earned its nickname from clashes over
a. the Gadsden Purchase. c. slavery.
b. religious differences. d. land ownership.
4. Why was abolitionist John Brown executed in 1859?
a. for attempting to seize an arsenal at Harper’s Ferry and start a slave rebellion
b. for killing hundreds of Native Americans on a western reservation
c. for beating Senator Charles Sumner with a cane
d. for causing violence and bloodshed in the Kansas territory

17. Snow Day Review-Civil War Causes
Missouri Compromise (1820)
Wilmot Proviso (1846)
Compromise of 1850
Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)
Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) & “Bleeding Kansas”
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
John Brown’s Raid (1859)
Election of 1860
Secession Leads to War ( )