Road to the Civil War Jefferson Davis Abraham Lincoln

Missouri Compromise proposed by Henry Clay Missouri became a slave state Maine became a free state Banned slavery north of 36 30’ N latitude of the Louisiana Territory This preserved the balance between slave and free states in the Senate Map

“Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labor and Free Men” Many antislavery Democrats and Whigs joined this party Soil_party.aspx

Compromise of 1850 proposed by Henry Clay and Stephen Douglas California admitted as a free state New Mexico and Utah territories were allowed popular sovereignty New Mexico and Texas settled border dispute Slave trade, not slavery, was banned in Washington, D.C. Stronger Fugitive Slave Law (Act) Compromise of 1850 Map

Fugitive Slave Act (part of Compromise of 1850) Required all citizens to help catch runaway slaves Anyone who helped fugitives could be fined or imprisoned South hoped to force the North to recognize the rights of Southerners North very angry – this actually convinced them more of the evils of slavery. They resisted the law in many ways.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin 1852 written by Harriet Beecher Stowe Fictional book about the evils of slavery. It showed slavery as a cruel and brutal system Sold over 300,000 copies in the first year Helped to convince many that slavery was bad South outraged. They did not think it showed side of slavery. When Lincoln met Stowe during the Civil War, he said so you ”wrote the book that started this great war.”

1853 – Kansas – Nebraska Act proposed by Stephen Douglas Organized the area into Kansas and Nebraska territories Allowed these two territories popular sovereignty Contradicted the Missouri Compromise – it had already banned slavery in that area

1855 – “Bleeding Kansas” Many proslavery and antislavery settlers moved into Kansas Election time – only 1,500 voters lived in territory, but 6,000 voted. Many proslavery supporters from Missouri came over to vote. New government passed proslavery laws Antislavery supporters refused to accept the laws and created their own government with their own antislavery laws May 1856 – proslavery supporters attacked Lawrence, capital of antislavery capital Antislavery supporters retaliated – led by John Brown. They attacked Pottawatomie Creek and killed 5 proslavery supporters. More violence erupted after that. Small scale civil war – showed what was coming

Violence in Congress in Washington, D.C. Charles Sumner of Massachusetts spoke out about proslavery forces in Kansas and repeatedly verbally attacked Andrew Butler of South Carolina. Butler’s distant cousin, Preston Brooks, came to the Senate Chambers and hit Sumner over the head many times with a cane. This and Bleeding Kansas showed the hostility between the North and the South.

1854 – Republican Party was formed Made up of Northern Democrats and Whigs as well as Free-Soilers Wanted to stop the spread of slavery

1856 Presidential Election John Fremont – Republican candidate (for free territories) James Buchanan – Democrat (popular sovereignty) Millard Fillmore - American Party or Know- Nothings Buchanan won

1856 – Dred Scott Decision Dred Scott, a slave, sued for his freedom since his owner had taken him into free territory. They later returned to Missouri where his owner died. Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Taney said: –Scott was a slave and had no right to sue –Ruled Congress had no power to prohibit slavery in any territory –Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional and so was popular sovereignty due to 5th Amendment (can’t take away property without “due process of law”) This divided the country even more

Lincoln – Douglas Debates 1858 Illinois Senate Race Lincoln, Republican, challenged Stephen Douglas, Northern Democrat, to a series of 7 debates around the state. Douglas won, but Lincoln became well known around the nation since many people were interested in the Senate race due to the fact that Douglas might be a presidential candidate for 1860

1859 – Raid on Harper’s Ferry Oct. 16, 1859 – John Brown and followers raided a federal arsenal in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. Brown was hoping to arm slaves to start a rebellion They were quickly defeated. Brown was convicted of treason and murder and sentenced to hang. He became a hero to many abolitionists in the North Henry David Thoreau called John Brown "an Angel of light" to contradict though Nathaniel Hawthorne said "no man was ever more justly hanged" John Brown Speech

Presidential Election of 1860 Lincoln- Republican Douglas – N. Democrats John Breckinridge – S. Democrats John Bell – Constitutional Union –Lincoln won with 180 out of 303 electoral votes. –He had only 40% of the popular vote. –His name did not appear on most southern ballots. Lincoln and Republicans had promised not to disturb slavery where it already existed. Many did not believe them.

Dec. 20, 1860 – South Carolina seceded Many tried to preserve the Union, but failed By Feb. 1861, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Georgia also seceded. The 7 states formed the Confederate States of America and elected Jefferson Davis as the president of the Confederacy. The Confederate states justified secession with states’ rights. They said they had voluntarily joined the Union and that the Constitution was a contract. They felt that the U.S. had broken the contract.

Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address said secession would not be permitted and pleaded for reconciliation

Fort Sumter – federal fort in South Carolina It was low on supplies Lincoln sent a message to the governor of South Carolina that he was sending an unarmed ship with supplies. They would not fire unless fired upon. Davis and South ordered an attack on Fort Sumter before the ship arrived. Union troops at Ft. Sumter surrendered on April 14 This was the first battle of the Civil War.

After Fort Sumter Lincoln called for 75,000 troops to fight to save the Union Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas and North Carolina seceded and joined the Confederacy. (This is when West Virginia became its own state.)

Iron Clads A House Divided, America in the Age of LincolnA House Divided, America in the Age of Lincoln