Antebellum America

The Abolition Movement The movement to abolish slavery After Nat Turner, it became a radical movement Different groups had different ideas to end slavery American Colonization Society- They wanted to send blacks back to Africa. They even started the colony Liberia to send former slaves to. Abraham Lincoln once supported this option. 2. Others wanted blacks to remain as free citizens. William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass

Assenting to the "self-evident truth" maintained in the American Declaration of Independence, "that all men are created equal, and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights -- among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," I shall strenuously contend for the immediate enfranchisement of our slave population. In Park-street Church, on the Fourth of July, 1829, in an address on slavery, I unreflectingly assented to the popular but pernicious doctrine of gradual abolition. I seize this opportunity to make a full and unequivocal recantation, and thus publicly to ask pardon of my God, of my country, and of my brethren the poor slaves, for having uttered a sentiment so full of timidity, injustice and absurdity. A similar recantation, from my pen, was published in the Genius of Universal Emancipation at Baltimore, in September, 1829. My conscience is now satisfied.  I am aware, that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? I will be as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as justice. On this subject, I do not wish to think, or speak, or write, with moderation. No! no! Tell a man whose house is on fire, to give a moderate alarm; tell him to moderately rescue his wife from the hand of the ravisher; tell the mother to gradually extricate her babe from the fire into which it has fallen; -- but urge me not to use moderation in a cause like the present. I am in earnest -- I will not equivocate -- I will not excuse -- I will not retreat a single inch -- AND I WILL BE HEARD. The apathy of the people is enough to make every statue leap from its pedestal, and to hasten the resurrection of the dead. 

Frederick Douglass Believed in Non-Violence Former Slave who escaped to the North Believed in Non-Violence He wrote Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass in 1845 He would later become a secret advisor to Abraham Lincoln

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811 – 1896) So this is the lady who started the Civil War. -- Abraham Lincoln

Uncle Tom’s Cabin 1852 Sold 300,000 copies in the first year. 2 million in a decade!

Harriet Beecher Stowe She attacked slavery, but she also attacked people who weren’t doing anything about it 2nd best Selling Book of the 19th century behind the Bible Uncle Tom’s Cabin brought slavery out of just the Political realm and brought it into the social realm.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin, 1852

Missouri Compromise In 1819, Missouri considered in Congress for statehood There are 11 slave states, 11 free states Missouri would upset the balance in the Senate South says North conspiring to destroy the Union, end slavery North says South trying to extend slavery

Missouri Compromise-1820 At the same time, Maine is seeking admission as a state Maine will be admitted as a Free State, MO can be added as a Slave State No more slaves in Louisiana Territory MO drafts a Constitution that prohibited FREE blacks from entering

Missouri Compromise

12th President- Zachary Taylor

13th President- Millard Fillmore

Compromise of 1850

Compromise of 1850 California comes in as a Free State 2. New, stronger Fugitive Slave Law- law requiring northerners to return runaways to their owners 3. Slave Trade in Washington D.C. is abolished. 4. New Mexico and Utah would have Popular Sovereignty – people living there can decide whether they want slavery or not.

Underground Railroad Harriet Tubman Not a railroad. Not Underground A system used to help slaves escape to freedom Harriet Tubman She was an escaped slave who went back to the South 19 times and was responsible for helping 300 slaves escape to freedom

1852- Franklin Pierce becomes President of the U.S. The Saddest President Sad

15th President- James Buchanan

Illinois Senator Stephen A Douglas Has a great Idea More Popular Sovereignty

Kansas-Nebraska Act- 1854

THIS LEADS TO: Most are voting illegally, but no way to prove it. Pro-Slavery men pour over into Kansas from Missouri. Anti-Slavery men come from up North. Most are voting illegally, but no way to prove it. Pro-Slavery men win(illegally) but now Kansas is a slave state THIS LEADS TO:

“Bleeding Kansas” 1856

Will Retaliate But first? John Brown Radical Abolitionist Lawrence, KS was an abolitionist town. The pro-slavery attacked and burned it down John Brown Radical Abolitionist Will Retaliate But first?

“The Crime Against Kansas” Sen. Charles Sumner (R-MA) Congr. Preston Brooks (D-SC)

This sends John Brown over the edge! John Brown led a raid on a proslavery camp and killed 5 proslavery people by splitting open their skulls with broadswords. He gets away with it, but everyone knows who did it!

1859 John Brown is back!

Harper’s Ferry, Virginia

John Brown’s Fort

John Brown- Madman or Martyr?

Dred Scott Case Get out your packets!

3. If Scott isn’t a Citizen, then he can’t sue anyone in court Supreme Court Ruled: 1. Dred Scott was NOT Free 2. Scott was NOT a Citizen 3. If Scott isn’t a Citizen, then he can’t sue anyone in court 4. Scott was property and owners can take property wherever they want and not lose it. Roger Taney Chief Justice of Supreme Court

VS 1858 Mid-Term Elections Abraham Lincoln VS. Stephen A Douglas Illinois Senate Race VS

Who wins? Stephen A Douglas

Presidential Election of 1860 John Breckenridge Kentucky Southern Democrat Stephen A. Douglas Illinois Democrat Abraham Lincoln Illinois Republican John Bell Tennessee Constitutional Union

LINCOLN WINS!

Lincoln has to wait 4 months before he becomes President James Buchanan is still President for 4 months! 5 ½ Weeks after the election. December 1860, South Carolina secedes from the Union By February 1861, 6 more states seceded: MS, FL, AL, GA, LA, TX These were all “Deep South” States where slavery was most important

Texas would say: We hold as undeniable truths that the governments of the various States, and of the confederacy itself, were established exclusively by the white race, for themselves and their posterity; that the African race had no agency in their establishment; that they were rightfully held and regarded as an inferior and dependent race, and in that condition only could their existence in this country be rendered beneficial or tolerable.

February 1861- Confederate States of America is started. Jefferson Davis Mississippi Senator is elected as 1st president

The new constitution has put at rest, forever, all the agitating questions relating to our peculiar institution — African slavery as it exists amongst us — the proper status of the negro in our form of civilization. This was the immediate cause of the late rupture and present revolution. Jefferson in his forecast, had anticipated this, as the "rock upon which the old Union would split." He was right. What was conjecture with him, is now a realized fact. But whether he fully comprehended the great truth upon which that rock stood and stands, may be doubted. Alexander Stephens CSA Vice President Cornerstone Speech (Jefferson's) ideas, however, were fundamentally wrong. They rested upon the assumption of the equality of races. This was an error. ... Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner–stone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery — subordination to the superior race — is his natural and normal condition.

Lincoln takes office in March 1861 Lincoln said he wouldn’t interfere with slavery where it already existed and reminded the country that secession was illegal By March, 1861, The US only controlled 4 forts that were in the Confederacy.

By April, 1861, only one remained- Fort Sumter- Charleston, SC Lincoln sent supply ships to Sumter, but Southerners wouldn’t let the ships dock Before the Ships arrived, Jefferson Davis ordered the Confeds to fire on Ft. Sumter April 12, 1861 @ 4:30 Am. South Carolina started firing on Ft. Sumter. Union soldiers tried to fight back but ran out of ammo and supplies Eventually. No Union soldiers killed in the fight.

Fort Sumter- 2007

After Sumter, Lincoln demanded every remaining US State to send some troops to join the army to invade the Confederacy! At this, the Upper South states secede- Virginia, Arkansas, N. Carolina, and Tennessee This double the white population of the Confederacy! More railroads, more food, more industry The Capital moves to Richmond, VA from Montgomery, AL

NORTH/UNION CONFEDERACY/REBELS 22 Million people total 6 Million of fighting age 9 Million People total 2 million of fighting age Better Industry/ Transportation Lots of Cotton to sell for $$$$$ Government w/ infrastructure Fighting a Defensive War Home Field Advantage Psychological Advantage They believed they were better fighters.

Why did men join the Army? 1. Patriotism- Their government needs them! 2. Sense of Adventure/Travel 3. Peer Pressure

Winfield Scott- 1st Union head general Anaconda Plan

Eastern Theater VS. Western Theater

George McClellan replaces Winfield Scott as Union Head General His goal was to capture Richmond, VA His biggest problem was that he was always too cautious and slow to commit his army McClellan was too nervous to attack from August 1861-March 1862

Robert E. Lee Eastern Theater Spring 1862- Peninsula Campaign in VA backfires for the Union and McClellan It was great for the new Confederate general Robert E. Lee. He would dominate the Union in the East throughout most of 1862 Robert E. Lee Confederate General

Eastern Theater VS. Western Theater

Western Theater Ulysses S. Grant Feb. 1862- Grant captures two major Confed. forts in TN. Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. “Unconditional Surrender” By the end of Spring 1862- Union controlled all major forts on the MS river except one in Vicksburg, MS. Ulysses S. Grant Western Theater is going good for the Union!

Lee moves his army into Maryland, September 1862- Lee moves his army into Maryland, a union state, but a slave state. Lee wanted France and England to support the CSA, and a victory in Maryland would seal the deal. Eastern Theater Battle of Antietam- Bloodiest day in American history. 27,000 casualties in one day. Robert E. Lee Confederate General And Nobody won. The battle was a draw! However, Lincoln said close enough to a victory to issue his new proclamation

What’s the catch though? What are we missing? After Antietam, Sept. 1862, Lincoln issues the EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION This proclamation freed all the slaves in the Confederacy if they don’t join the Union by January 1, 1863. What’s the catch though? What are we missing?

Consequences of Antietam: People even more aware of the horrors of what this war has become. 2. Emancipation Proclamation issued 3. England and France MUCH LESS likely to join Confederacy 4. Union has a new “moral” reason to fight in this war! Union starts to become Freedom Fighters for the first time!

African-American Recruiting Poster

The Famous 54th Massachusetts

Col. Robert Gould Shaw 54th Regiment of Massachusetts

African-Americans in Civil War Battles

The War in the West, 1863: Vicksburg

Ulysses S. Grant Vicksburg

North again. This time he moves into Gettysburg, PA Robert E. Lee Lee claims he won Antietam. and the Confederates control the Eastern Theater Throughout 1862 and into the Summer of 1863. Lee decides to raid the North again. This time he moves into Gettysburg, PA

Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3, 1863

Gen. George Meade Maj. Gen. George Pickett Robert E. Lee

The Road to Gettysburg: 1863

Gettysburg Casualties

Gettysburg Address Nov. 1863

1864 Election Year Abraham Lincoln George McClellan

New York City Draft Riots- 1863 Why did they riot? Rich people were able to pay $300 and avoid the draft 2. The immigrants blame free blacks for taking their jobs 3. They start blaming the entire war on African-Americans

Overland Campaign Grant Kills Rebels and Union soldiers, but it Hurts the Rebels more.

June 1864 Lee retreats to Richmond

Appomattox Court House- Lee submits to Grant