The Nation Breaking Apart: Causes of the Civil War 1846-1861 “The state of Ohio is separated from Kentucky just by one river; on either side of it the soil is equally fertile, and the situation is equally favorable, and yet everything is different. Here [on the Ohio side] a population devoured by feverish activity, trying every means to make its fortune…There [on the Kentucky side] are people who make others work for them and show little compassion, a people without energy, mettle or the spirit of enterprise…These differences cannot be attributed to any other cause but slavery.” -Alexis de Tocqueville, Journey to America

Differences Between the North and South Agricultural Economy Slaves Defended slavery and the need for slave labor Industrial and Agricultural Economy Immigrants Abolition Movement

Missouri Compromise of 1820 A slave state or a free state? There was heated debate Congress Southerners claimed the Constitution did not give Congress the power to ban slavery.

…The Missouri Compromise Henry Clay’s Plan The speaker of the House came up with a compromise. Admit Missouri as a slave state and Maine [also wanted statehood] as a free state. The Balance of power between the states would stay equal. A line (drawn across the southern border of Missouri) would separate the free from slave territory to eliminate further debate. …The Missouri Compromise

Controversy over Territories The Wilmot Proviso was a bill that would outlaw slavery in land gained by the war with Mexico. Southerners claimed it was unconstitutional The bill did not pass but gave way to the Free Soil Party whose motto was “Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labor, and Free Men.”

Compromise of 1850 California wanted to be added as a free state Power would not be balanced in Congress Henry Clay came up with a compromise and Stephen Douglass got it passed

Stephen Douglass Henry Clay

The Parts of the Compromise California would be a free state The slave trade would be abolished in Washington, D.C. Congress would pass no laws about slavery for the land won from Mexico There would be a stronger Fugitive Slave Law

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Angered by the Fugitive Slave Act, Harriet Beecher Stowe, wrote a book about a slave named Tom and his treatment under three different owners. The book was popular in the North Southerners thought the book showed the South and slavery in an untrue light Many more people became aware of the ills of slavery and were opposed to it.

Kansas-Nebraska Act Stephen A. Douglass Divide the Nebraska Territory into Kansas and Nebraska If slavery should be allowed or not would be settled by popular sovereignty

“Bleeding Kansas” Proslavery and antislavery settlers raced to the Kansas Territory to vote on the permission of slavery into the area Illegal voters from Missouri would come vote during election time Proslavery voters won but the antislavery voters rejected the government and made their own Mobs attacked opposing sides destroying property and even committing murder. John Brown was part of the antislavery mob whose attack is known as the Pottawatomie Massacre.

Violence in Congress May 1856 Senator Charles Sumner (MASS) gave a speech attacking and insulting the proslavery groups in Kansas The speech made fun of Senator A.P. Butler (SC)whose nephew, Preston Brook’s, was present Brook’s attacked Sumner by hitting him over 30 times with his cane The North and South were driven further apart

Republican Party Forms as a result of the Kansas-Nebraska Act Many blame the violence on the Democratic Party Northern Whigs join other opponents of slavery Strong in the North

Dred Scott v. Sandford Dred Scott was taken from Missouri to free territory and then back by his owner. Since he lived in free territory he sued for his freedom. Chief Justice Taney handed down the Supreme Court verdict : Dred Scott is not a U.S. citizen Dred Scott cannot sue in U.S. courts As a resident of Missouri he is subject to their slave codes

Lincoln Douglass Debates, 1858 The campaign for the Illinois Senate seat through a series of several debates dealing with the country’s most pressing issue: slavery, and became a model for political debates Abraham Lincoln Republican “Slavery is a moral, a social, and a political wrong” Slavery should not spread Stephen Douglass Democrat Thought slavery was morally wrong The issue of slavery should be left to the people (popular sovereignty)

John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry Virginia, 1859 John Brown, a radical abolitionist, and his followers tried to start a slave rebellion that would spread throughout the South. Unsuccessful They were captured and John Brown was hanged. “I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away, but with blood.”

Election of 1860 Candidate Abraham Lincoln Stephen Douglass John Breckenridge John Bell Political party Republican Northern Democrat Southern Democrat Constitutional Union Electoral vote 180 12 72 38 Popular vote 8,865,593 1,382,713 848,356 592,906 Support North South Views on slavery Extreme- opposed expansion Moderate- pass no laws Extreme- gov’t protect in any territory

Secession According to southerners, the idea of states’ rights, meant that because they joined the Union voluntarily they could also had the right to leave. 12/20/1860 South Carolina was first, then Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas, seceded (11 total) Confederate States of America President Jefferson Davis

North’s Response Secession is unconstitutional Lincoln: He would not abolish slavery He would not tolerate secession “We are not enemies, but friends…”

All of these events led to the North and South drifting further apart eventually resulting in the Civil War