Steps Leading to Civil War Part 1

The Wilmot Proviso The Wilmot Proviso This outrages Southerners In any territory the US gained from Mexico “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist” This outrages Southerners Democrats and Whigs pass the proviso in the House of Representatives But, the Senate refused to vote on it

Popular Sovereignty Idea that said citizens of each new territory should be allowed to decide for themselves if they want to permit slavery or not Proposed by Lewis Cass To deal with the sectional disagreements regarding slavery Supported in Congress b/c it removed the slavery issue from national politics

Election 1848 Democrat candidate Free-Soil candidate Whig candidate Lewis Cass  popular sovereignty Free-Soil candidate Martin Van Buren  Preserve the west for white farmers and against slavery to protect jobs for free men Whig candidate Zachary Taylor – avoided the issue of slavery, because Whigs were split on the slavery issue Zachary Taylor wins the election

California bound! The discovery of Gold brings thousands into the California territory – ‘49ers Californians b/g to organize for statehood – do they enter as a slave or free state? 1849 – California applies for admission to the US as a free state If this happened it would take the balance out of the Senate A few Southern politicians b/g to talk openly of secession Taking their states out of the Union

Compromise of 1850 California enters as a free state Victory for the North Federal enforcement of the new Fugitive Slave Act Victory for the South Slave trade (not slavery) abolished in Washington D.C. Moderate victory for the North Texas border dispute w/ Mexico resolved, Texas gets $10 million Moderate victory for the South Popular sovereignty determines slavery in Utah and New Mexico territories Moderate victory for both sides

Fugitive Slave Act Part of the Compromise of 1850 Northern states must return escaped slaves to the south Many northern states tried to use the “Doctrine of Nullification” to avoid obeying this law!

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe Enslaved hero Tom w/ a villainous overseer Represented AA’s as real people imprisoned in dreadful circumstances This book evoked pity and outrage for the enslaved Southerners attacked its portrayal of slavery They tried to have the book banned

Railroads Underground Railroad – group of whites and free black people helped enslaved people escape to the North or Canada Conductors – transported runaways north in secret Gave them shelter, food, and money for a fresh start Harriet Tubman – most famous conductor Was a runaway slave herself and risked many trips into the South to guide people to freedom Transcontinental Railroad - built to connect the West Coast to the rest of the country

Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854 – Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act Repealed the Missouri Compromise Allowed previously free areas of Kansas & Nebraska popular sovereignty Vote on whether or not to have slavery Caused great anger & conflict Kansas will b/c the first battleground b/w those favoring or opposing the extension of slavery

Bleeding Kansas Hordes of armed pro- and anti-slavery men b/g to flood Kansas To vote on the slavery issue (popular sovereignty) By March of 1856 Kansas had two govt. May 1856 – proslavery men attacked the town of Lawrence – a stronghold of antislavery settlers Plundered and burned shops and homes Kansas settlers were at war over slavery By the end of 1856 – 200 dead, $2 million in property destroyed

Problems in the Senate Charles Sumner – Senator of Massachusetts – abolitionist Delivered a speech accusing pro-slavery senators of forcing Kansas into the ranks of slave states He singled out Senator Andrew P. Butler of South Carolina

Caning of Charles Sumner May 22 the confrontation got physical Representative Preston Brooks – Bulter’s second cousin – approached Sumner in his office Brooks said Sumner’s speech was libel on South Carolina and Butler Brooks raised a cane and beat him Left Sumner severely injured and bleeding on the Senate chamber floor