1. Chapter 11 Sectional Conflict Increases

2. An Uneasy Balance

3. The Debate Reopens Tensions were mounting over the issue of slavery
Missouri Compromise of 1820 did not end the debate
Congressional debates often ended in violence (Representatives sometimes took bowie knives to the House chamber)

5. The Annexation of Texas
The admission of Texas, which permitted slavery, would tip the balance of power in the Senate towards slave states
Issue was settled in 1845
Texas admitted as a slave state but said Texas could divide into 5 states if they desired
Congress extended the line that was set with the Missouri Compromise (36 30’)

6. Popular Sovereignty Annexation of Texas did not end the debate
Prospect of victory in Mexican War revived the debate about whether slavery would be allowed in any territory acquired
President Polk suggested we extend the Missouri Compromise line to Pacific Ocean
Lewis Case (Michigan) and Stephen Douglas (Illinois) suggested any new territory rely on popular sovereignty
Allows citizens of each new territory to vote on whether to allow slavery or not

7. Neither proposal satisfied those opposed to slavery
Proposed Amendment – Wilmot Proviso
Banned slavery in any land acquired for Mexico
All but one northern state ratified amendment
Southern states threatened to secede if it became law
Wilmot Proviso was cut from the final bill

8. 1848 Election
By the 1848 election, Congress still had not decided on the issue of slavery in Mexican Cession
Democrats – Lewis Case, Whigs – Zachary Taylor
Taylor campaigned as “Independent” or “No Party” – symbolized he was above parties
Democrats formed the Free-Soil Party
Demanded Congress prohibit the expansion of slavery into new territories
Zachary Taylor wins by a slim margin

10. Slavery Issue in Congress
Congress still divided over slavery in the Mexican Cession
President Taylor urged Congress to admit California as a free state
Southern members of Congress opposed
Debates over New Mexico and Texas also plagued members of Congress

11. Clay’s Proposal Urged southerners and northerners to compromise
Presented a plan that satisfied south and north
Clay proposed admitting California as free state and abolishing the slave trade (not slavery) in D.C
Advocated paying Texas 10 million to abandon its claim to part of New Mexico
To convince southerners – NM to be divided into 2 territories – NM and Utah – on basis of popular sovereignty
Pass a tougher fugitive slave law

12. Clay closed by suggesting that sectional interests be put aside to preserve Union
Northerners who supported the breakup were abolitionists
Southerners who supported the breakup were fire-eaters (strong proponents of slavery)

13. Great Debate Congress debated Clay’s proposal for months
John C. Calhoun fiercely fought the proposal – huge fire-eater from SC
House of Rep./Secretary of war/state, Senator, VP throughout his career
Debates over slavery convinced him the best option was a dual presidency (North and South)

14. Calhoun played key role in the debates of 1850 and was a powerful supported of south until his death that year
Daniel Webster of Mass. Gave s speech supporting Clay’s proposal
Most northerners objected because you cannot compromise over slavery
President Taylor was against Clay’s proposal – however he died making Millard Fillmore President
Fillmore supported Clay
September 1850 Congress passed Clay’s measures
Compromise of 1850

16. Compromise Comes to an End
Compromise of 1850 did not completely settle the slavery issue
Election of 1852
Democrats – Franklin Pierce (supporter of Compromise of 1850
Whigs turned to Mexican War hero General Winfield Scott
Pierce won the election by a landslide
“Northern man with southern principles” - Abolitionists

18. Fugitive Slave Act
Compromise of 1850 began to fall apart before 1852 election thanks to the inclusion of the Fugitive Slave Act
Fugitive Slave Act
Made it a federal crime to assist runaway slaves
Authorized the arrest of escaped slaves even in states where slavery was illegal (angered the North)
Supporters of Compromise of 1850 were shocked by the government’s new law

19. Anti-Slavery Literature
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Reactions to the book
The book depicted slavery in many forms – harsh sugar plantations to the homes of slaveholders to runaway slaves
Showed how slavery tore apart families
Justified northern feelings about the ills and wrongs of slavery
300,000 copies sold in 9 months
Southern audiences hated it – banned in many parts of the south

21. Kansas-Nebraska Act Slavery debate revived again in 1854
Stephen Douglas of Illinois was huge supporter of western expansion
Construction of the railroad meant Congress had to organize western lands – which reopened slavery debate
Douglas introduced the Kansas-Nebraska Act
Organized the territories of Kansas and Nebraska on basis of popular sovereignty

22. Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise
Passage of the act renewed southern hopes of extending slavery
Not everyone hated the act solely on abolitionist grounds – economics issue
Force out “white” workers
Critics said they would slave labor instead of hiring workers

24. “Bleeding Kansas”
Kansas-Nebraska Act pitted anti-slavery and pro-slavery forces against one another for control of new territories
Elections in Kansas
Pro-Slavery forces took action in March 1855
As Kansas prepared to elect first legislature, 5000 pro-slavery residents moved in the area
Illegal voters from Missouri helped elect pro-slavery legislature

25. Conflict became inevitable
Anti-slavery residents refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new government
Formed the Free State Party and elected their own legislature
Conflict became inevitable
Pro-slavery raiders from Missouri attacked anti-slavery Kansas settlers
Anti-slavery supporters responded under John Brown and attacked town of Pottawatomie
Pottawatomie Massacre – dragged 5 men from their beds and brutally murdered them

27. The Republican Party
In 1854, a group of antislavery Whigs and Democrats came together with some Free-Soilers, organized a party that opposed slavery
Republican Party
Elections of 1854 and 1856 (Congressional)
Republicans – John Fremont / Democrats – James Buchanan

28. James Buchanan (D) won Presidency in 1856
Election ends the Whig Party
Lecompton Constitution
Gave voters of Kansas only the right to decide whether more slaves could enter the territory, not whether slavery should indeed exist

29. On the Brink of War

30. Dred Scott and the Supreme Court
Dred Scott – slave held by John Emerson (army surgeon)
After Emerson died, Scott sued for his freedom
1856 – case reached the Supreme Court
Chief Justice Roger B. Taney
Taney declared that Scott was not a citizen and could not bring suits in US courts

31. Taney – founders saw African Americans as “beings of an inferior order having no rights which the white man was bound to respect”
Taney also said the federal government had no authority to limit expansion of slavery
Dred Scott Decision outraged abolitionists
After passage of Kansas-Nebraska Act and Dred Scott decision, seemed to be no way to stop expansion of slavery

33. Lincoln and Douglas
After the Dred Scott decision and Kansas-Nebraska Act – Abraham Lincoln (R) ran for Senate in Illinois against inccumbent Stephen Douglas
Lincoln – opposed to ideas and expansion of slavery
Stephen Douglas
Supported popular sovereignty

35. Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Lincoln challenged Douglas in a series of 7 debates between August and October 1858
Lincoln attacked the Dred Scott decision, spoke out against slavery
“I do not believe it is a constitutional right to hold slaves in a territory of the US”
In Freeport, Illinois – Lincoln challenged Douglas on how popular sovereignty was still workable
Douglas replied that people can still keep slavery out by refusing to pass local laws
“People have the lawful means introduce or exclude it as they please
Douglas edges Lincoln

36. John Brown’s Raid
Year after Lincoln-Douglas debates – John Brown (leader of Pottawatomie Massacre), headed east
Attack on Harpers Ferry
Oct. 16, 1859 Brown and his small force seized the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, VA
Planned to give guns to slaves – hoped slaves and freed blacks would come to his aid
No slaves came to help him
Mid-October – Brown captured by forces under General Robert E. Lee
Convicted of murder and was hanged

38. Reactions to Brown Hailed by many well-known abolitionists as a hero
Seen a blood-thirsty fanatic who deserved his punishment by many southerners

39. Election of 1860 By 1860 the US was deeply divided
Democrats – John Breckinridge
Republicans – Abraham Lincoln
Election results mirrored the nation’s sectional divisions
Breckinridge carried every southern lower state (VA – KY – TN voted for Bell)
Lincoln carried most northern states – only won 40 percent of popular vote but won a landslide in electoral votes
Lincoln – 180; Breckinridge – 72; Bell – 39; Douglas - 12

41. Secession
Many southerners view Lincoln’s election as a victory for abolition
Within days of his election, South Carolina called a convention and unanimously voted to leave the nation
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas soon follow
1861 – delegates of the seceding states drafted a constitution – Confederate States of America

43. Elect Jefferson Davis as President
Confederate Constitution mirrored the US Constitution with several key differences
Guaranteed the right to own slaves
Stressed each state was “sovereign and independent” – States rights
Elect Jefferson Davis as President
James Buchanan left office leaving the problem for Abraham Lincoln to deal with
Southern secessionists justified their position with the doctrine of states rights
Freely joined and could freely leave
Northerners stated that by ratifying the Constitution they agreed to make it supreme law of the land

44. Issue went beyond states rights – southerners determined to protect slavery
Northern Republicans asserted that majority rule represented a fundamental principle of republican government
Lincoln said the south must accept the election results
WAR