Road to Civil War
1850 – 1861
North/South
Debates
Crash Course US History – Episode #18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roNmeOOJCDY&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtMwmepBjTSG593eG7ObzO7s&index=18
Review Sectional Tensions Before the 1850’s…
States Rights vs. Federal Power & Expansion of Slavery
Divisive issues have been simmering for 75 years
Examples:
 Federalists & Anti-Federalists Loose or strict
interpretation of the Constitution (1780’s)
 3/5th & Slave Trade Clauses of Constitution
 Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions (1798)
 Missouri Compromise (1820)
 S.C. Nullification Crisis (1828)
 Antebellum Abolition Movement
 Manifest Destiny & Acquisition of New Territory (1840’s)
“Great Pacificator” Henry Clay argues
for nationalism & compromise
before the Senate in 1850 when
debating the admission of
California as a new state
Stephen Douglas (Dem)
& Henry Clay (Whig)
organize the
Compromise
of 1850
and introduce
new concept of
Popular
Sovereignty
Key parts of
Compromise:
• CA enters
union
as a free state
• NM & Utah
territories
will choose
slave status later
by “popular
sovereignty”
• No slave trade
in DC
• AND…
The Compromise of 1850
Most controversial
part of
Compromise
of 1850:
Debate Issue #1
A Stronger
Fugitive
Slave
Law
Extremists on Both Sides Unhappy
with Compromise of 1850
Ex: William Seward and the “Higher Law” Supporters
vs. John C. Calhoun and his “Fire-Eaters”
Debate Issue #2: The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)
Stephen Douglas’ Idea: Popular Sovereignty for Kansas & Nebraska Territories
Results: Pro Slavery “Border Ruffians” clash with
Anti-Slavery “Free Soilers” in Kansas
Radical Abolitionist John Brown & Pottawatomie Creek Massacre
raise tensions in Kansas more
Continued fighting called
“Bleeding Kansas”
ensues for years
illustrating failures
of popular sovereignty
Example of failure of compromise:
Lecompton Constitution
(Pro Slavery)
and
Topeka Constitution
(Anti Slavery)
are
passed simultaneously both
claiming to be official
representatives of Kansas
Territory…letting
territories decide slavery
question for themselves
becomes a big mess!
Kansas not admitted as a
state until Civil War begins
Debate Issue #3:
Representative Brooks (SC)
Caning
Senator Sumner (Mass)
1856
New Republican Party
Established in 1854
Made up mainly
of “Conscience” Whigs,
Free Soilers & “Know Nothings”
Republicans are NOT
abolitionists, but do oppose any
expansion of slavery
(NOT Popular Sovereignty)
Republicans choose
Mexican-American War hero
John C. Fremont
as presidential candidate
in 1856 on a platform that
favor Homestead Act,
a Federally funded
transcontinental railroad
& a free (no slavery) Kansas
1856 Republican Slogan:
“Free Soil, Free Speech & Fremont”
However,
James Buchanan
(Northern Democrat)
elected President
1856 as a
“compromise”
to appeal to
both North & South
Main policy
about growing
sectional tensions:
Do nothing
about slavery
How do you think this works out?
At same time, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin
published and further increases sectional tension
Debate Issue #4: Dred Scott v. Sandford
& Roger B. Taney -- 1857
Supreme Court
steps in at this
point (since
President
& Congress
are not solving
growing
slavery crisis)
and makes
an even bigger
mess of the
situation
1858 Illinois Senate race between Abraham Lincoln (Republican) &
Stephen Douglas (Democrat) captures national attention as
they debate expansion of slavery following Dred Scott decision
Stephen Douglas’
“fence sitting” position in
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
helps him win Illinois
Senate seat over
Lincoln, but
angers Southern
Democrats
&
hurts Douglas’
presidential
chances in 1860
Then the actions of a religious zealot divides the nation further…
Debate Issue # 5: John Brown’s Raid at Harpers Ferry (1859)
Lincoln becomes president despite winning only 40% of popular
vote, but gets a majority of electoral votes (no Southern states)
How??
Election sparks secession of seven states in Jan./Feb. 1861
South Carolina the first to secede,
then FL, GA, AL, LA, MS, TX after 1860
election but before Lincoln's Inauguration
April, 1861
Fort Sumter, SC is surrounded by
Confederate forces. Union
supply ships ordered to resupply
fort by President Lincoln are
fired upon & fort taken over by
Confederate forces.
Lincoln begins military draft and
Feb. 1861 “Crittenden
Compromise” Fails
War is on…
4 states in “Upper South” secede after Lincoln orders “attack” on Fort Sumter
5 slave holding “border states" stay with union
11 states form the Confederate States of America
CSA goal to remain an independent nation…Lincoln’s goal to preserve the United
states…4 years of war and 600,000 deaths needed to resolve conflict