A Nation Divided Against Itself

Objective:

• Evaluate the final catalysts that sparked the Civil War.

The Election of 1860

• As the election approached, it became clear of two things– 1. The majority of Northerners would not

accept leadership by a Southerner– 2. The Southerners announced that they

would not accept a leader from the antislavery Republicans

• So who would. . .or could. . .be President?

The Contenders

• For the Democrats:

From the SouthPro Slavery

From the NorthPopular Sovereignty Represented the

Border statesModerate

Delaware

Maryland

Missouri

Kentucky

For the Republicans…

The Election

• No longer national political parties– The division between

North and South was beyond repair

• Southern Ballots were between Bell and Breckinridge

• Northerners voted for Lincoln or Douglas

The Results

The Lower South Secedes

• Southerners were outraged – Secessionists, those who

wanted the South to leave the Union

• Join voluntarily, leave voluntarily

• Knew Republicans could legally get rid of slavery

• December 20, 1860: SC secedes

The Confederate States of America

• Shortly after SC seceded, the other Lower South States followed

• Created a new nation:• The Confederate

States of America (the Confederacy)

– Jefferson Davis

Attempt for Prevention

• Last-Minute compromises fail:– Sen. John J Crittenden (KY) proposed a plan

where slavery would be recognized under 36°30’ N

• President-Elect Lincoln convinced the Senate to reject it

– Horace Greeley proposed letting the states secede in peace

• Offended Union supporter and businessmen

– How could the US continue to function if its members could come and go as they please?

Lincoln Becomes President

• At his inauguration, Lincoln stated:– 1) Civil war was in the hands of the people,

while he was responsible to preserve, protect and defend the US

– 2) He would not attack the South, if a war was going to start he would let them be the aggressors

– 3) Promised to defend the property of the Government

Fort Sumter

• Fort Sumter : Union fort off Charleston, SC– The CSA had fired on

supply ships– Lincoln attempts aid– CSA calls for the surrender

of Fort Sumter• April 12, 1861: Gen. P.G.T.

Beauregard fires on the fort– Sumter is forced to Surrender

The War Begins

– Lincoln calls for troops to prepare for war, – The South views this as a hostile act---

declaring war on the US– The Upper South Secedes and joins the 8

states of the Confederacy (12 in all)

Question: Could the Union be restored through force?

In Review:

• How did the election of 1860 demonstrate the split between the North and the South?

• What concerns led the Lower South to secede from the Union?

• What event started the Civil War?