Bell workAt the beginning of the civil war both sides had notable strengths & weaknesses. List one advantage of the Union and one advantage of the Confederacy.

Political Realignment

Deepens the Crisis

A Shifting Political Scene Millard Fillmore – Whig

President Angered northerners by

support of Fugitive Slave Act

Angered Southerners by supporting California as a free state

Compromise of 1850 directly to blame for shrinking of Whig Party

Example of the awful effects of a disintegrating Whig

The Know - Nothings

Native born Protestants, upset by immigration and rising Catholicism

Anti-immigration movement became the Known Nothings (American Party) Oppose immigration Anti-slavery until 1856

Republican Party This party is fiercely anti-Slavery

Most popular in the North Opposed popular sovereignty and the Kansas-Nebraska

Act

Sectional Divisions Intensify

Election of 1856 James Buchanan (Dem)

wins He promised to “stop

the agitation of the slavery issue”

This appealed to most Americans (particularly in the South)

Republicans did receive a lot of votes though

Dred Scott Decision Causes Outrage

Dred Scott – A slave who had been taken to the free states of Illinois and Wisconsin He claimed that this

made him free b/c it was north of the Missouri Compromise Line

Abolitionists would help him take his case to the US Supreme Court

Dred Scott v. Sanford Chief Justic Roger B.

Taney decided: Temporary residence in

a free state did not make Scott free

Scott was property, not a citizen, therefore he had no rights

Stated that no African-American could be a citizen

Congress could not ban slavery because doing so would take away the property of slave owners (which is unconstitutional)

Dred Scott v. Sanford Southerners rejoice because it meant

slavery could be used anywhere Northerners, especially Republicans and

Know-Nothings were alarmed

Southerners Northerners

Lincoln-Douglas Debates Fighting for a seat in

the Illinois Senate Series of debates over

expansion of slavery Lincoln = Republican

(anti-Slavery) Douglas = Democrat

(popular sovereignty)

Lincoln-Douglas Debates Lincoln =“Honest Abe”

Tall, lanky, slow of speech

Opposed popular sovereignty and Kansas-Nebraska Act

Attacked Dred Scott decision

Douglas = “Little Giant” Short, round, energetic

speech Supported popular

sovereignty Believed slavery was

promoted in our Constitution

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Douglas would win the election

However, Lincoln won loyal followers

This following would help him in his next election bid

John Brown’s Raid Brown thought he was

“an angel of God”, destined to bring an end to slavery

He felt violence was the answer, and scoured for funds and recruits to lead an uprising

Just imagine that is John Brown instead.

Harpers Ferry Brown and 21 men set

out to take an arsenal at Harpers Ferry in Virginia

Hoped slaves would join in the revolution Trains, canals offered

escape Near free states in the

North

Harpers Ferry The plan failed as few were

willing to join this crazy guy

Local residents surrounded the arsenal and federal troops came to arrest the men

2 of his sons killed, some escaped, and others arrested and executed

The North and South would blame each other, and the divide grew wider and wider

Worst wax museum ever?

Lincoln, Secession, and War

Election of 1860 Democrats Split Their

Support Southern Democrats

sought to protect slavery from federal interference

Northern Democrats (led by Douglas) wanted popular sovereignty

When Douglas followers win the argument, Southern Democrats marched out in protest

Republicans Nominate Lincoln Republicans liked

Lincoln’s moderate view on slavery They wanted to stop

slavery from spreading Did NOT want to

interfere with slavery in states where it already existed

Lincoln Wins in 1860!

Lincoln won 40% of popular vote and 60% of electoral votes

He didn’t even win a single southern state though So, does it look like the South even matters?

Lincoln Wins in 1860! Lincoln wasn’t even on the ballot for most

Southern states, and Douglas came in 2nd in popular vote (he only won 2 states!)

Now, it is clear that one candidate represented the North, while another the South

The two sections were fractured seemingly beyond repair

The Union Collapses

Southern States Leave the Union How could a man be

elected without a single southern vote?

The South is outraged, and on Dec 20, 1860, South Carolina secedes from the Union

Cited the fact that the president and government were “hostile to slavery”

6 others follow immediately

The Confederacy Is Formed These 7 seceding states

formed the Confederate States of America

Their constitution emphasized states rights, protection of slavery, and the right to secede

It outlawed import of slaves (to win favor with GB and France)

Its President would be Jefferson Davis

Crittenden Compromise This was a final

attempt at compromise made by some southern states

It reestablished Missouri Compromise Line and demanded reimbursement for slaves that ran away

Voted Down by Congress

Why do you think?

Outbreak of War Lincoln is

inaugurated He states that he

will not interfere with slavery in the south

He states he WILL preserve the Union

He states there will be no war unless started by the South

Fort Sumter When each state

seceded, they took over all forts within their state (except for a few like…)

Ft. Sumter (in SC) was an important harbor

Confederates had prevented Union troops at this fort from being supplied

Fort Sumter Lincoln was forced to

protect this fort, but wishes to without fighting

Promises the South that he is sending food, no weapons to these troops

The South is too suspicious and demand the troops leave, but they refuse

Confederate troops proceed to fire on the fort, starting the Civil War

Fort Sumter Falls Union troops forced to

surrender as they run out of supplies

North is angry, Lincoln calls on 75,000 volunteers to fight

South responds by calling on volunteers to fight the Union

Both sides thought it would be a quick war…they were wrong