Chapter 14Chapter 14THE SECTIONAL CRISISTHE SECTIONAL CRISIS

America Past and PresentAmerica Past and PresentEighth EditionEighth Edition

Divine Divine Breen Breen Fredrickson Fredrickson Williams Williams Gross Gross Brand Brand

Copyright 2007, Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman

The Caning of Charles SumnerThe Caning of Charles Sumner

1856 – Representative Preston Brooks 1856 – Representative Preston Brooks caned Senator Charles Sumner for an caned Senator Charles Sumner for an antislavery speech Sumner gave.antislavery speech Sumner gave.

Caused by the Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854Caused by the Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854

The Compromise of 1850The Compromise of 1850

North and South conflict violently over North and South conflict violently over slavery’s extension into the territories slavery’s extension into the territories (Mexican Cession)(Mexican Cession)

The Problem of Slavery in the The Problem of Slavery in the Mexican CessionMexican Cession

Slavery traditionally kept out of politicsSlavery traditionally kept out of politics Congressional power over slavery Congressional power over slavery

includesincludes Setting conditions to make territories statesSetting conditions to make territories states Forbidding slavery in new statesForbidding slavery in new states

Mexican Cession of 1848 puts status of Mexican Cession of 1848 puts status of slavery in new territory into questionslavery in new territory into question

The Wilmot Proviso Launches The Wilmot Proviso Launches the Free-Soil Movementthe Free-Soil Movement

Mexican War mobilized antislavery groupsMexican War mobilized antislavery groups Wilmot ProvisoWilmot Proviso

Amendment to Mexican War Appropriations Amendment to Mexican War Appropriations Bill by David Wilmont (D-PA)Bill by David Wilmont (D-PA)

Ban all blacks from new territories – Mexican Ban all blacks from new territories – Mexican Cession - (free & slave) to prevent job Cession - (free & slave) to prevent job competition from black slaves and free blackscompetition from black slaves and free blacks

Proviso passes in House, fails in SenateProviso passes in House, fails in Senate

Squatter Sovereignty and the Squatter Sovereignty and the Election of 1848Election of 1848

Democratic presidential candidate Lewis Democratic presidential candidate Lewis Cass proposes popular sovereigntyCass proposes popular sovereignty Congress allows territorial settlers to decideCongress allows territorial settlers to decide Supported by many antislavery forcesSupported by many antislavery forces

A new 3A new 3rdrd party - Free-Soil Party – chose party - Free-Soil Party – chose Martin Van Buren who demanded definite Martin Van Buren who demanded definite limits on slaverylimits on slavery

Whig Zachary Taylor takes no position on Whig Zachary Taylor takes no position on slavery slavery

Taylor wins election with less than 50% Taylor wins election with less than 50%

The Election of 1848The Election of 1848

Taylor Takes ChargeTaylor Takes Charge

Taylor proposes admitting California and Taylor proposes admitting California and New Mexico as states immediatelyNew Mexico as states immediately

South reacts angrilySouth reacts angrily Not enough time for planters to settleNot enough time for planters to settle Immediate admission would result in no Immediate admission would result in no

slaveryslavery

Proposed Nashville convention prompts Proposed Nashville convention prompts fears of Southern secessionfears of Southern secession

Forging a CompromiseForging a Compromise Henry Clay’s Compromise of 1850 included:Henry Clay’s Compromise of 1850 included:

California admitted as a free state California admitted as a free state The rest of the Mexican Cession – slavery based on The rest of the Mexican Cession – slavery based on

popular sovereigntypopular sovereignty Slave trade prohibited in District of ColumbiaSlave trade prohibited in District of Columbia Strong fugitive slave law that denied slaves any Strong fugitive slave law that denied slaves any

Constitutional rightsConstitutional rights New border between New Mexico & TexasNew border between New Mexico & Texas

President Taylor opposed, VP Fillmore supported President Taylor opposed, VP Fillmore supported Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850

July 1850 Taylor dies; Compromise passed as separate July 1850 Taylor dies; Compromise passed as separate measures, not as an omnibus billmeasures, not as an omnibus bill

The Compromise of 1850The Compromise of 1850

The Party System in CrisisThe Party System in CrisisWhigs & DemocratsWhigs & Democrats

Parties need new issues after 1850; slavery had been Parties need new issues after 1850; slavery had been decided in the Compromise of 1850 and the economy decided in the Compromise of 1850 and the economy was prospering under the Democrats’ policy of laissez was prospering under the Democrats’ policy of laissez faire.faire.

The Election of 1852 marked the end of the Whigs. The Election of 1852 marked the end of the Whigs. Why? No main issues. Whigs’ antislavery stand Why? No main issues. Whigs’ antislavery stand destroyed the party and their failure to appeal to voters destroyed the party and their failure to appeal to voters in the North & in the South.in the North & in the South.

Democrat Franklin Pierce won in 1852. Democrat Franklin Pierce won in 1852.

The Election of 1852The Election of 1852

The Kansas-Nebraska Act Raises a StormThe Kansas-Nebraska Act Raises a Storm Senator Stephen Douglas (D-IL) wanted Kansas and Senator Stephen Douglas (D-IL) wanted Kansas and

Nebraska open to settlement to facilitate a Transcontinental Nebraska open to settlement to facilitate a Transcontinental RR to ChicagoRR to Chicago

1854: Douglas’s Kansas-Nebraska bill1854: Douglas’s Kansas-Nebraska bill Apply popular sovereignty to Kansas, NebraskaApply popular sovereignty to Kansas, Nebraska Repeal Missouri Compromise line – seen as a surrender Repeal Missouri Compromise line – seen as a surrender

to the slave power because it permitted slavery in an area to the slave power because it permitted slavery in an area where it had previously been prohibitedwhere it had previously been prohibited

Act passes on sectional vote Act passes on sectional vote Northerners outraged, Democratic party splitNortherners outraged, Democratic party split

The Kansas-Nebraska Act Raises a The Kansas-Nebraska Act Raises a Storm, cont.Storm, cont.

KS-NE Act seen as North making concessions to South, KS-NE Act seen as North making concessions to South, but not getting anything in returnbut not getting anything in return

Whig indecision causes party to disintegrate Whig indecision causes party to disintegrate Led to the Caning of Charles SumnerLed to the Caning of Charles Sumner Led to the rise of the Republican PartyLed to the rise of the Republican Party Democrats become sole Southern partyDemocrats become sole Southern party President Pierce’s effort to acquire Cuba (Ostend President Pierce’s effort to acquire Cuba (Ostend

Manifesto) provoked antislavery firestormManifesto) provoked antislavery firestorm

The Kansas-Nebraska ActThe Kansas-Nebraska Actof 1854of 1854

An Appeal to Nativism:An Appeal to Nativism:The Know-Nothing EpisodeThe Know-Nothing Episode

Know-Nothings (American Party) appealed to anti-Know-Nothings (American Party) appealed to anti-immigrant (Nativism) and to anti-Catholic sentimentimmigrant (Nativism) and to anti-Catholic sentiment

Also called the Order of the Star-Spangled BannerAlso called the Order of the Star-Spangled Banner The collapse of the Whigs led to the rise of another 3The collapse of the Whigs led to the rise of another 3rdrd

party – the American Partyparty – the American Party By 1856 Know-Nothings collapsedBy 1856 Know-Nothings collapsed Probable cause: No response to slaveryProbable cause: No response to slavery

Kansas and the Rise Kansas and the Rise of the Republicansof the Republicans

Republican party unites former Whigs, Republican party unites former Whigs, Know-Nothings, Free-Soilers, Northern Know-Nothings, Free-Soilers, Northern DemocratsDemocrats

Position on slavery – no extension of Position on slavery – no extension of slavery (Mexican Cession)slavery (Mexican Cession)

““Bleeding Kansas” helped RepublicansBleeding Kansas” helped Republicans Struggle among abolitionists, proslavery Struggle among abolitionists, proslavery

forces for control of Kansas territoryforces for control of Kansas territory Republicans use conflict to appeal for votersRepublicans use conflict to appeal for voters

““Bleeding Kansas”Bleeding Kansas”

Sectional Division in the Sectional Division in the Election of 1856Election of 1856

Republicans represented a sectional party Republicans represented a sectional party – the part of the North– the part of the North

Democrat James Buchanan defended the Democrat James Buchanan defended the Compromise of 1850 and won the election Compromise of 1850 and won the election because he promised to protect slavery because he promised to protect slavery where it existedwhere it existed

The Election of 1856The Election of 1856

CandidateCandidate PartyParty Popular VotePopular Vote Electoral VoteElectoral Vote

Buchanan Democratic 1,832,955 174

Frémont Republican 1,339,932 114

Fillmore American 871,731 8

(Know-Nothing)

The House Divided, 1857–1860The House Divided, 1857–1860

Sectional quarrel becomes virtually Sectional quarrel becomes virtually irreconcilable irreconcilable

Growing sense of deep cultural Growing sense of deep cultural differences, opposing interests between differences, opposing interests between North and SouthNorth and South

Cultural SectionalismCultural Sectionalism Major Protestant denominations (Baptists & Methodist) Major Protestant denominations (Baptists & Methodist)

divided into Northern and Southern entities over slavery.divided into Northern and Southern entities over slavery. Northern preachers denounced slavery as a sin; southern Northern preachers denounced slavery as a sin; southern

preachers used the Bible to defend slavery.preachers used the Bible to defend slavery. Southern literature romanticized plantation life.Southern literature romanticized plantation life. Southern writers such as Edgar Allen Poe (pro-South); Southern writers such as Edgar Allen Poe (pro-South);

Northern writers such as Emerson & Thoreau (antislavery)Northern writers such as Emerson & Thoreau (antislavery) Uncle Tom's CabinUncle Tom's Cabin an immense success in North; written by an immense success in North; written by

Harriet Beecher Stowe; portrayed slavery as a threat to the Harriet Beecher Stowe; portrayed slavery as a threat to the family & the cult of domesticity.family & the cult of domesticity.

Cannibals All!Cannibals All! – (George Fitzhugh) Southern response to – (George Fitzhugh) Southern response to Uncle Tom’s CabinUncle Tom’s Cabin; portrayed Northerners as the slave owners and factory workers as the slaves.

The Dred Scott CaseThe Dred Scott Case Dred Scott v. SanfordDred Scott v. Sanford (1857): Supreme Court can decide (1857): Supreme Court can decide

on slavery in the territories – President Buchanan on slavery in the territories – President Buchanan encouraged the Court to make this decision.encouraged the Court to make this decision.

Chief Justice was Roger TaneyChief Justice was Roger Taney Major argumentsMajor arguments

Scott has no right to sue because neither he nor any Scott has no right to sue because neither he nor any other black, slave or free, is a citizen.other black, slave or free, is a citizen.

Congress has no authority to prohibit slavery in Congress has no authority to prohibit slavery in territories, thus declaring the Missouri Compromise territories, thus declaring the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.unconstitutional.

Ruling supports Republican claim that an aggressive slave Ruling supports Republican claim that an aggressive slave power dominated all branches of federal governmentpower dominated all branches of federal government

The Lecompton ControversyThe Lecompton Controversy 1856: Lawrence had been established as the capital of the 1856: Lawrence had been established as the capital of the

free-state of Kansasfree-state of Kansas 1857: Proslavery supporters established Lecompton as the 1857: Proslavery supporters established Lecompton as the

capital of the slave-state of Kansas.capital of the slave-state of Kansas. 1858 – Kansas is a free state1858 – Kansas is a free state The Lecompton Controversy showed how popular The Lecompton Controversy showed how popular

sovereignty could lead to civil war.sovereignty could lead to civil war.

The Lincoln/Douglas DebatesThe Lincoln/Douglas Debates LincolnLincoln

Was not an abolitionist; promised not to Was not an abolitionist; promised not to interfere with slavery where it existed, but to interfere with slavery where it existed, but to prevent the spread of slaveryprevent the spread of slavery

Casts slavery as a moral problemCasts slavery as a moral problem ““House Divided” speechHouse Divided” speech

Freeport Doctrine – Lincoln wanted Douglas Freeport Doctrine – Lincoln wanted Douglas to explain how popular sovereignty could to explain how popular sovereignty could still work after the Supreme Court’s decision still work after the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dred Scott case. in the Dred Scott case.

The South's Crisis of FearThe South's Crisis of Fear

October, 1859: John Brown’s raid Harper’s Ferry October, 1859: John Brown’s raid Harper’s Ferry – wanted to start a slave rebellion– wanted to start a slave rebellion

Brown executed, many Northerners see him as Brown executed, many Northerners see him as martyrmartyr

Hinton Helper’s Hinton Helper’s Impending Crisis of the SouthImpending Crisis of the South asked poor white Southerners to overthrow asked poor white Southerners to overthrow planter dominance and abolish slaveryplanter dominance and abolish slavery

To Southerners, Republicans seen as radical To Southerners, Republicans seen as radical abolitionistsabolitionists

Southerners convinced they must secede on Southerners convinced they must secede on election of Republican president election of Republican president

The Election of 1860: The Election of 1860: RepublicansRepublicans

Abraham Lincoln elected without receiving Abraham Lincoln elected without receiving a single Southern votea single Southern vote

Platform to widen party’s appealPlatform to widen party’s appeal High tariffs for industryHigh tariffs for industry Free homesteads for small farmersFree homesteads for small farmers Government aid for internal improvementsGovernment aid for internal improvements No expansion of slaveryNo expansion of slaverySOUTHERN RESPONSE: SC SECEDED!SOUTHERN RESPONSE: SC SECEDED!