SSUSH9 A & B

The Union in Crisis

The Union in Crisis

Early Anti-Slavery Movements

• Of all the Reform Movements of the 1800’s, the Anti-Slavery Movement

was the most dividing influence in the nation.

• Most antislavery societies believed that the institution of slavery needed

to be ended gradually:

Sectionalism and Polarization

• Dec 1816: Antislavery Reformers founded the

American Colonization Society.

• By 1821: The ACS had acquired some land in

West Africa as a colony for freed

slaves to return to Africa.

An approach that became known as Gradualism.

• In 1847: It became the Republic of Liberia.

The Union in Crisis

Early Anti-Slavery Movements

• By the 1830’s: A new idea known as Abolitionism gained support.

The Second Great Awakening promoted repentance of sin.

Abolitionists saw Slavery as the greatest evil requiring repentance.

Sectionalism and Polarization

• David Walker was the first well-known free African -

American to advocate the abolition of slavery.

• 1829: He published a pamphlet entitled An Appeal to the

Coloured Citizens of the World calling for Black Unity.

• However, it was William Lloyd Garrison who had a

greater influence on the Abolitionist movement.

• 1833: He formed the American Antislavery Society.

Why?

The Union in Crisis

Early Anti-Slavery Movements

• One of the most prominent African-American figures

in the Abolition Movement was Frederick Douglass.

He was an escaped slave from Maryland.

He was a brilliant thinker and orator.

He published and anti-slavery paper (North Star).

Sectionalism and Polarization

• Sojourner Truth was another great African-American

Abolitionist and Women’s Right Activist.

She was freed from slavery by laws in New York.

She was deeply religious and an eloquent speaker.

She worked closely with Frederick Douglass.

The Union in Crisis

Attitudes Toward African Americans or Slavery

• Northerners

Prejudice was very evident

Most Disapproved of Slavery

Some Opposed Abolition

Many thought it was Dangerous

Sectionalism and Polarization

• Southerners

Extreme Discrimination

Slavery Economically Essential

Concerned about Slave Revolts

Extreme Punishments Increased

The Union in Crisis

The Growing Issue of Slavery

• As the War with Mexico raged on, political leaders argued the issue of

slavery in the new western territories they might acquire.

• Aug 1846: Senator David Wilmot proposed the Wilmot Proviso.

Sectionalism and Polarization

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude would be

allowed in any new territory acquired from Mexico.

• Senator Lewis Cass proposed Popular Sovereignty.

Allow the citizens of each new territory to decide

if they want slavery or not.

• Many Abolitionists opposed the idea of Popular Sovereignty because

Africans had the right not to be enslaved.

The Union in Crisis

1848 Presidential Election

• The presidential election was divided among three key political parties.

The Whig Party (who opposed slavery)

nominated Zachary Taylor (Hero of the

War with Mexico) as their candidate.

The new “Free-Soil Party” (who opposed

slavery in the new Western Territories)

nominated Martin Van Buren.

The Democrats (who supported Popular

Sovereignty) nominated Lewis Cass as

their candidate for president.

Sectionalism and Polarization

• When the votes were counted, Zachary Taylor had won the election.

The Union in Crisis

Sectionalism and Polarization

The Growing Issue of Slavery Continues

• 1848: Discovery of Gold near Sutter’s Fort in California caused more

than 80,000 miners, known as “Forty-Niners” to arrive there by 1849.

• Immediately, California’s leaders looked toward applying for Statehood.

• President Zachary Taylor supported the idea of Popular Sovereignty by

suggesting that Californians be allowed to decide the issue of slavery.

• 1849: Southern politicians who feared losing control in Congress began

talking openly about secession if a compromise was not agreed upon.

• 1850: Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky proposed the “Great Compromise”

that would allow slavery in the southwest.

The Union in Crisis

The Union versus States Rights

• Henry Clay’s proposal triggered

a massive debate concerning the

Preservation of the Union

versus Southern Rights.

• Senator John C. Calhoun was considered the “Great Defender of the South”

who asserted very brutally in a statement that:

Senator Clay’s proposal “Would Not Save the Union.”

The Federal Government needed to “Respect Southern Rights.”

All Fugitive Slaves Must be Returned.

A Balance between Slave and Free States must be Guaranteed.

If Not, “Secession was the Only Honorable Solution.”

The Union in Crisis

• Senator Daniel Webster responded

to Calhoun’s statement by predicting

that Secession would equal War.

• Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois eventually divided up the “Great

Compromise” presented by Henry Clay into smaller individual bills.

The Compromise of 1850

• California admitted as free.

• New Mexico & Utah granted

Popular Sovereignty.

• A Stronger Fugitive Slave Act

• Eased Tensions over Slavery

The Union versus States Rights

The Union in Crisis

The Growing Issue of Slavery

• 1850: Vice-President Millard Fillmore became president

when President Zachary Taylor died of intestinal virus.

• The new president’s first order of business was to sign the Compromise

of 1850 and the new Fugitive Slave Act (known as the “Bloodhound Law”).

Impact of the Fugitive Slave Law

Any African-American could be identified and arrested as an escaped slave.

U.S. Marshal’s were required to assist slaveholders in capturing Slaves.

Guilt was based on Testimony or Sworn Statements from white witnesses.

Commissioners received a slave bounty for deciding in favor of slaveholders.

African-Americans had no rights to Trial or to Testify in Court.

The Union in Crisis

Impact of the Fugitive Slave Law

Increased hostility toward Southerners by Northerners.

Increased support for the growing Abolitionist Movement.

• 1851-1852: Harriet Beecher Stowe

(daughter of Abolitionist Lyman Beecher)

wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin to increase

Northern awareness of the cruelties

and injustices of slavery.

• Abolitionists like Stephen Douglass

often quoted from Henry David

Thoreau’s essay “Civil Disobedience”

concerning “Unjust Laws” and Slavery.

The Union in Crisis

• White and African-American Abolitionists like Harriet

Tubman became “conductors” on the “Underground

Railroad” to assist runaway slaves escaping to the north.

The Underground Railroad

• “The Railroad” had Secret Routes

• Each Rest Stop was a “Station”

• “Conductors” moved escapees

• “Stockholders” provided money

• Canada was the “Promised Land”

• The Mississippi was known as the

“River Jordan”

Impact of the Fugitive Slave Law

The Union in Crisis

Sectionalism and Polarization

Linking and Dividing a Nation

• Meanwhile, the desire to connect the Eastern States and the Western

Territories together caused the need for a Trans-Continental Railroad.

• However, this issue also divided Northerners and Southerners over the

railroad’s starting location (between Chicago, Ill., and New Orleans, La.).

• The southern route required the United States to persuade Mexico to

sell a strip of land that became known as the Gadsden Purchase in 1853.

• Yet, the northern route required Congress

to make some decisions concerning the

remaining portions of the Louisiana

Territory.

The Union in Crisis

Sectionalism and Polarization

• 1853: Senator Stephen Douglass made a proposal

to establish the Nebraska Territory that

would ultimately divide the nation’s leaders.

1854: The Kansas-Nebraska Act

• Repealed the Missouri Compromise.

• Allowed Popular Sovereignty

• Created Kansas and Nebraska

• Increased the Division over Slavery

Upset “Free-Soilers” and Anti-Slavery Democrats formed Republican Party.

Linking and Dividing a Nation

The Union in Crisis

Sectionalism and Polarization

Determined to gain their own portion of the new territory, both

“Free Staters” and “Pro-Slavers” rushed into Kansas to lay their claims.

• 1855: Armed Missourians called “Border Ruffians”

invaded Kansas and voted in an illegal pro-

slavery Legislature.

• 1856: Furious antislavery settlers held a convention

in Topeka, Kansas forming a new government.

• In response, Missouri “Border Ruffians” attacked the town of Lawrence,

Kansas, destroying newspaper presses and burning homes and hotels.

• As a result, “Bleeding Kansas” became the center of a territorial civil war.

Linking and Dividing a Nation

The Union in Crisis

Sectionalism and Polarization

The Election of 1856

• The newly formed Republican Party nominated

General John C. Fremont as their candidate.

• The American “Know-Nothings” Party nominated

former President Millard Fillmore as their candidate.

• The Democrats nominated 20 year Congressman

James Buchanan as their candidate for president.

• Although James Buchanan was elected based on promises to Save the

Union and Ease Sectional Tensions, sectional strife continued to grow.

The Union in Crisis

Sectionalism and Polarization

The Crisis Deepens

• March 1857: As President Buchanan gave his inaugural address, the U.S.

Supreme Court was ready to release the Dred Scott Decision.

• Dred Scott was an enslaved men who claimed the right to

freedom when he was taken into a declared free territory.

• Assisted by Abolitionists, Dred Scott sued for freedom.

Impact of the Supreme Court Decision

• African Americans were not citizens and could not sue in court

• The Federal Government could not regulate slavery in the territories.

• Determination of “Free Soil” States was considered Unconstitutional

• 1858: Settlers in Kansas voted overwhelmingly against slavery / statehood.

The Union in Crisis

Sectionalism and Polarization

The Crisis Deepens

1858: Lincoln – Douglas Debates

• Proposed the Debates • Confidently Accepted

• Former Representative • Current U.S. Senator

• Slavery is Immoral • Popular Sovereignty

• Established Reputation • Won the Election

• 1859: Abolitionist John Brown planned a raid on Harper’s Ferry Armory.

Determined to start an armed slave insurrection against slaveholders.

His group was captured by U.S. Marines under Colonel Robert E. Lee.

He was tried, convicted and sentenced to death by a Virginia Court.