Us hist union in peril
Transcript of Us hist union in peril
THE UNION IN PERIL
Slavery, Slavery, Republicans, Slavery, Secession, and did I mention Slavery
Slavery in America By 1850: 3.2
million slaves 1850: most
slaves live on large farms
Slaves also “hired out”
400,000 in urban areas; a better life?
Protecting SlaveryProtecting Bloody slave rebellions scare slave
owners How do slave owners hope to end
revolts?
Defending SlaveryDefending “slaves better off here than in Africa” “slaves better off than the Northern
‘wage slave’”
1836-1844: Congressional “gag rule”
North & South in 1850North
South
Wilmot Proviso What is it?
North supports
South opposes
California 1850: applies for statehood as non-slave Taylor supports; wants territories to decide Reaction?
Compromise of 1850 Henry Clay Popular sovereignty
Calhoun against Webster supports Initially rejected
Stephen “Little Giant” Douglas
Illinois Got each provision passed on its own Fillmore: “final settlement”
Fugitive Slave Act No trial by jury Slave owner’s word enough How were federal commissioners paid?
“We went to bed one night old-fashioned, conservative, compromise Union Whigs, and waked up stark mad Abolitionists.”“Do not be surprised if when I return home you find me a confirmed disunionist.”
Northern Resistance GrowsUnderground Railroad Secret network to get slaves outUncle Tom’s Cabin -- Harriet Beecher Stowe Instant bestseller Slavery is a moral issue
What to do with western lands?
Kansas-Nebraska Act Two States Repeal MO
Compromise Popular
Sovereignty
“Bleeding Kansas” Pro and Anti slavery settlers flood in Who are the “Border Ruffians”?
Two rival governments Violence breaks out
Caning of Charles Sumner
Political Parties; Both Old and New Whigs split over slavery Democrats become a regional
party
Know-Nothings: anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic
Free-Soil Party: no extension of slavery (1848: 10% of pop vote)
Who are the Free-Soilers?
Republican Party Northern Whigs, anti-slavery Dems, & Free-
Soilers Horace Greeley, editor New York Tribune No slavery in territories “Big-Tent” Which events helped the Republicans?
Election of 1856
1856: Conclusions?
Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857) Roger Taney slaves do not have rights of citizens MO Compromise unconstitutional
Lecompton Constitution 1857: free soilers outnumber proslavery settlers
10:1 Vote down a proslavery constitution Buchanan endorses
Douglas outraged
Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln-Douglas Debates 7 open-air debates for Illinois Senate Douglas:
Lincoln:
Douglas wins; Democrats more split Lincoln a national figure
John Brown anti-slavery zealot Raid on federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry Fails; captured Hanged Dec, 1859 John Brown: Martyr?
Lincoln gets the Nomination Seward’s “irrepressible conflict”
Election 1860
South Reacts to Lincoln Lincoln not on southern ballots “the most complete subjection and political
bondage” South Carolina secedes Dec. 20, 1860
A New Nation… Feb, 1861: Confederate
States of America formed Slavery protected Each state “sovereign and
independent” Jefferson Davis: “The
time for compromise has now passed.”
Buchanan Reacts to Secession 1861: 7 slave states in CSA 8 slave states in Union
Will there be a fight?