Chapter 15 A Divided Nation – Section 2 (pgs 483-487)

Trouble in Kansas

Election of 1852 * Democratic National Convention: Franklin Pierce- from NH: -promised to honor Compromise of 1850 & Fugitive Slave Act which seemed fair to both north & south on slavery issue) * Whig Party chose: General Winfield Scott- Mexican-American War hero -southerners didn’t trust him:he didn’t support Compromise of 1850 * Franklin Pierce won by large margin!

Key Terms & People

Franklin Pierce

Stephen Douglas

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Pottawatomie Massacre

Charles Sumner

Preston Brooks

The Kansas-Nebraska Act * President Pierce hoped sectionalism differences were put to rest… WRONG! Douglas and the Railroad *Stephen Douglas, Congressman since 1840, wanted to build rail- road to Pacific Ocean starting from Chicago, Illinois > to make this work, US needed to organize territory from Louisiana Purchase which would become free territories, then free states due to Missouri Compromise - Southerners didn’t want this to happen, proposed southern route for RR (starting in New Orleans, Louisiana, running across TX & New Mexico to southern California) - to make his plan work, start the RR in Chicago, Douglas got a few southern senators to support his plan if the new territory west of Missouri was opened to slavery

Two New Territories *1854- Stephen Douglas introduced Kansas-Nebraska Act- plan to divide the remainder of Lousiana Purchase lands into 2 new territories (Kansas & Nebraska) and allow people in each state to decide on slavery/no slavery -act would eliminate Missouri Compromise’s restriction of no slavery above 36 30’ {lat} line -northerners (anti-slavery) were outraged > held protest meetings, sent anti-Nebraska petititions to Congress -despite efforts by northerners, the act passed both houses of Congress, signed into law May 30, 1854

Kansas Divided *Both anti-slavery & pro-slavery supporters rushed into Kansas hoping to sway the vote their way -March 1855- 5,000 pro-slavery voters crossed into Kansas from Missouri vote, then returned home > new Kansas legislature: pro-slavery majority -passed strict laws: crime to question slave- holders’ rights & those caught helping slaves escape could be put to death -in protest- anti-slavery Kansans formed their own legislature, but President Pierce didn’t recognize it (or care)

Bleeding Kansas *Everyone in Kansas upset over the slavery issue *April 1856- congressional committee arrived in Kansas to choose which government was legit > they decided the pro-slavery one (where people from Missouri came to vote in Kansas then went back home) was not fair (which it wasn’t) but the federal government didn’t care

Attack on Lawrence (known as Sack of Lawrence ) *May 1856- pro-slavery grand jury charged anti-slavery government with

treason *800 men rode to Lawrence to arrest anti-slavery leaders, but they fled > the men set fires, looted buildings, destroyed printing presses used to print anti-slavery newspapers > one man killed

John Brown’s Response *Aboltionist John Brown (from New England- moved to Kansas with his

sons in 1855) Retaliation for Sack of Lawrence- wanted to “fight fire with fire” and to “strike terror in the hearts of the pro-slavery people” * May 24, 1856- Pottawatomie Massacre- Brown and his men killed 5 pro- slavery me in Kansas (Brown & his men dragged victims out of their cabins & killed them with swords) * Brown said his actions were ordered by God

*Kansas collapsed into civil war > 200 people killed *violence known as Bleeding Kansas- became national news * September 1856- new territorial governor came to restore order in KS

Brooks Attacks Sumner *Congress reaction to Sack of

Lawrence- Senator Charles Sumner (Massachusetts) criticized pro-slavery people in Kansas & insulted Andrew Pickens-Butler (pro-slavery senator from South Carolina) *May 22, 1856- Rep Preston Brooks (related to Butler) used walking cane to beat Sumner unconscious in Senate chambers > southerners sent him new canes (in support) but northerners outraged, called him “Bully Brooks” > Brooks only had to pay $300 fine > injuries kept Sumner out of Senate: 3 years

Cartoon shows Preston Brooks beating Charles Sumner. Sumner’s only weapon is a quill pen symbollically representing the law.