the approaching civil war. the approaching civil war compromise of 1850 in this first section of the...

The Approaching Civil War

The Approaching Civil War Compromise of 1850

In this first section of the presentation consider

the value (or lack thereof) of compromise.

The Approaching Civil War

• Industrial• Textiles / equipment• Railroad• Immigration labor

• Rural• Staple crops• Rivers• Slave Labor

North South

Early 1800’s

The Approaching Civil War

Growing Tensions

With the differences between the Northern and Southern cultures apparent, tensions between the two regions grew with each approaching divisive issue.

The admittance of territories for statehood was one such issue.

The Approaching Civil War

Growing Tensions

With the acquisition of large amounts of territory from the Mexican War in 1846,

whether or not these territories would be free or

slave consumed the nation.

The Approaching Civil War

Growing Tensions

The Approaching Civil War

Wilmot Proviso

Wilmot Proviso provided that “…neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of said territory…”

[Passed by the U.S.House of Representatives, 1846 and 1847, never passed by the U.S.Senate]

The South strongly opposed the Wilmot Proviso because the

measure would severely weaken their influence in

Congress.

The Approaching Civil War1849 Issues for the 31st Congress

• Atmosphere of bitterness and distrust

• California statehood

• Texas (slave) / New Mexico border dispute

• Northerners demand abolition in District of Columbia

• Southerners accused non-enforcement of Fugitive Slave Law (1793)

• Serious consideration of succession

The Approaching Civil WarThree Aging Diplomats

Debates raged between veteran congressmen.

Senator Calhoun Senator Clay Daniel Webster

The Approaching Civil WarCompromise of 1850

1. California would enter the union as a free state

2. The Mexican Cession would be divided into territories.  Each territory would use Popular Sovereignty to answer the slavery question

3. The slave trade would be ended in Washington D.C.

4. The compromise would include a "Fugitive Slave Law" in which northerners would have to help southerners capture run away slaves

5. For $10 million Texas would surrender its rights to New Mexico. 

The Approaching Civil WarThe Compromise of 1850

As the debate waged on, President

Taylor died and Millard

Fillmore became

President.

President Fillmore favored the compromise.

The Approaching Civil War Compromise of 1850

With the compromise seemingly defeated, Illinois Senator Stephen A. Douglas had each part of the compromise voted on separately.

With the death of John C. Calhoun, and Henry Clay leaving Washington D.C. in frustration, the Compromise of 1850 passed.

The Approaching Civil War Compromise of 1850

Should this compromise be celebrated for its avoidance of possible war or hung up as a

another failure to deal with the issue of slavery head on?

The Approaching Civil War

Growing Tensionsand

the Slavery Issue

The Approaching Civil War Growing Tensions and the Slavery Issue

To what degree might the pro-slavery arguments complicate the work of

abolitionists during the pre-Civil War period?

The Approaching Civil WarThe Slavery Issue

• Fugitive Slave Act / personal liberty laws

• Underground railroad / Harriet Tubman

• Harriet Beecher Stowe

• Kansas-Nebraska Act / Bleeding Kansas

• Election of 1856

The Approaching Civil WarThe Fugitive Slave Act

• Compromise of 1850• Alleged fugitives – no trial by jury• Fugitives - cannot testify on their own behalf• Slave owner statement was only requirement to

have a slave returned.• Federal commissioners

– $10 for returning alleged fugitive– $5 for freeing him/her.

• $1000 fine / 6 month imprisonment for aiding fugitive

The Approaching Civil WarFugitive Slave Law resistance

• Endangered fugitives to Canada

• Local personal liberty laws – forbade imprisonment of fugitives, and guaranteed jury trials.

• Dragged out trials for up to 4 years

The Approaching Civil WarUnderground Railroad

• Voluntary and secret network of people who aided in fugitive slaves in their escape

• Harriet Tubman – A former slave, made 19 trips freeing approximately 300 slaves

The Approaching Civil WarUnderground Railroad

The Approaching Civil WarUncle Tom’s Cabin

• Harriet Beecher Stowe

• 1852 to 53 – sold more than a million copies

• Melodramatic treatment of slavery’s cruelties

• “So this is the little lady who made the big war.”

To what degree might the pro-slavery arguments complicate the work of

abolitionists during the pre-Civil War period?

The Approaching Civil War Growing Tensions and the Slavery Issue

Leadership During Turbulent Years

The Approaching Civil War

The Approaching Civil WarKansas – Nebraska Act

• Stephen A. Douglass• Established Nebraska and Kansas

territories• Popular Sovereignty • North opposed bill / 90% southern

congressmen supported bill• President Franklin Pierce (Democrat)• Became law in May, 1854

The Approaching Civil War / Kansas – Nebraska Act

The Approaching Civil WarBleeding Kansas

• “Race for Kansas”• March, 1855 – Kansas had enough settlers to

hold an election for a territorial legislature• Missouri citizens illegally crossed border to vote. • Lecompton (slave) / Topeka (free)• The ‘Sack of Lawrence’ / Pottawtomie Massacre

– John Brown– Harpers Ferry, Virginia– Hanged for treason in 1859

• Bleeding Kansas

The Approaching Civil WarBleeding Kansas

Lecompton

Pro-John Brown’s Raid Depiction

“Bleeding Kansas” spilled onto the Senate chambers. Above southern Congressman Preston Brooks attacks Massachusetts Senator Charles Summer.

The Approaching Civil WarElection of 1856

The Approaching Civil War

After the election of 1856 the slavery issue intensified

The Approaching Civil WarThe Slavery Issue Intensifies

• Dred Scott Decision (1857)

• Lecompton Constitution (1857)

• Freeport Doctrine(1858)

• John Brown / Harper’s Ferry (1859)

The Approaching Civil WarDred Scott Decision

Scott sued for freedom after owner’s death on premise that he had lived in free

territory for several years.

The Approaching Civil WarDred Scott Decision

• Dred Scott v. Sandford• Ruled slaves do not have

the right to sue for freedom.• Ruled Missouri

Compromise was unconstitutional because owner would be denied his property (5th Amendment.)

The Approaching Civil WarLecompton Constitution

• 1857 – Pro-slavery government at Lecompton, Kansas applied for statehood

• Kansas people (10 to 1 Free-Soilers) rejected it

• President Buchanan– Owed presidency to southern support– endorsed the pro-slavery Lecompton

Constitution – believed the free-soliers were overreacting (only

200 slaves.)

John Brown’s Last Words

“Now, if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and mingle my blood further with the blood of my children and

with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments--I

submit; so let it be done!”

Do you believe John Brown was a fanatical maniac who was misguided in his attempt to end slavery?

-OR-

Was he a man who realized the horrors of slavery and the only way to end such a brutal institution (slavery)

was to use Violence?Explain your response in a well-written paragraph supported with historical

evidence.

The Approaching Civil War Focus Question

The Approaching Civil War

On the Brink

Follow along with the power point to answer the guide

notes.

The Approaching Civil War On the Brink

The Approaching Civil WarLincoln - Douglas Debate

• 1858 Illinois Senate race

• Democrat – Stephen A. Douglas

• Republican – Abraham Lincoln

The Approaching Civil WarLincoln - Douglas Debate

• Dramatic• Confident• Popular sovereignty• Slavery would die on

its own• Charged Lincoln as

advocate for equality

• Plain language• Solemn• Anti-slavery• Slavery would not die

without legislation• Charged Douglas as

pro-slavery

Douglas Lincoln

The Approaching Civil War Freeport Doctrine

• Second debate• Lincoln to Douglas – Could the settlers of a

territory vote to exclude slavery before the territory became a state?

• Dred Scott Decision had said no. So, popular sovereignty was an empty phrase.

• Douglas – “Slavery cannot exist a day or an hour anywhere, unless it is supported by local police regulations.”

• In other words, Douglas suggested that people could get around Dred Scott.

The Approaching Civil WarElection of 1860

Republican Convention• Senator William Seward –

favored, but had also had time to offend certain party members.

• Abraham Lincoln – Less opportunity to offend

Republicans– Moderate

• Lincoln won the nomination

The Approaching Civil WarElection of 1860

The Approaching Civil War

The ConfederacyWith the election of Abraham Lincoln South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas seceded from the Union.

February 4, 1861 – The Confederacy was formed to “protected and recognized slavery in new territories.” Each state was “sovereign and independent.”

The Approaching Civil WarThe Confederacy

Jefferson Davis, former senator of Mississippi, was

elected president.

As the 1861 inauguration approached one key question

was on everyone’s mind.

Would the North allow the South to leave the Union without a fight?

The Approaching Civil WarElection of 1860

Create a political Poster:

1.A campaign poster in support of Lincoln or Douglas for President

-OR-

2.In support of or opposing the South decision to Secede (separate) from the Union (United States)

The Approaching Civil War On the Brink

The Approaching Civil War