drifting toward disunion 1854-1861 chapter 19 notes
TRANSCRIPT
Drifting Toward Disunion
1854-1861
Chapter 19 Notes
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe No other novel has ever had a greater political
effect Made slavery appear to some as evil as it really
was
Kansas
The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) Stephen A. Douglas (D-Illinois) introduced a bill
that would split Nebraska Territory into two states Slavery issue would be settled by popular
sovereignty Legislation greased the slippery slope toward war Wrecked both the Missouri Compromise of 1820
and the Compromise of 1850
Fighting in Kansas Kansas became a fighting ground for pro-slavery and
abolitionists 1855 – Proslavery border ruffians poured into Kansas to
vote early and often on the territorial legislature Proslavery won… Proslavery set up a government at Shawnee and in
response the abolitionist set up a government at Topeka
Bleeding Kansas All came to a head when proslavery raiders shot up
and burned a part of the free soil town of Lawrence Abolitionist, led by John Brown, butchered 5
proslaveryites 1857 Kansas is up for statehood; more free soilers
than proslavery Proslavery government writes the LeCompton
Constitution
LeCompton Constitution
People of Kansas voted on the Constitution either with slavery or without slavery, but slave owners already in Kansas were protected.
Abolitionists boycotted election, and slavery was passed in 1857
James Buchanan become president; supported LeCompton and the south
Dred Scott Decision March 6, 1857 Supreme Court decision Black slave lived 5 years in
Illinois and Wisconsin Territory (both free)
Sued for his freedom Supreme Court ruled he was
not a citizen and not entitled to sue in federal court
In addition, the Supreme Court ruled that slaves were property and the constitution protected property
Illinois Senate Race 1858
Lincoln - Douglas Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas (D) up for re-
election in 1858 Springfield lawyer Abraham Lincoln (R) ran
against him Lincoln challenged the great orator Douglas to 7
debates Lincoln gains national recognition for his debates
but still loses to Douglas
Election 1860 Lincoln runs for president Southerners say if he wins, he
will divide the nation 60% vote for someone other
than Abraham Lincoln 10 southern states do not have
him on ballot
South Carolina Secedes December 1860 – South
Carolina votes unanimously to secede from Union
Next 6 weeks – Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas secede
Seceding states would climb to 11
Jefferson Davis and the CSA Montgomery, Alabama February 1861 – Southerners created
Confederate States of America Ex-Mississippi Senator Jefferson
Davis named President of Confederacy Jefferson Davis was a former Secretary
of War and a West Point graduate
November 1860 – March 1861
James Buchanan remained president while Lincoln awaited his inauguration
CSA gets organized March 4, 1861 – Lincoln sneaks into D.C. disguised to take office as president
Girding For War: The North and The South
1861 – 1865
Chapter 20 Notes
The Civil War
Lincoln became president of a divided United States of America
North and South were inseparable geographically Secession Questions ???
What share of national debt would South take? What portion of federal territories would it take? How would fugitive slaves be handled?
Fort Sumter Union fort off coast of South
Carolina Lincoln had to send supplies
and sent US Navy to Fort Sumter
South saw it as an act of aggression to their land
April 21, 1861 – South Carolina militia opened fire on fort
Attack lasted 34 hours Fort surrendered
Civil War
South openly fired on the United States to begin the war
Lincoln called for 75,000 US militiamen April 1861 – Lincoln proclaims naval blockade of
southern seaports VA, AR, TN, and NC all joined South Richmond, VA became capital (next to DC)
Border States Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, and
later West Virginia all bordered the South If North had fired 1st shot some, if not all, would
have joined the South Maryland – Lincoln declares martial law and sends
in US troops Lincoln said war was NOT to free blacks, but to
preserve Union
Indian Territory 5 Civilized Tribes
(Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Seminoles)
Sided with the South Invited to send delegates
to Richmond Cherokees owned slaves
Balance of Forces
South seemed to have great initial advantages South fighting a defensive war on own soil South did not have to defeat, just defend Moral advantage against aggressors South had all nation’s best military leaders Gen. Robert E. Lee & Gen. Thomas J. (Stonewall)
Jackson
Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia Used to horses and manning
guns from boyhood Good cavalrymen and foot
soldiers Rebel yell struck fear in
Yankees South had SUPPLY
problems Only had pop. of 9 mil.
Grant’s Army of The Potomac North had farms and
factories ¾ of US wealth ¾ of nation’s railroads North controlled sea and
had superior Navy Established blockade North had pop. of 22 mil.
CSS Alabama British built Alabama & it
destroyed 60 US vessels Built unarmed, but gained
armaments at Portuguese Azores
Took on British crew with Southern officers
Never entered Southern port Destroyed in 1864 off coast
of France by Union
Lincoln’s Constitutional Transgressions
Swore to uphold the Constitution
Proclaimed a blockade Arbitrarily increased size
of Army (Art. I Sec. VIII) Had Treasury advance $2
million for military purposes (Art. I Sec. IX)
Lincoln’s Constitutional Transgressions
Suspended habeas corpus – defied SC (Art. I Sec. IX)
Forced supervised voting in border states with troops overlooking
Ordered newspapers shut down and imprisoned editors
War = Need for Soldiers 1862 – South passed conscription
law (age 17-50) Rich could hire substitutes or pay for
exemptions “rich man’s war, but a poor man’s
fight” 1863 – North passed conscription
law Rich could pay $300 for
replacements NYC – Irish riots over draft
Resources North had more money than the South Sold $2.6 Billion in bonds South only sold $400 Million in bonds North saw economic boom in war time industries Created first millionaire class of Americans South suffocated from blockade and economy was
ruined Transportation collapsed