The Nation Splits Apart

Essential Question

What were the causes of the Civil War?

Expansion Leads to Conflict

Mexican Cession adds 5,000 square miles Free states or slave states?

CA admitted as free state: imbalance

Compromise of 1850

Organized New Mexico and Utah territories – popular sovereignty

Outlawed buying/selling of slaves in D.C.

Fugitive Slave Act

Federal Crime to help runaway slaves, allow for recapture

Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854

Desire to link CA with rest of nation by railroad

Douglas wants Northern route Proposes organizing

territories into Kansas and Nebraska Popular sovereignty

states

To get Southern support – will ban Missouri Compromise line

Bleeding Kansas Center of struggle over slavery

Pro-slavery v. Free-soilers

Pro-slavery forces attacked anti-slavery newspaper buildings and free-soil areas

Marais des Cygnes Massacre

John Brown Raid

Before granted statehood both sides brought in settlers, voter fraud

Eventually admitted as free state

Dred Scott Decision Sued for family’s freedom

Lived in states where slavery was illegal

Supreme court ruled he was not a citizen and could not bring a case to court

Aroused public outrage, deepened sectional divide

Abraham Lincoln Becomes President

Lincoln family history

Lincoln favored idea of Congress banning slavery in new territories and capital Compensated

Emancipation in D.C.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Wins Presidency in 1860 w/ Northern votes

The South Secedes After Lincoln’s election

Dec. 20, 1860: “The union now subsisting between South Carolina and other states under the name of the ‘United States of America’ is hereby dissolved.”

By Feb Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas seceded, N Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Virginia threatens

The Confederate States of America Jefferson Davis is president (Senator

from Mississippi) New Constitution allowing slavery