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