On the Brink of Civil War

The Union Torn Apart: 1850-1861

Missouri Compromise 1820

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848

Compromise of 1850

The Debaters

Henry Clay & Daniel Webster

John C. Calhoun Stephen Douglas

Henry Clay’s defense of Compromise

Mr. President, what is a compromise? It is a work of mutual concession - an agreement in which there are reciprocal stipulations - a work in which, for the sake of peace and concord, one party abates his extreme demands in consideration of an abatement of extreme demands by the other party: it is a measure of mutual concession - a measure of mutual sacrifice.

Compromise of 1850

California admitted as a free state N. Mex., Az., Utah, Nev. Territories – no

mention of slavery Slave trade - but not slavery forbidden in

Wash. D.C. Fugitive Slave Act Postpones Civil War another decade

Fugitive Slave Act

Required citizens to assist in arrest of slaves

Denied slaves jury trial Commissioners handle the cases (paid $5

if alleged fugitive released; $10 if given to claimant)

Fugitive Slave Act

Underground Railroad: Peaks 1850-1860

Manifest Destiny: The Role of the Railroad & Stephen Douglas

Wanted RR terminus to be in Chicago

Presidential ambitions Nebraska as free

state never a question

Democrats – Popular Sovereignty

Kansas-Nebraska Act - 1854

2 New Territories: Kansas & Nebraska created west of Iowa & Missouri

Issue of slavery to be decided in new territories by popular sovereignty

Overrides Missouri Compromise

Efforts to sway the vote in Kansas

New England Emigrant Aid society sends northerners south

Abolitionist Beecher “Beecher Bibles” rifles

Rumors spread 20,000 northerners moving south

Southerners (Missouri) flood across the border to vote

2 elections won by pro-slavery side

Kansas legislation & Abolitionist Response

Penalties for speaking against slavery Assisting fugitives – death penalty or 10

years hard labor North calls “Bogus” laws Northerners set up Free State Legislature

in Topeka Pres. Pierce only recognizes Pro-slavery

Kansas govt.

Prelude to Violence

Most “Kansans” not interested in slavery issue Many northerners “Free Soil” – meant land for

free whites – not concerned with morality issues of slavery

Congressional investigation found the elections of ’54 & ’55 to be fraudulent

Federal govt. continues to recognize slave govt. of Kansas

Bleeding Kansas

Caning of Charles Sumner: The Crime against Kansas

John Brown & sons – Kill pro-slavers at Pottawatomie Creek

Dred Scott Decision 1857

Taken to Illinois & Wisconsin – Free states

11 years in courts Supreme Court says that

Scott, a slave, is not a citizen, ergo not eligible to bring suit in Federal Court

Missouri Compromise unconstitutional (5th amendment property rights)

Lincoln-Douglas Debates 1858

Raid on Harper’s Ferry, VA October 1859

John Brown led raid on Federal Arsenal

Plan – start an armed insurrection to free slaves

Captured, tried, convicted of murder, treason, inciting slave rebellion

executed Martyr/villain

Election of 1860: Final turning point for North and South