15.4

Secession and War

One HUGE questionWould the Union break

up?

Issue of slavery was rearing its ugly head again

1860 Election

CandidatesA northern wing of

the Democratic party nominated Stephen Douglas

What did Douglas believe in?

What was his nickname?

I vow too…….Uphold SlaverySouthern Democrats

nominated John C. Breckinridge

Supported Dred Scott decision

Youngest Vice President (James Buchanan)

Buried in the same cemetery as Henry clay

One of a kindJohn Bell

Constitutional Party

No position on slavery

Die-hard former Southern Whigs and Know Nothings who felt they could support neither the Democratic Party nor the Republican Party

Abraham LincolnRepublican

Leave slavery where it existed but exclude it from territories

Southerners feared slave revolts

What is a revolt?

Introducing our new President…..LINCOLN!!

180 electoral votes out of 303

40% of popular vote

Won every Northern state

And the damage is…Douglas 30% of popular vote

Won Missouri and 3 of the 7 electoral votes

Breckinridge took the South

Bell took most border states

Basically the North outvoted the South

Opponents Outcome

Going, going, going,…..December 20, 1860

South Carolina voted to secede

Leaders in Washington worked frantically to make a last-minute compromise

CompromiseAmendments to the

ConstitutionProtect slavery south

of the 36* 30 n. latitude line

What compromise does this remind you of?

in all territories “now held or hereafter required.”

RepublicansAngrySlavery is unacceptableLincoln “now we are

told”believed the

government would be broken up

“the government shall be broken unless we surrender to those we have beaten.”

Rejected the plan

“we spit upon every plan to compromise.”

“no human power can save the Union.”

Southerners

….Going GONE!Texas, Louisiana,

Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia

New Nation

New government

Confederate States of America

Confederate PresidentDemocratic Party

Married to Zachery Taylor’s daughter

Burped a lot

South’s reasons for successionStates’ rights

States argued that they voluntarily entered the Union

Constitution was a contract among independent states

National government violated the contract

Refusing to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act

Denying southern states equal rights in the territories

Positive ReactionsSoutherners

welcomed secession

People rang Church bells

Fired cannonsCelebrated in the

streets

The South “will never submit”

Negative ReactionsSome Southerners

were alarmed

Robert E. Lee “I see only that a fearful calamity is upon us.”

In the North some abolitionists wanted the southern states to leave

What’s going to happen?Before Lincoln was

inaugurated

Buchanan sent a message to Congress The states had no

right to secedeBut he had no power

to stop them

Lincoln’s addressPeople from North

and South wondered what Lincoln would say at his inauguration

Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas

Secession would not be permitted

Enforce the laws of the United States and hold federal property

“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Through passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.”

And so it begins…After the address…. Confederate forces

seized some forts in the U.S.

Lincoln did not take the forts back….. WHY?

However, allowing them to keep the forts would be admitting their right to secede.

Fort SumterDay after inauguration

Commander at Fort Sumter sent a message (Charleston Harbor)

Supplies are low

Confederates are demanding surrender

Lincoln sent an unarmed expedition with supplies

Confederate president Davis attacked the fort

April 12, 1861

High seas prevented Union ships from reaching the fort

AftermathLasted 33 hours

Surrendered April 14

Thousands of shots were fired

No one died

Confederate flag was raised

The Civil War had begun