Slavery Divides the Slavery Divides the NationNation

John M. SacherJohn M. SacherUniversity of Central University of Central FloridaFloridajsacher@mail.ucf.edujsacher@mail.ucf.edu

Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln ““The word The word

‘slavery’ was ‘slavery’ was hid away in the hid away in the Constitution Constitution just as an just as an afflicted man afflicted man hides away a . . hides away a . . . cancer which . cancer which he dares not he dares not cut out at once, cut out at once, lest he bleed to lest he bleed to death.” death.”

Hid Away in the ConstitutionHid Away in the Constitution

3/5 compromise—slaves count as 3/5 of a white 3/5 compromise—slaves count as 3/5 of a white man for the purpose of representation in the Houseman for the purpose of representation in the House

Art I, Sec. 2 adds whole number of free persons including Art I, Sec. 2 adds whole number of free persons including indentured servants plus “three fifths of all other persons” indentured servants plus “three fifths of all other persons” Indians excludedIndians excluded

Return of escaped slaves, Return of escaped slaves, Art IV, Sec. 2, “No person held to service or labour in one Art IV, Sec. 2, “No person held to service or labour in one

state”state”

International slave trade, Congress could eliminate International slave trade, Congress could eliminate but not before 1808but not before 1808

Art I, Sec. 9 “The migration or importation of such persons Art I, Sec. 9 “The migration or importation of such persons as any of the states now existing shall think proper to as any of the states now existing shall think proper to admit . . .”admit . . .”

How the 3/5ths Compromise How the 3/5ths Compromise WorkedWorked

Suppose…congressional seats were assigned for Suppose…congressional seats were assigned for every 50,000 peopleevery 50,000 people

And, suppose a state had 500,000 whites and And, suppose a state had 500,000 whites and 500,000 slaves500,000 slaves

It would have 10 representatives based on white It would have 10 representatives based on white population. Based on the 3/5 compromise, it population. Based on the 3/5 compromise, it would have 16 reps—Because it would be would have 16 reps—Because it would be weighted as if it had 800,000 people weighted as if it had 800,000 people (500,000+.6*500,000)(500,000+.6*500,000)

FYI: Slaves did FYI: Slaves did notnot vote. Individual white vote. Individual white southerners did southerners did notnot get extra votes. Instead, get extra votes. Instead, they had extra congressmen (i.e. smaller districts) they had extra congressmen (i.e. smaller districts)

Missouri CompromiseMissouri Compromise

American Colonization American Colonization SocietySociety

David Walker’s David Walker’s Appeal Appeal (1829)(1829)

AbolitionismAbolitionism

Free Soil Politics Free Soil Politics

“Slave Power”

Conspiracy

United United States States

ExpansionExpansion

Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850

Kansas Nebraska Act (1854)Kansas Nebraska Act (1854)

Voting in Kansas, 1855Voting in Kansas, 1855

Eligible VotersEligible Votersapprox. 3,000approx. 3,000

Free Soil VotesFree Soil Votes791791

Proslavery VotesProslavery Votes????????? Judged fraudulent??? Judged fraudulent

Sumner Brooks Affair, 1856

Dred Scott, Slave

Chief Justice Roger Taney

Abraham Lincoln, 1858Abraham Lincoln, 1858

““. . . when we see a lot of framed timbers, different . . . when we see a lot of framed timbers, different portions of which we know have been gotten out at portions of which we know have been gotten out at different times and places, and by different workmen different times and places, and by different workmen -- Stephen, Franklin, Roger, and James, for instance; -- Stephen, Franklin, Roger, and James, for instance; and when we see these timbers joined together, and and when we see these timbers joined together, and see they exactly make the frame of a house or a mill . see they exactly make the frame of a house or a mill . . . and not a piece too many or too few, -- not . . and not a piece too many or too few, -- not omitting even the scaffolding, -- or if a single piece be omitting even the scaffolding, -- or if a single piece be lacking, we see the place in the frame exactly fitted lacking, we see the place in the frame exactly fitted and prepared to yet bring such piece in -- in such a and prepared to yet bring such piece in -- in such a case we feel it impossible not to believe that Stephen case we feel it impossible not to believe that Stephen and Franklin, and Roger and James, all understood and Franklin, and Roger and James, all understood one another from the beginning and all worked upon one another from the beginning and all worked upon a common plan or draft drawn before the first blow a common plan or draft drawn before the first blow was struck.”was struck.”

Fire EatersFire Eaters

John John BrownBrown

The Presidential Election of 1860