THE COMING OF THE CIVIL WAR 1850s: The Decade of

Crisis

“YOUNG AMERICA” MovementDemocracy will triumph everywhere!

• Distraction from sectional strife – look to foreign affairs; Douglas is spokesperson

• Manifest Destiny continues – emotional; democracy will triumph anywhere – aid revolutions abroad to spread democracy!

• Leads to thoughts of Cuba, Central America

– N accuses S of plot to obtain more slavery territory

– But real need (CA) for canal across Central America

Expansionist Young Expansionist Young AmericaAmerica

in the 1850sin the 1850s

America’s Attempted Raids

into Latin America

ELECTION OF 1852Slavery Breaks Party Unity

• WHIGS• Winfield Scott• Party splits

– Doubts of Scott’s loyalty to Compromise of 1850 & Fugitive Slave Law

• Split foreshadows the Civil War with split being N & S

• DEMOCRATS• Franklin Pierce

– Unknown• Expansionist

– Wants Nicaragua (canal)

– Wants Cuba

The Mediocre Presidents (from the Simpsons)The Mediocre Presidents (from the Simpsons)

• All:All: We are the mediocre presidents We are the mediocre presidentsYou won't find our faces on dollars or on cents!You won't find our faces on dollars or on cents!

• There's Taylor, there's TylerThere's Taylor, there's TylerThere's Fillmore and there's HayesThere's Fillmore and there's HayesThere's William Henry HarrisonThere's William Henry HarrisonHarrison:Harrison: I died in thirty days! I died in thirty days!

• All:All: We... are... the... We... are... the...Adequate, forgettableAdequate, forgettableOccasionally regrettableOccasionally regrettableCaretaker presidents of the U-S-A!Caretaker presidents of the U-S-A!

• http://www.simpsoncrazy.com/music-lyrics

• 1850 CLAYTON-BULWER TREATY:– US & GB / joint control of a canal across Central Am.

• NICARAGUA:– William Walker seizes control, declares himself President & legalizes

slavery– Eventually ousted but keeps trying to regain control– Pierce withdraws recognition; executed by firing squad, 1860

• CUBA:– P Pierce offers Spain $130 million– OSTEND MANIFESTO:

• Confidential dispatch to State Dept: if Spain won’t sell - take it by force• Leaked - N outraged! (Cuba one large sugar plantation)• Plans for Cuba dropped

FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

OPENING OF JAPAN• U.S. had been trading

with China for some time & wants to trade with Japan too

• Japanese reluctant to trade with U.S. – felt too much contact with the “West” would destroy their culture

• Commodore Matthew C. Perry sent by President Fillmore to negotiate a trade treaty with Japan

• Japanese impressed by Perry’s steamships & firepower; realizes it can’t compete with Western technology & weapons and signed trade treaty

• TREATY OF KANAGAWA, 1854 – Terms?– Japan began to “Westernize” its technology &

began its own industrial revolution which will lead to the building of a powerful navy & Japanese imperialism

– What later impact will this have on America?

MEANWHILE…SECTIONAL STRIFE CONTINUES

• ABOLITIONISTS INTERFERE WITH ENFORCEMENT OF FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW– S accuses N of breaking Compromise of

1850 ….– With Northern Personal Liberty Laws– BUT… most Northerners didn’t really

take action to interfere– Ableman v. Booth, 1859 upholds

constitutionality of Fugitive Slave Law

Underground Railroad continues successfully

Literary Attacks on SlaveryUNCLE TOM’S CABIN

• Harriett Beecher Stowe• 1852 sold 10,000 copies first week!• S criticizes - plantation life distorted;

slaves atypical• Her personal style, memorable

characters, separation of families endeared book to its readers & swayed many

• N convinced slavery would be ruin of America

• “So this is the little lady who started the big war!” - Abraham Lincoln

“The Impending Crisis of the South”• Hinton R. Helper, 1857• An anti-slavery writer from NC

(but not in favor of racial equality – racist tendencies)

• Detailed how slavery actually hurt non-slaveowners in the South– Arguments didn’t take hold with

poor whites– BUT did with Northerners– Increased fears of S planter elite

KANSAS-NEBRASKA ACT• 1854, STEPHEN DOUGLAS

– Both N & S want transcontinental RR line to CA & OR– S line would go thru already organized territory & be easier to defend– Douglas wants Chicago to be hub of N line & seeks organization of

Nebraska Territory but needs support of S to make it happen– (motivated by desire for RR development & land speculation - need

territorial govt)

• Introduces KS-NE ACT which provided for 2 new territories to be carved out of LA Purchase area - KS & NE

• SLAVERY DECIDED BY POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY (KS as slave & NE as free?)

• Repealed portion of MO Compromise banning slavery N of 36’30’ line & wrecked Compromise of 1850

• N protests to a level not seen since Stamp & Intolerable Acts! • N refuses to enforce FSL - will have a major impact on the

South preparing to secede

KANSAS-NEBRASKA ACT

“BLEEDING KANSAS”• Most settlers in KS did not own slaves

– just wanted land• Both N & S determined to have KS• Many pro-slavery Missourians move in• 5000 of these “border ruffians” descend in 1855 to elect

territorial legislature - promptly enact slave code (Democrats) [Lecompton]

• Antislavery settlers hold their own election – [Topeka] so there are two govts in KS in 1856– P Pierce denounces this free-state govt in Topeka– Proslavery forces attack antislavery - Lawrence, KS

• Major responsibility for KS tragedy goes to Pierce!

John Brown: Madman, Hero

or Martyr?

John Brown: Madman, Hero

or Martyr?

• Vigilante• May 1856• Pottawatomie Creek• Brutally murdered, hacked off

hands of 5 pro-slavery men in retaliation for 5 anti-slavery men killed by them in Lawrence

• Leads to terror, mayhem from both sides

• Brown goes into hiding• Over 200 dead by then• Republicans dub it “Bleeding

Kansas”• Dress rehearsal of Civil War• POINT OF NO RETURN!

“The Crime Against Kansas”

“The Crime Against Kansas”

Sen. Charles Sumner(R-MA)

Sen. Charles Sumner(R-MA)

Congr. Preston Brooks(D-SC)

Congr. Preston Brooks(D-SC)

Sumner/Butler Senate Conflict, May 1856• CHARLES SUMNER

– MA Sen.; loudmouth abolitionist (“Crime against KS speech,” denounces pro-slaveryites & SC)

– Deranged, egotistical, combative

– Demands KS come in at once as a free state

– Attacks Douglas & Butler (SC) - “drooling”

• ANDREW BUTLER (PRESTON BROOKS)– (not present); defended by his nephew Congressman- Preston

Brooks who is also unbalanced

– canes Sumner on Senate floor; injuries keep him out of Senate for 3.5 years!

– House censures him; resigns; later re-elected by Southerners

• N MAKES HERO OF SUMNER & keeps electing him• S SENDS BROOKS MORE CANES!

ELECTION OF 1856• WHIGS DISSOLVED, 2 new parties:

• Americans -- the Know-Nothings– Millard Fillmore– anti-immigration; national party– adopt slavery stance of either section

• Republicans– former Free Soilers, Whigs– sectional party - N only– Gen. Fremont: “Free soil, free speech, and

Fremont”• Issues: illegitimate child (“free love”), Catholic

• DEMOCRATS– James Buchanan (Douglas too

controversial)– Sec. of State to Polk; minister to

GB during KS problems– denounce Republicans as sectional

party desiring to destroy Union• BUCHANAN WINS

– Republicans dub him “Doughface” (a northerner with southern sympathies)

• OMINOUS ELECTION:– SHOWS SECTIONAL VOTING– DEMOCRATS TAKE S– REPUBLICANS TAKE N

Only President to never marry.

DRED SCOTT DECISION• SCOTT V. SANFORD, 1857• Dred Scott, a slave, had been

taken by his master, Dr. Emerson, an army surgeon, to a free state and a free territory and then back to Missouri, a slave state.

• Scott and his wife Harriet sued Sanford, the executor of Emerson's estate, for their freedom on the basis of their residence on free soil

• ISSUE is whether slavery can legally be outlawed in the territories.

• S. CT. RULES WITH SOUTH– Majority of justices are from South– C.J. Taney is southerner from MD

• HOLDS THAT SCOTT IS NOT CITIZEN & HAS NO RIGHT TO SUE

• HOLDS THAT SLAVES ARE “PROPERTY,” NOT CITIZENS & THUS COULD BE TAKEN INTO FREE TERRITORIES W/O BECOMING FREE

• OBITER DICTUM: MISSOURI COMPROMISE BAN ON SLAVERY N OF 36’30’ LINE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

LECOMPTON CONSTITUTION• Buchanan tries to get Congress to accept

KS’ proslavery Lecompton Constitution & admit KS as a state

• Douglas opposes fraudulent Constitution (running for reelection to Senate)

• Clash between Buchanan & Douglas shatters Democratic party & alienates KS from D party

• Finally, both Congress & majority of KS voters reject it

LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES• 7 DEBATES IN 7 CITIES;1858 IL SENATE RACE• ISSUE IS EXTENSION OF SLAVERY INTO THE

TERRITORIES• THE LITTLE GIANT• 12 yrs. in Senate; Democrat• excellent negotiator, hoping

to be President• built career on idea of

popular sovereignty– But, opposed to extension– believes blacks inferior

STEPHEN DOUGLAS

• Not an abolitionist• Republican• 1 term in House of Rep• Lawyer; brilliant debater;

sincere• Believes no extension of

slavery should be allowed• BUT, leave it alone where it

already exists• Also believes blacks inferior

– No vote– No citizenship– No jury service– No intermarriage

“A house divided against itself cannot stand; I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free.”

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

• LINCOLN ASKS DOUGLAS “THE QUESTION”– “Can the people of a territory in any lawful way…exclude slavery

from their limits prior to the formation of a State Constitution?”• PUTS DOUGLAS IN DIFFICULT POSITION

– IF he says “yes,” it looks like he’s supporting popular sovereignty & opposing Dred Scott

– IF he says “no,” he’s gone against his whole career stance of popular sovereignty

• DOUGLAS COMES UP WITH “FREEPORT DOCTRINE”– Accepts Dred Scott decision forbidding Congress to ban slavery from territories– BUT, territory could effectively ban slavery by not passing laws to keep

enslaved persons under control

• DOUGLAS WINS SENATE SEAT but LOSES SOUTH’S SUPPORT & THUS WILL LOSE 1860 PRES. ELECTION

JOHN BROWN’S RAID• Oct. 1859• Raids federal arsenal at Harper’s

Ferry, VA• Mission is to arm & liberate slaves

& punish slave-owners & establish black republic in VA Hills

• Captured by Robert E. Lee• Found guilty of treason, hanged• Martyr to North• Reinforces South’s greatest fear &

need to protect itself from abolitionists!

"If it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and mingle my blood further

with the blood of my children, and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and most unjust enactments, I submit: so let it be done!" (Last speech

to the court at his trial, November 2, 1859)

ELECTION OF 1860

• DIVIDED OVER SLAVERY

• RUN 2:– STEPHEN

DOUGLAS (N - Freeport Doctrine)

– VP BRECKENRIDGE (S - Dred Scott)

• LEFTOVER WHIGS & KNOW-NOTHINGS

• SENATOR JOHN BELL

• endorse Constitution & Union

DEMOCRATS: CONSTITUTIONALUNION PARTY:

REPUBLICANS:• ABRAHAM LINCOLN

• S believes he is an abolitionist

• Oppose slavery in territories

• Something for everybody: advocate a high tariff (N) & a homestead law (W) & construction of transcontinental RR; no immigration restrictions

• Lincoln doesn’t campaign; no speeches

• WINS with all free states except NJ

• A “minority President”

1860 Election: 3 “Outs” & 1 ”Run!”

1860 Election: 3 “Outs” & 1 ”Run!”

SECESSION!SECESSION!• LINCOLN ELECTED - SC secedes on

basis of state’s rights• Seceding Southern states seized

federal property in their states– Only a few places remained in the

Union’s hands, including Fort Sumter• CRITTENDEN COMPROMISE:

– attempt to avoid secession & reestablish 36’30’ line across US; Lincoln won’t agree

• FEB. 1861 - Deep South has seceded– SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, TX

• ESTABLISH CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA– JEFFERSON DAVIS President

SOUTHERN ARGUMENTS FOR SECESSION

• States’ Rights• Economic imbalance with the North• Strength of N. England abolitionist clamor• Fear of R President that would flood the S with

anti-slavery officials (maybe even black!)• BOTH SIDES are kidding themselves:

– N thinks S is bluffing on secession– S doesn’t think N would forcibly resist secession

GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT:“Wayward sisters, depart in peace.”