C1 US Hist 1810-Early 1861 (Origins of Civil War)

Problems US faced in 1810s

Transport
– Very few roads to the west and no interstate highways
– Erie Canal built in 1825 linked NY and Lake Erie (by 1850,
>50% of US foreign trade passed through NY)
The Westward Movement
– 1803 Louisiana Purchase added 828,000 miles^2
– The territorial expansion displaced many native Americans
– The country’s centre moved a bit west as the northwest
provided source of corn, wheat, cattle, sheep, and pigs.
– The west symbolized the innovative, self-reliant white
farmers, with demands for Indian removal and land. However,
they were never unified over the issue of slavery. The
southern part was slave-holding whilst the northern part
wished to ban slavery
– In 1812, US was forced to fight a war with Britain at New
Orleans in the East and challenge Britain over Oregon
Urban Growth
– Urban population doubled from 1800 to 1840
– 1798 Eli Witney invented a machine to process cotton into
cloth —> cotton industry dominated the US industry for
decades, employing men, women, children, yet, the living
conditions were bad and the working days were long
Slavery and Cotton Kingdom
– The rise of textile industry in the north created a huge
demand for cotton, plantations spread from SC into areas of
MS and TX.
– Cotton industry were highly profitable which enriched not
only plantation owners but also merchants in NY, Boston, and
Liverpool, as well as manufacturer from Lancashire, and New
England. —>Slavery become the centre of global economy

● The US in 1810s were still threatened by British Canada and

Spanish Mexico

The US gov
Separation of powers —each branches(Legislative, Executive,
Judicial, has separate and independent powers, to ensure no one
branch is more powerful than the other)
Checks and Balances —prevent any one of the three powers from
becoming too powerful, (congress has the power to create laws,
president can veto laws, Supreme Court can declare laws
unconstitutional, etc. Branches can also remove or appoint member
from the other branches)
Bill of Rights
– First 10 amendments to the US constitution
– List prohibitions on governmental power
– E.g. ability to speak and worship freely as natural right(First
Amendment)

Slavery in US constitution by 1820

– The constitution implicitly recognised the existence of slavery
– 3/5ths compromise, (1787) counted black slaves as 3/5 of a
person in voting representatives and taxation, The
slaveowner was able to use their votes(slaveowners have
more political power) —> led to the congress dominated by
the south until 1920s
– Gave southern states 30% extra rep in HoR and direct
taxes
– Slaveowners used this advantage and outvote the
northern states
– Outlawed Atlantic Slave Trade for 20 years until 1808,
(congress cannot ban)
– SC alone imported 40,000 slaves between 1803-8
– Fugitive Slave clause existed in US constitution and
required the return of runaway slaves by northern states
– Caused illegal kidnapping and return to slavery of freed
blacks

Second Party System

– DEM: (1820-50)
– Jackson(1829-1837), Martin van Buren(1837-1841),
Polk(1845-1849)
– Supported common man,
– Weak fed gov, strong states
– Southern states wished the right to nullify laws without
having to appeal to the Supreme Court
– Non-intervention of government in Economy
– No fed bank, or paper money
– Treasury gain money from selling lands instead of tax
or tariff
– Mostly supported slavery
 – Supported weak federal gov but strong states
– They wished to have the rights to nullify laws without
appealing it to the Supreme Court, (worrying federal
laws can abolish slavery/introduce tariff)
– Belief in expanded suffrage for white man
– Broaden participation in gov
– Jacksonians believed that voting rights should be
extended to all white men, by 1850, nearly all
requirement to own properties or pay taxes had been
dropped
– 80% white men participated by 1840
– Jacksonians demanded elated judges
– Believed Westward Expansion by white farmers
– Manifest Destiny &USA Westward expansion—white
farmers, expand control from the Atlantic Ocean to the
Pacific
– Believed the west should be settled by white farmers,
not plantations
– Expulsion of eastern American Indians
– Supported by southern plantation owners and southern
farmers—dominated the presidential elections from
1820-1860 (7 Presidents)
– Whig: (1834-50)
– Appealed to all society
– Educators, professionals, and the wealthy elite
– Religious groups
– Strong Federal gov
– Want congress direct fed policy—not president
– Believed strong fed gov is essential to build up the
economy
– Strong fed intervention into economy
– Tech, industrialisation, factory to improve living
conditions
– American system: conceived in early 1820s, to expand
economic development through federally funded
system of internal improvement, tariff, and national
bank
– And people who favored tariff e.g. sugar planters
sought tariff to place on Caribbean sugar cane
– Equality in opportunities
 – Not formally anti-slavery but more abolitionists
– BUT IT WAS NOT A PARTY POLICY
– Supported greater rights for native Americans and free
blacks
– Supported mainly in the North and MID-WEST
– Strong religious feelings
– Northern free blacks

Sectionalism in 1820
North South
More industrialized, urbanized, Deep South: slave labour,
larger cities plantation owners hold
political power
Smaller mixed crops, & self 70% if subsistence small-
efficient scale farming for the poor
white families
Textile factories merchants Expand into rich new lands in
made huge profit selling the Southwest
cotton to Brits
Roads, canals, rail roads Natural waterways
Locomotives improve Canals and roads are poor
Limited railroads
Industrialization:
– Northern factories made $ by turning cotton made by the
south into cloth and northern merchants profited from
shipping the cotton and reshipping the finished textiles.
– Boot Cotton Mill one of the biggest in the country in 1823 in
Lowell, MA
– These cheaper labor enabled north-east Americans to gain
competitive manufacturing industry over Britain

Urbanization:
– Northeast (most urbanized, >1/3 of population was urban)
– 1840s population increased by 36%
– <10% of population was urban

Immigration:
– Largest group: Between 1846-1860, >1.5 million Irish
Immigrants arrived in the US, take up low-paid job (mainly in
–

the Northeast) (Potato Famine)

– Second-largest: Between 1848-1860, >1 million German
arrived in the US , in family, have enough money to buy farms
or own businesses, some in NY, PA, but many to Midwest
and Western territory (Failure of democratic revolution
1848)

King Cotton
– Throughout 1820s-1850s, cotton dominated the US
economy, accounted for 50%+ US exports and by 1860,
75% of the worlds’ cotton supply
– 1820: cotton production was in upper south, AL, MS, LA, TN,
– 1860: moved to lower south, strengthened the economy,
– By 1843, growing faster than northern economy and white
southerners earn > northerners per capita
– 1857 wheat’s price fall dramatically affect western farmers
and northern railroad investors but not south.

Tariff
– A tax on imports and exports of raw material and
manufactured goods
– US congress introduced high tariff in 1832
– Southern planters were against tariffs by the US congress,
believed in free trade(allow them to buy and sell from
competitors worldwide), argued it only benefitted the
north(industrial manufacturing at the expense of southern
agriculture) also made goods more expensive and European
tariffs on their cotton
– Tariff of 1824—(congress)Protective tariff of 35% was levied
on imported manufactured items—iron goods, woollen, and
cotton cloth
– Tariff of 1828—(congress) protective tariff was levied on raw
materials, agricultural imports and some textiles -including
50% on cotton cloth
– Tariff of 1832—(congress) further duties placed on cotton
textiles and iron
– SC threatened to nullify the ‘unfair federal tax’
– South had to buy either HIGH COST AMERICAN cotton
cloth which enriched the northern businesses OR
HIGHLY-TAXED British linen cloth which benefitted the
–

federal gov.
– Est. that the tariff of 1832 cost southern planters about
$100 million/yr
– Southern felt the tariffs were a SECTIONAL TAX that helped
the north while harming the south.

Slavery and the balance of Sectionalism 1820

– Southern perspective:
– Southerners resented the large profit made by northern
businessman using cotton crop southerners produced
– Southerners blamed their low profit and lack of industry
to northern aggrandizement—blamed the fed gov
invested into the northern states and neglected the
southern states (Northern Tyranny)
– Northern perspective:
– Declared that slavery was the reason for the south’s
relative backwardness
– Northerners argued that the remaining white men were
only supporting slavery due to the political power
plantation-owners owned and their fears of blacks
– Militant Abolition Movements in Northern states
– Early 1830s, insistent to immediate ends of slavery
– For example: 1829 David Walker of Boston published
Walker’s Appeal in Four Articles and call for slaves to
revolt against their masters —>increased surveillance and
repression of African American communities, and David
Walker himself was threatened with arrest and violence
– Those supported slavery in the south argued that:
– Profound economic impact in the south if slaves are
freed immediately
– If slaves are freed, widespread unemployment and
chaos
– Argued slaveowners treat slaves with paternalistic care
– Right to own property/slaves was guaranteed in the Bill
of Rights
– Slave songs proved they are happy
– Nat Turner Rebellion 1831
– Southampton County, VA
– Turner and 70 other slaves killed their masters and
their families, in total 55 people
 – VA put death to 56 other slaves whom they believed
participated in
– White vigilantes killed 200+ as panic swept through VA
and the rest of the south
– VA legislators were revising state laws and sought to
make easier laws to allow slaves to be freed. Yet, after the
rebellion, VA and other slave states recommitted
themselves to slavery. Thus, Southerners blamed
northerners for provoking their slaves to rebel
– Anti-Abolition Violence & Censorship
– Farren Riots(1834) NYC—Irish immigrants were
unsatisfied as abolitionism movement will lead to they
competing with enslaved African Americans
– Angry mob destroyed abolitionist literature in Charleston,
SC (1835)
– Mob attacked and killed antislavery editor, Alton, IL, 1837
– MO banned abolitionist expression 1837
– Strangers can be arrested for conversing with blacks in
parts of LA,

Abolitionists and what they have done

Abolitionists and their work What they did to campaign
for the abolition of slavery
and any famous quotes,
speeches, or letters
William Lloyd Garrison, “The Garrison used the newspaper
Liberator” as a platform to advocate for
A New abolitionist newspaper the immediate and
published first in 1831 unconditional abolition of
slavery, and his powerful and
uncompromising language
helped to inspire and mobilize
the movement.

"I will not equivocate -- I will

not excuse -- I will not retreat
a single inch -- and I will be
heard!”
National Anti-Slavery The organization used a
Society variety of tactics to advance
Est. 1831 its cause, including public
Founded by many abolitionists speaking, lobbying, publishing

National Anti-Slavery
Society
Est. 1831
Founded by many abolitionists speaking, lobbying, publishing
including William L. Garrison anti-slavery literature, and
and Arthur Tappan
Frederick Douglass
not excuse -- I will not retreat
a single inch -- and I will be
heard!”
The organization used a
variety of tactics to advance
its cause, including public
organizing mass meetings and
conventions.
Frederick Douglass, a
prominent abolitionist and
orator who campaigned
tirelessly for the abolition of
slavery in the United States.
Born into slavery himself,
Douglass escaped to freedom
in 1838 and went on to
become a powerful voice for
the anti-slavery movement.

Free Black People in the US (1820-50)

●Most freed African Americans lived in the southern states
● Free blacks in the south mostly reside in cities
● Northern states implemented harsh discriminatory law
against black people
– Northern states:
– States like OH, and MI temporarily forbad people of color
from settling in their territories
– Segregation, black people have no right to vote
– Oregon: black people were forbidden to settle, marriage,
or sign contracts
– IN, IL, and MS banned interracial marriage
– IL Black Code 1853 prohibited black persons from
outside the state staying in IL for more than 10 days
– IN legislature decreed in 1834 that colored student
cannot attend public schools
– Black people altho controlled by many discriminatory
laws, they were active in American societies,
– Freedom’s Journal —first black-owned newspaper,
appeared in 1827
– Underground Railroad—Harriet Tubman
– Black men were enlisted in the army and fought in
 –
American revolution and the war of 1812.
– Some owned land, homes businesses and paid
taxes
– They founded their own churches which became the
hub of economic, social and intellectual lives of
African Americans in many areas
– Richard Allen, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner
Truth, David Walker, and Prince Hall earned national
reputations for themselves by writing, speaking,
organizing on behalf of their enslaved African
Americans
– Southern states:
– Black people can become free in several ways. Before
1825, it was common and legal for them to PURCHASE
FREEDOM from slaveowners OR slaveholders freeing
them (became illegal and less common after the mid
1820s)
– Freed African Americans have to obtain and bring free
black’s certificates of registration to prove their freed
status
– Laws
– Denied citizen rights incl. assemble, bear arms,
educate, read and write, free speech, or testify in
courts
– MS law required freed black(age 16-50)leave MS or
risk of being sold to slavery
– Southern states forbade freed blacks from selling
certain goods, tending bars, staying out past certain
time, own dogs, etc
– Anti-miscegenation laws
– Need to obtain licenses from whites before doing
businesses
– Work
– Most of them worked as day labourers; some
barbering, carpentry, and blacksmithing; more were
agricultural laborers, domestic servants, laundresses,
and if allowed hucksters
– Very small amount of free blacks owned slaves, (most
of them were freed later)
– Segregation
 – Forbad to attend same churches
– Settled in isolated areas away from population centers
– Not allowed to schools (integrated schools were
closed after 1831
– Segregated in public transport

Slavery in the Northwest

– Slavery has extended into the north west regardless the
Northwest Ordinance of 1787 prohibited slavery there
– As MO admitted to the union in 1820, northerners’ fear of
slavery expansion rises and fear the slavery would soon
become a ‘norm’ in the western territories

Tallmadge Amendment
– Proposed by NY Rep James Tallmadge
– That prohibits further importation of slaves into MO
– MO slave children were to be emancipated after their 25th
bday and gradual emancipation for others.
– The amendment was passed in HoR but defeated in the
senate (enraged Southerners, saw it as the first step to
abolish slavery by the northerners)

MO Compromise 1820-Henry Clay

– An effort of senate and HoR to maintain balance of slave state
and free state
– No more slave state above the line 36˚30’ with the exception
of MO
– That means that southerners will have to expand the
country further south or west if they wish more slave
state.
– Admit MO as a slave state but in the meantime admit ME as a
free state to balance the pro-slavery senators from MO,
12vs12
– Remains the balance in congress, avoided the civil war
from breaking out.
– Opposition:
– Southerners believed that owning slavery is a right
guaranteed in the constitutions, if CONGRESS wish to
stop it from expanding, they should amend the
constitution by 2/3 majority- and were breaking states
 right by applying federal laws
– African Americans opposed slavery; Denmark Vesey, a
free black living in Charleston, SC. disagreed with the
future slavery in the west who quoted from bible and
congressional debate over the issue of MO to denounce
slavery. He organized a slave rebellion in 1822, the
rebellion was betrayed and resulted in execution of 35
organizers as well as the destruction of the black church
where he preached.
– Southern and Western slaveowners: they believed it was
unconstitutional and was their right to hold slave was
granted by constitution
– Furthermore, balance in the congress was broken after
ME and MO when ME gained 9 delegate while MO only
gained 2 in HoR (due to increase population in the none-
slaves states)

Historians and their opinion on MO compromise 1820

Henry Clay -The great compromiser
-MO will be admitted as a
slave state and ME will join as
free
-Slavery will be excluded for
all further state above 36 30
-He believed it was a
pacification and conciliation
-To promote harmony
Thomas Jefferson -He proposed state’s right &
believed fed gov should have
limited role
-He also believed in equality
-However, he was not an
abolitionists & did not factor
immediate emancipation
James Monroe -Pro-compromiser, believed it
was necessary to preserve the
delicate balance between free
& slave state to prevent
further rise in sectionalism
-National harmony and reduce
tensions
 -However, he was not an
abolitionists & did not factor
immediate emancipation
James Monroe -Pro-compromiser, believed it
was necessary to preserve the
delicate balance between free
& slave state to prevent
further rise in sectionalism
-National harmony and reduce
tensions
Independence of TX
– Independent for 9 years due to Mexican threat of war
– Texas officially became the republic of Texas in 1836
recognized by the US president Jackson who was replaced by
president Martin van buren
– Admitting Texas as a slave state would cause imbalance
13vs12—> most certainly will lead to slavery forever exist in
the country due to the extra 2 senators
– For Northerners, it is another slave state.
– President Martin van Buren refused to annex Texas after
Mexicans threatened war
– Texas joined the union in after 9 years of independence
– Triggers imbalance in congress—>add Oregon as a free
state in 1859 13vs13
– In 1844 Presidential election, Whig started to split over
slavery, Democratic Polk won the election.
Oregon
– In 1846, senate wished to balance the slave-state and non-
slave state thus entered negotiations with British gov to split
Oregon. He proposed 49 degree line to GB and Oregon was
admitted into the US as a non-slave state to restore the
balance in senate in 1859

Manifest Destiny (Polk) 1845

– Northern Idea of Free Soil and Southern idea of slavery in
Western territories crashed
– Expand their territory to Pacific Ocean
– Justified their action of carrying out extreme
measures to clear out the native population from the
land
– Justified that white Americans thinks that Native
American and Mexicans are inferior race and want to
‘civilise’ them
 – Conflict between Native American and white rises as
they forced them to move and also bring many modern
disease to unvaccinated native Americans.
– Native American languages, religions, and traditions
were often suppressed or destroyed by American
settlers and the federal government, as part of a
broader effort to assimilate Native Americans into
American society.
– Gold was discovered in California, the number of
migrants doubled.
– The North and the South fought over which new state
admitted should be free or slave
– North does not wish them to become slavery as they do
not want to fight against resources with slaveowners
– They believe in free soil
– North also wish to contain the spread of slavery

Mexican-American War (1846-1848, Polk)

– Mexicans have banned slavery. Mexicans were anti-
slavery.
– President Polk attempted to buy the NM, CA for uptown
$40m from Mexico in 1846, just like the Louisiana purchase in
1803. However, Mexicans refused to sell due tot the threat of
manifest destiny to native catholic Indian and Mexican
cultures and religion
– Southern states wish the territories gained in Mexican-
American war become slave state as they fought in the war.
However, northern state thinks they should be free state as
the local residence have banned slavery and they believe in
free soil. Northerners also believe in free soil and they do not
wish to compete with slaveowners.
– USA advantages over the war:
– superior artillery
– Jr. offices, trained at West Point
– Enthusiastic
– Naval supremacy
– The war began with American victories in major battles across
the Rio Grande and around Santa Fe. Led by Robert E Lee and
Grant.
– Feb 1847 Zachary Taylor defeated Mexicans at Buenavista
– Scott with 11,000 men marched 260miles storming fortresses
before capturing Mexico City in sept 1847
Yet, Mexicans continue to fight until 1848 when US troops
invaded Mexico City
– The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848
– Gained CA, NV, NM, part of Wyoming, and Colorado in return
for $15m, US then has acquired a quarter of the present US.
The border stretched from coast to coast fulfilling the
“manifest destiny”
– If any states joined the union as a slave state, it will cause
imbalance in the congress.

Wilmot Proviso 1846 (the one from northerner)

– CONTENT
– Give the president $2,000,000 to deal with the issue of
Texas territory and a possible war with Mexico.
– Ban slavery in any territory gained in the war. (So that the
free soilers can make it to the west and make a living; also
protect them from cheap African American labor)
– Support by northerners even democrats
– Wilmot was NOT an abolitionists, he believed the north’s
interest has been ignored.
– Mexican territories should for Free soilers
– Wilmot resented the fact that Polk seemed to be pursuing
a pro-southern policy. (Polk went back on his promise of
taking the whole Oregon, instead he only took area south
of 49th parallel, while willing to fight Mexican war. (-It
was kinda alright since it would be less wise to fight
Britain and Mexico in the same time)
– The idea that if slavery is not excluded in law, it will exclude
laboring free white man because of the competition.
– IT WAS NEVER PASSED in Senate as it was divided in 50/50;
HoR yes as more rep came from north
– Increase sectionalism as it was blocked in the senate.
– —> it widened sectional tension
– weakened northern support for Polk’s Mexican American
War 1846-8
– inspired Calhoun doctrine

Calhoun Doctrine 1847

– Saying it is unconstitutional for congress to ban slavery
– ‘Citizens of every state had the right to take their property to
any territory’ (territories remain common properties of all
states)
– All Mexican territories become slave state
– It is STATE right to accept or ban slavery
– Threat for secession if congress ban slavery
– He argued mid-west population had grown much faster then
in the southern states of which northern state had dominated
all part of gov except senate (Northern Tyranny)
– He also argued slavery as a ‘positive good’ that any
restrictions of slavery is compromised to the 5th amendment
right to life, liberty and property.
– Also echoing Aristotle that democracy was impossible
without slavery bcz slavery is what bound free white
people together
– It annoyed the north as the secession and ‘bring
possession’ to all territories show they want to expand
slavery to all territories.

Nullification crisis 1832-33

– In the late 1820s, Calhoun proclaimed the right of any state to
over-rule or nullify any federal law deemed unconstitutional
– SC then disallowed 2 tariff acts in 1832—> President Jackson
threatened to use force. Unable to muster support from other
southern states, SC pulled from declaring secession
– In 1832, South Carolina passed an ordinance of nullification,
declaring that the tariff was null and void within the state's
borders.
– —>This was a direct challenge to the authority of the federal
government, as it asserted that states had the power to nullify
federal laws that they deemed unconstitutional.
– Andrew Jackson then responded and considered this as
treason and threatened to use military fed troops if necessary
– Compromise tariff later

Lewis Cass and Stephen Douglas "Popular Sovereignty"

– Refers to strong state government that state right is
important and it is up to residents in the state who should be
deciding whether slavery is allowed or banned. (Lewis Cass)
– "Free soil" for white settlers is more important than slavery.
Not compete with slavery
– Both party agrees the political doctrine about popular
sovereignty
– North support because they believe they will move faster
to California than southerners through railway
– Northerners are confident that most of the white
settlers will be anti-slavery, support free soil and
not willing to compete with slaves.
– South support the doctrine because it also means that
congress will not be able to ban slavery, as would be
unconstitutional.
– It is easier for them to move to California as it is
much closer to the south.
– However, it splits the country because the abolitionists
believe that in no circumstances should slavery be expanded.
– Congress did not like it as this will not allow congress to ban
slavery; however did agree as it help them avoid the issue of
slavery, promote sectional harmony, and maintain the union
– southerners believe in their 'property' right—bring slaves into
any state regardless of free or slave.
– It splits the democrats because southern democratic
believes they should all become slave state.
HOWEVER, popular sovereignty only became a law in 1854 in KS-
NE Act, also in 1850 only for NM and UT
– Congress did not agree that it no longer had power to ban
slavery—esp. after it was congress who banned slavery in the
1820 compromise above 36 30
– It was supported by northern dem but faced huge opposition
from northern whigs and southerners
– N whigs & abolitionists believed slavery should not be
allowed to expand under any circumstances
– S. States believe they had rights guaranteed by
constitution to carry slave their property to any state
regardless of what the people voted for

1848 Election: California and New Mexico (Taylor, Fillmore)

– President grant California to join the union as a free state by
adopting popular sovereignty
– Ignored congress, did not meet the 60,000 population for
–
applying statehood, he attempted to admit New Mexico as a
free state.-->this will cause imbalance in congress. (15vs13)
– fire eaters threatened that they will leave the union if CA and
NM joined the union since this will create imbalance in
congress.
– South was annoyed that if north wishes to ban slavery, they
should amend constitution
– Northerners was also angry that Taylor didn’t ask for
permission from congress which shows one branch in the
federal system have more power
– Taylor threat if they decided secession, he will fight the south
to preserve the union.
– Free soil party emerges, nominated Martin van Buren, who
hoped to split the dem. He succeeded and diverted enough
votes from Cass to allow Taylor become president (northern
abolitionists start supporting free soil)

Free soil Movement and Division of whig party over slavery

– Taylor was the last whig president, free spoiler nominated a
war hero mocked the whig’s anti-war stand. It attracted more
anti-slavery dem
– ‘Congress should have the power to ban slavery, to protect
the white’s right’—Martin van Buren
– “Free soil, Free Speech, Free Labor, and Free men” in 1848.
Tried to oppose slavery also joined the free soilers including
Abraham Lincoln.
– Conscience whigs+ Antislavery northern dem=free soil party

CA-NM—Division over slavery

Northern free slave states Southern slave owning states
Northerners were demanding Southerners were demanding
a ban on slavery in the west a more effective FSL
and in DC
CA’s gold rush 1849 attracted TX were claiming portion of
thousands of prospectors. NM and declaring its right to
Most were working-class men import slaves into the area.
who refused to compete with
African Americans
UT seen several thousands of
mormons at Salt Lake City that
refused to accept slavery
Most were working-class men import slaves into the area.
who refused to compete with
African Americans
UT seen several thousands of
mormons at Salt Lake City that
refused to accept slavery
● Taylor allowed individual states to create their own
constitutions before applying for statehood, aka, they could
decide themselves about slavery and congress would not
intervene.
● CA and NM then declared themselves as free states in OCT
1849 and applied to join US (CA was in 1850 but NM was long
later in 1912)

Southern Secession Crisis 1849-50

– The admission of CA and NM as free state could upset the
sectional balance in the senate and enable them to introduce
laws that can abolish slavery in the US
– By 1949, secessionists -wanted to break away from the US
and form a new gov with 15 slave states (13 slave+NM+CA)
– And strong support of implementing the wilmot proviso into
the new seceded states

1850 Compromise (Taylor Fillmore, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster,

and Stephen Douglas)
– Settle the border between NM & TX
– NM and UT, open to popular sovereignty, give Texas
$10 million
– banned slave trade in Washington DC
– stronger FSL.
– Most controversial, it required citizens to assist to
capture, denied fugitive’s right to a jury trial, making
process easier for slaveowners and more federal
officials will be responsible for enforcement
– admit CA as free state
– Douglass and Clay work on the law together to make it pass.
Douglass separate the compromise into 5 small clauses to
pass in congress.
● The compromise resolved the question whether slavery would
be allowed in the new territories, but solution pleased neither
side. North hated FSL & southern states did not like the
emergence of two or more free state: CA and UT(most
certainly). The peace brought by the compromise was short-
 lived and debate remained

Opposition: Nashville convention

– A political meeting held in Nashville, TN 1850.
– It was attended by delegates from nine southern states who
had become increasingly concerned about the growing
influence of the anti-slavery movement in the North and the
threat it posed to the institution of slavery in the South.
– The purpose of the convention was also to discuss possible
secession altho delegates hold different opinions. Some
believed immediate secession but some believed peaceful
resolution should be carried out
– It did not result in any concrete actions or decisions but was a
symbol of growing tensions between the north and the south

Why did the sectional division rise due to the FSL?

. FSL forced states to comply and return fugitives to their
masters upon their discovery and person who helped
runaway slaves can faced criminal sanctions
. Federal gov will play a more active role than FSL in 1793
. Commissioners and fed judges had the authority to
issue warrants and US marshals to arrest suspected
fugitive slaves
. All citizens are forced to capture and assist, rescue,
aided or his a fugitive slave was liable for $1,000 fine
and unto 6months jail
. Law prohibited accused fugitive slave to testify in his
or her defence
. Hearing lasted only few minutes and judges return
slaves to the south can receive more money 10 for
return, 5 for not return
. US marshals to hire as many persons as necessary to
return slaves at the expense of the US gov

How did the FSL reduce rights in the north

– slaveholder’s word deemed enough to prove the person’s
slave status
– From 1850, federally appointed slave father’s patrolled the
Ohio river daily looking for fugitives
– US marshals were given the authority of posse which allowed
–
to call upon bystander to enforce FSL
– Freed blacks were sent to the south in 1850s

Reactions:
– Big cities in the north such as NY, Boston, Penn, former
biracial vigilance committees to alert fugitive slaves about
potential slave hunters with posters and events. Some formed
armed militia—> some developed into riots and revolts
– African Americans fled to Canada, Cuba and Bahamas even
they were born in the US and freed using underground railway
or boats.
– Underground Railroad helped 100,000 slaves to escape to
Canada by 1850
– Underground Railroad:
– Secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved
people in the United States to escape to freedom.
– Merged in late 18th century but peak during civil war
– Estimated 40,000 and 100,000 enslaved people
escaped to freedom through the Underground
Railroad between the late 18th century and the Civil
War.

Strengthening of the FSL 1850

– US Marshals, commissioners makes not helping them illegal.
– This strengthened FSL makes abolitionists living in free state
being forced to help US marshals, southerners to capture
African Americans. it is promoting slavery and expanding
slavery to the country
– Put all African Americans threat of being send to south
plantations for slavery
– commissioners get more money for sending them to the
south
– Unite all the northerners and abolitionists to ban slavery as
they no longer have the opportunity to opt-out
– Shows the south does not believe in state right, instead, it
believes in slavery
– States like Wisconsin come up state law to protect the
fugitive slave and black people's right by
– Legal judges/attorney for them on trial,
– barring the use of state jails
 – prohibit officials participating in FSL

Uncle Tom's Cabin （1851-52）

– Harriet B. Stowe
– a book that was based on real life, very popular in the north
and other part of the world; banned in the south
– Portrayed African Americans as religious suffering figures.
Appealing to religious white Americans, rose their
sympathy to black enslaved person in the south. Also against
some northerners’ idea that slavery is 'ordained' by god. Gave
northern whites who had no first-hand exposure to slavery, an
idea of how slavery looks like
– First published in 1851 on The National Era. Stowe planned to
write 4 instalments but ended up with more than 40
– 300,000 copies in the first year
North South
Exploded the myth that slavery It is criticized, censored and
was not and never a outlawed
benevolent institution where
inferior slaves were watched
over by owners who treat them
as part of the family
Some said it exposed the At least 29 Anti-Tom novels
harsh side of slavery and come up in the south following
other said it was stereotypes a pattern of portraying slavery
as kind figures and enslaved
person as beings who could
not feed themselves in society
Northern whites are becoming (Anti-Tom novels also followed
more receptive towards a pattern of portraying
antislavery views even they enslavers as kind figures and
were repulsed by militancy of enslaved people as beings
blacks and abolitionists who could not fend for
themselves in society)
The novel shifted the PUBLIC
OPINION in the north about
slavery (including newspaper,
medias, etc)
Public Response:
– Moderates praised the book for exposing slavery’s harsh
realities, but abolitionists felt it was not forceful enough.
Others called out some of the characters in the book were
stereotypes
– Pro-slavery advocates argued that Stowe had written an
unrealistic, one-sided image of slavery. These Pro-slavery
responses prompted at least 29 “Anti-Tom” or proslavery
books before the civil war
Impact:
North South
Rising tension in the north as Outlawed “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”
they get more sympathetic
towards slavery
Some said it exposed the Argued they had paternalistic
harsh side; some said it was care to slaves
full of stereotypes
Newspaper/media started to Challenged by 29 anti-tom
shift sides and get more novels
abolitionists
Northern religious people Stowe was criticised as liar
believed it is against the god’s
will
Starting to become more Spread the idea of violence in
receptive toward anti-slavery south

1852 Election (Pierce won)

– Split Whig
– Conscience whig and cotton whig(Later)
– Northern DEM candidate: Franklin Pierce; supported the
southern slave-owning states and 1850 compromise
– Whig candidate: nominated Winfield Scott-more anti-slavery
– Both candidates attempted to appeal to both the north and
the south

President Pierce (1853-1857, Dem)

– Democrats had large majorities in both part of congress
– Economy continue to boom
– Whig party was divided, Webster and Clay died in 1852
– Pierce intended to maintain the unity of the country by
–
supporting slavery expansion to further south into Mexico
and Cuba from Spain
– However, this widened the sectional intension that northern
senators believes their sectional interests have been
neglected by President Pierce

Gadsden Purchase (1853-4)

– First intention was to build a railway connecting Texas to
California.
– To pay Mexico $10m for a 29,670 square miles that later
became part of NM and AZ
– SLAVE POWER CONSPIRACY that northerners believe
president pierce and his allies wanted to expand slavery
further south legally
– Senate slashed 9000 square miles from proposed purchase
– Inspired Douglas to build a railway from IL to CA —>(Kansas-
Nebraska Act)

Cuba Expedition(1853)
– Cuba was still held by Spain, slavery existed inside the island,
– Congress(N. Dominated) refused invasion of Cuba but Pierce
tried to offered Spain 130m to purchase which later refused

Ostend Manifesto (1854)

– Southern states wanted to seize more land to increase US
slave territory and plantations
– Threatened if Spain refused again, they will be 'justified' in
invading Spain
– After the leak of the document, northerners were furious and
believe this as aggressive slave expansion.
– Northern fear that they will create a SLAVE EMPIRE in Latin
America under southern dominance
– Pierce gave up the invasion because it was too controversial
in 1854

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

– Kansas-Nebraska Act includes:
– Scraping MO compromise 1820
– Popular sovereignty in all unorganized territories
– Divide Nebraska into Nebraska and Kansas
– Stephen Douglas, northern democrat senator from IL,
believed in popular sovereignty(more of a state right person),
feels that slavery will die out
– Build a railway connecting Illinois to California
– -->pass in congress, he needed to give some benefit to
southern states, which they specifically wanted to repeal MO
compromise--36º 30'
– They would not agree statehood of Kansas or Nebraska as it
will create more imbalance of power in the congress.
– Douglass although as pro-slavery, believes that people of
Kansas will vote for anti-slavery
– Reactions:
– Northerners (both Whig and democrat) hate this idea and
think this as betrayal
– President Pierce(as well as Lewis Cass, James
Buchanan) : gave support to Douglas and his southern
allies; his support pushed the KS-NE act through
congress in 1854 despite Northern opposition
– SPLIT Democrat; —> the rise of REP(antislavery DEM, Free
soilers, and former whigs)
– Slavery become militarized, people are willing to kill over
slavery
– Destroyed 2 party system, now only south and north.

Northern Tyranny and Slave Power Conspiracy

– Northern Tyranny means the southerners believe that
northerners are trying their best to ban slavery
– Slave Power conspiracy means that the northerners believe
the judges in Supreme Court and president(Pierce) are all
pro-slavery and they ignored the sectional interest and rights
of the north

Decline of the whigs and the rise of the Republicans (1854-6)

Northern “conscience Northern & Southern
whigs” “Cotton Whig”
Anti-slavery; moderate Pro-slavery, opposed anti-
abolitionism slavery, believed slavery was
part of the economy
Then joined free soil, Then joined Pro-slavery
republican democrat, or know-nothing
Some Supported 1850 (They owned textile and
compromise cotton businesses)
Anti-slavery; moderate
abolitionism
Then joined free soil,
republican
Some Supported 1850
compromise
Som Supported KS-NE
Pro-slavery, opposed anti-
slavery, believed slavery was
part of the economy
Then joined Pro-slavery
democrat, or know-nothing
(They owned textile and
cotton businesses)

● Whig won over 100 seats in HoR in 1854 election

Whig dissolved in 1854

– REP: made up of northern conscience whigs and DEM who
shunned the KS-NE Act
– Republican policies
– Abolish Slavery (Few support immediate abolition of
slavery and many are afraid of the prospect of thousands
of freed slave )
– Congress >state. not popular sovereignty
– Kansas should be recognized as a free state
– New railway from north to the pacific coast
– Clearly stood for the rejection of the Kansas-Nebraska Act,
asked for re-establishment of the MO compromise, appealed
to northern states
– Nominated Fremont as their first presidential candidate
(1856)

Catholic Irish & German Immigration

Irish Immigrant German Immigrant
Poor and Catholic Richer and catholic
Low skilled, More skilled
Dislike know-nothing party Dislike know-nothing party
and republican. and republican.
After the potato blight of
1840s, Irish immigrants shifted
toward extremely poor and
catholics.
Low skilled, More skilled
Dislike know-nothing party Dislike know-nothing party
and republican. and republican.
After the potato blight of
1840s, Irish immigrants shifted
toward extremely poor and
catholics.
Irish immigrants congregated
in the port cities of the east
coast like Boston, Detroit, and
Chicago where they make up a
majority of population. —>
subdivided homes that were
intended for single families,
living in tiny, cramped spaces
+disease, crimes, prostitution
and drunkenness
Irish immigrants —>
– Increase in democratic support in large cities since DEM
focused on ordinary working men.
– Irish catholics often became local leaders in DEM esp in NY,
and southern cities e.g. New Orleans
– DEM Irish immigrants were anti-freeing slaves, and supported
the southern slave state due to not wishing to compete.
– They also disliked ‘Know Nothing’ and REP

Know-Nothing Party aka American Party, est. 1854

– nativist, white settlers
– Anti immigrant and anti-catholic(Irish and Germans
were) 1.9m and 1.5m
– replaced the whigs as the second largest party in the US
– 1855, know-Nothings were the dominant opposition party
to the Democrats in NY, PA (immigration states), MD,
VA, TN, GA, AL, MS, and LA(slave states)
– Presidential election 1856, the party supported Millard
Fillmore and won 21%+popular vote and 8 Electoral votes
– Congress had 5 senators & 43 REP
– 2nd largest between 1853-1855

The rise of REP, est. 6th Jul, 1854

– REP was created as an act of resistance against what
activists denounced as the slave power-the powerful
class of southern slaveholders who were conspiring to
–

control the fed gov and to spread slavery nationwide

– Free soilers+abolitionists+conscience whigs+N. DEM=REP
– Founded in Jackson in July 1854, the only political party that
clearly stood for the rejection of the KS-NE act of 1854,
advocated for the reestablishment of MO compromise 1820,
(appealed to most Northern states)
– Supported the right of congress to ban slavery
– Minority militant abolitionists who want immediate end to
slavery & freedom for African Americans
– Austin Blair, Free soiler lawyer who was prosecuting
attorney of Jackson County,
– In 1854 elections, REP gained a majority in the House of
Representatives.
– REP had its 1st national convention in Philadelphia from
Jun17-19 1856
– REP nominated 1st presidential candidate John Fremont,
and William Dayton as VP

What REP advocated for:

– Abolish slavery
– Congress had supreme power over states, not popular
sovereignty and therefore could abolish slavery
– KS should be free-state
– A new railroad in the North to the Pacific Ocean

Elections of 1856
– DEM: James Buchanan, former Secretary of State, won
– Know-Nothing: Millard Fillmore
– REP: John C. Fremont,
– Carried 11/16 N states, and 2/5 of electoral votes
– HoR turned REP, by the late 1850s, the house was
dominated by REP

The issue of Kansas (Pierce)

– Nebraska’s status as free state was never questionable as it
was quite north up. However, Kansas is not, territory soon
become the battleground over the issue slavery

Border Ruffians
– 5,000 pro-slavery men who crossed the Kansas border to
 –
vote in constitutional election
– Took land and set up towns in Lecompton
– Move to KS from MO, pro-slavery, violence & intimidation
against northern settlers
– Ensured KS as slave to balance CA

– North Reactions:
– Northern settlers arrive in the area on 1st Aug, 1854 to try and
win the state as freed
– Massachusetts Emigrant Aid company sponsored 1500
northerners to settle in Lawrence, Kansas in 1854-55
– By the summer of 1855, approx. 1,200 new englanders had
made their journey to the west; armed to fight for freedom
– The abolitionists minister Henry Ward Beecher furnished
settlers with rifles. -->they are willing to fight and kill, come
with guns which later is called the Beecher’s bible

– Southern reactions:
– Platte County Defensive association, sent by MO Senator to
ensure Kansas as a slave state
– Border ruffians need to ensure Kansas is a slave state to
balance CA as free state
– Election fraud for governor of Kansas (1854 Nov)
– 5000 Pro-slavery Missourians illegally entered Kansas to vote
for pro-slavery candidate and go back to Missouri
– Congress refused to accept the result of the Legislature
election fraud (Mar, 1855)

– However, President Pierce recognize the result of Election

Two Gov in Kansas (1855)

Shawnee Gov at Lecompton Topeka gov (anti-slavery)
(Pro-slavery)
Election fraud, Rebellion gov
Removed all the antislavery Antislavery settlers continued
members to pour into Kansas
Missourians, Pro-slavery, Abolitionists, Free spoilers,
plantation owners, Northerners
southerners
Adopt pro-slavery laws and Anti-slavery, free soilers
slave code Punishable Northerners
offense if speak against
Missourians, Pro-slavery, Abolitionists, Free spoilers,
plantation owners, Northerners
southerners
Adopt pro-slavery laws and Anti-slavery, free soilers
slave code Punishable Northerners
offense if speak against
slavery
Pierce yes Pierce no
Congress no Congress yes
● Pierce: abolitionists are dividing the union. Free soilers are
treason

Bleeding Kansas 1856

Southerners were driven by the rhetoric of leaders such as David
Atchison, MO’s senator. He proclaimed northerners as “negro
thieves” and “abolitionists tyrants” He encouraged Missourians to
defend their institution
Squatter Sovereign, a press that was most widely read voice of KS
proslavery opinion- and proclaimed popular sovereignty to allow
slavery
– Sack of Lawrence (May, 1856)
– Attacked the free-state newspaper Herald of Freedom,
who had been highly critical of the proslavery gov,
destroying the press and throwing the type into the
Kansas River
– Fired on the Free State Hotel with canon balls
– Attacked the Kansas Free State newspaper, looted and
vandalized other businesses.
– (They proclaimed they were executing laws, one man died
during the violence and one proslavery men died for
falling debris)
– John Brown & Pottawatomie Creek Massacre (May, 1856)
– Very Religious person from the north
– 3 days after the sack of Lawrence
– Led 4 of his sons and 3 others in killing 5 pro-slavery men
– It was denounced by southern and even some Northern
newspaper
– Leading to the MINI CIVIL WAR in Kansas
– Over 200 were killed in the 4 months, with each side
raiding the other’s settlements, stealing livestock, and
over 200 men were killed
– Governor John Geary, appointed by President Pierce in
September managed to cool the border war with federal
 –

troops
– Regardless, there were still outbreaks of violence: 1858,
the execution-style killing of five anti-slavery settlers in
Marias des Cygnes by MO border ruffians

Bleeding Sumner (May, 1856)

– Cause: Senator Charles Sumner (MA) denounces pro-slavery
violence in the state of Kansas “Crime against Kansas” he
specifically mentioned several senators such as Andrew
Butler from SC of defending slavery so he could have sexual
access to black women. However, two days later his nephew
Preston Brooks approached Sumner and caned him to coma.
– Preston Brooks, nephew of Andrew Butler, beat
Massachusetts republican senator Charles Sumner
severely on the senate floor
– Took sumner 3 years to recover from coma
– DIVIDED THE northerners and southerners
Support of South Outrage of North
Brooks became a hero of the A million copies of Sumner's
south speech was distributed in the
north
He resigned from HoR but Millions flocked to republican
become congressman
immediately in his home state
People sent him canes to
express their support

Presidential Election 1856

DEM REP Nativists
(American)
James Buchanan Fremont Millard Fillmore
Former Secretary of Ex-Democrat in Ex-President
State California
Northerners from Sack of Lawrence, Old fashion Whig,
Pennsylvania, key bleeding Kansas, pro-southern
state to win// canning of sumner
Pottawatomie helped their
massacre helped publicity
their publicity
Won 19 states Carried 11 northern
states
James Buchanan Fremont Millard Fillmore
Former Secretary of Ex-Democrat in Ex-President
State California
Northerners from Sack of Lawrence, Old fashion Whig,
Pennsylvania, key bleeding Kansas, pro-southern
state to win// canning of sumner
Pottawatomie helped their
massacre helped publicity
their publicity
Won 19 states Carried 11 northern
states
“We will Buck “Free speech, Free
them” Press, Free Soil,
Free Men, Fremont,
and Liberty.”
– HoR began to turn Republican, by the late 1850s, the House
was dominated by REP.
– If Fremont won, southern state will again secede
– Buchanan supported Popular sovereignty, appeal to
common man, cities relying on cotton industry & for the
unity of the union to attract northerners
– Some say that president Buchanan will have to be pro-
slavery to maintain the union
– REP slogan: free speech, free press, free soil, free man,
Fremont, and Liberty

Significance of State Rights

– Def: refers to the political power reserved to state gov rather
than the fed gov according tot the 10th amendment of the US
constitution
– The question whether if congress has the right to ban
slavery on a country wide
– They believe in state sovereignty, which means that all
states represent equally in the congress and should not
ignore any sectional interest (claiming this is the right
10th amendment granted)
– It was natural that southerners thinks that republican's anti-
slavery president and his federal policies seem to benefit
some northern states and thus become a threat to the
south
– By 1856, southern states wanted to assert their authority
over the fed gov, so they could abolish fed laws they didn’t
support
– Republican Party Electoral Campaigning:
– Fed. Gov should overrule state gov to shape the
country's law and economy
– Rep. called for prohibit slavery in the whole US, including
southern state
– Supported rights of abolitionists to campaign and end
slavery
– Removal of Kansas-Nebraska act
– Remove FSL
– After Abraham Lincoln become president, southerners believe
that they are threatened
– However, historians pointed out that it was never about state
right, it was always about slavery
– EVIDENCE THAT SOUTHERN STATE BEEN EXPLOITING
FED. POWER TO STRENGTHEN SLAVERY (1820-1856)
– Fed gov under pro-slavery presidents protected the
balance of congress for slave states
– Under 1850 compromise, although CA joined as free
state, NM & UT was organized as slave territories
– Stronger FSL, federal commissioners, US marshal, in
every state to capture fugitive slaves
– North states' laws against FSL not been supported by
federal gov even it was state's right
– Federal Law protecting slave transit--placing federal law
over state law in free states
– Southern argues the right of slavery in free state but
federal government ignored the rights of free speech of
the abolitionists when they publish abolitionists literature
and got banned by congress
– Southerners attacked Kansas communities who would
vote for anti-slavery, election fraud

Slave Power
– Means that many northerners started to believe that there
is an aggressive southern slave power that had seized
control of the federal gov.
– Slave Power conspiracy proved after Dred Scott’s lawsuit
to Supreme Court. They believe both the president and
the Supreme Court are now pro-slavery
– Evidence of slave power conspiracy
 – Entrenched slavery in the constitution (3/5ths)
– Caused financial panics to sabotage the northern
economy
– Disposed Indians from their native lands
– Fomented revolution in TX and was with Mexico in order
to expand the south’s slave empire
– FSL, compromise 1850, KS-NE 1854 to expand westward

Dred Scott (1857)

– Causation: Scott sued his master’s widow for his freedom
since he had lived in a free state/territory (IL and WI) for a
lengthy period of time
– Question the Supreme Court needed to decide:
– Can a slave sue for his/her freedom
– Is slave ‘property’?
– Is slavery legal?
– President Buchanan’s view on Dred Scott
– This is the ULTIMATE decision, he will accept this, live
with it and will NOT CHANGE it.
– He ordered Supreme Court to made a ‘speedily decision
and finally settled this issue’ before he became president
– Taney’s interpretation
– Chief judge in the Supreme Court; from wealthy, slave-
owning family in MD
– Many REP argued Taney of being part of a conspiracy to
legalize slavery throughout the US
– 7 out of 9 judges were nominated by pro-slavery
president; 5 were from slave-holding families
– pro-slavery,
– Final Decisions of Supreme Court 1857
– Slaves were not US citizen, therefor, could not expect
protection from the federal gov and the court; federal
courts could NOT hear Scott’s case
– N: Black people can no longer sue in any court, which
also DISMISS all other black people’s trail
– S: Strengthens the ability to capture slave using FSL,
no longer protected by local gov (e.g. Wisconsin)
– Black people incl. free are not qualify as a US citizen,
– N: Remove their voting rights in 5 northern state
where black were able to vote, congress lost the
 –

ability to ban slavery; all states are now essentially

slave state
– S: Make them inferior to other people and make them
less competitive, lower pay
– The court argue that Scott could NOT be defined free
due to his residency in free states as he was
“PROPERTY” during the time
– N: ensures that they are property and under the 10th
amendment that citizens can bring their “property” to
any part of the US, which expand slavery to the
whole country
– S: Carry slave to any part of the country
– MO compromise 1820 was unconstitutional, constitution
did not grant congress the power to ban slavery
– N: slavery now officially recognized and legal in the
whole country by constitution and Supreme Court
– S: congress cannot ban slavery = not threatened by
congress nor republicans because they cannot ban
slavery
– Dred Scott remained a slave until his master agreed to
free him. Federal court is not allowed to free slaves
– N: congress cannot free slave, only masters can.
Outlawing republicans as it is in their campaign to
outlaw slavery
– S: Limits what future republican president can do
and prove SLAVE POWER CONSPIRACY
– Republican Judges' reaction
– Supreme Court has overstepped its bounds in overturning
the MO compromise since it had not been part of the
original case
– REP justice Curtis: believed that black men were
recognized as state and union residents by allowing
voting rights in 5 out of 13 states, the fact that Supreme
Court made black descent not US citizens were “more of
a taste than law”
– REP justice McLean: believed that if the court ruled that
black were never US citizen, this also means that the
Supreme Court did not have jurisdiction to hear the case
– Free Black Reaction
– consider leaving the US
– Republican Party Reaction
– Northerners start to vote republican to represent their
stance against slavery
– Southern slaveowners
– Believing congress had no right to prohibit slavery in the
territories
– Embolden them to expand slavery to all country
– Democrats
– Split the party between north and south,
– South believed in slavery should be legal in all states
– Northerners believed in popular sovereignty
– North reaction:
– The Dred Scott case destroyed the hope of compromises
between the north and the south
– For northerners, this is more like a declaration of war on
free state as it aimed to spread slavery to the whole
country incl. western territories and north free states
– Stephen Douglass
– Support black Americans cannot have citizenship

Increasing confrontation in 1857

– President Buchanan supported Lecompton gov and
appointed Robert J. Walker as the governor of KS in 1857
– Walker was anti-slavery but uphold pro-slavery stance in
lecompton
– He first called for constitutional convention elections in June
1857 which won by pro-slavery supporters but later called for
territorial legislature election in Oct 1857 which was win by
anti-slavery population under fair election.
– >> a proslavery convention June1857 which sought to
decide the laws of the state & its admission to union; but
also an anti-slavery legislature in oct which had power
over local laws and courts and police.
– Lecompton constitution in DEC 1857
– 1857, proslavery gov of Kansas applied for statehood
and wrote a constitution that favored it
– Outnumbered by free-soilers that rejected the
proposed constitution
– Buchanan went against the vote and endorsed the
constitution because he believed he owed
 –

southerners for political support

– —> the actions of Buchanan in KS over the Lecompton
constitution ignored Stephen Douglas’ popular sovereignty
which was part of KS-NE act 1854
– Buchanan insisted his support and the extension of slavery
into KS, he allowed the constitution to be presented to
congress for approval and it was passed by senate; It was
HoR who debated its legality and sent it back to KS as it
violates popular sovereignty

Pro-slavery constitution Kansas(Mar 1857)

– The constitution was voted again in Kansas,
– Choice given(to accept or reject but cannot ban) were both
rejected by anti-slavery, they chose to abstained
– Pro-slavery is majority and the referendum was endorsed by
Buchanan
– Stephen Douglas declared that it was a violation of
popular sovereignty

Panic/ Depression (1857-9)

– Affects the north, especially, NY, Boston, farmers and
merchants
– Buchanan vetoed the act to help/intervene since south is not
affected
– Including Internal improvement Acts could be done to
help
– Higher tariffs to raise funds and protect the economy
– Prove Slave Power Conspiracy
– Northerners think Buchanan is trying to hurt the north by
damaging their economy
– Depression help republican to win the mid-term election

Buchanan's three mistakes

. Buchanan supported: Lecompton constitution and Lecompton
gov and claimed it was ‘fairly and explicitly to the people’ +
proslavery+removed rights of blacks
. He accepted Taney’s Dred Scott Decision even tho it
undermined Douglas’ popular sovereignty
. Buchanan failed to act upon the 1857 Panic and vetoed bills
from REP that could alleviate issues
What he did in Dred Scott+KS+Panic
1.Buchanan decided to support Taney's Dred Scott decision in 1857
in advance, even though it undermined Douglas' version of popular
sovereignty.
2.Buchanan decided to end the troubles in Kansas by sending Walker
to arrange free elections but refused to accept them when they
elected a free-state territorial legislature in October 1857.
3. He recognised the pro-slavery Lecompton Constitution in Dec
1857 and urging the admission of the territory as a slave state despite
clear election rigging.
4.He publicly fell out with Douglas over Popular Sovereignty and his
support for the fraudulent elected Lecompton government in 1858.
5.When the Republicans won control of Congress in 1858,
he vetoed all significant bills to help the Northern economy
during the Panic and Depression from 1857-1859.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858)

– 4 purposes why Lincoln wants the debate
– Block Douglas to be a Republican by claiming he is pro-
slavery
– Promote and share his own political idea
– Gain popularity
– (Win the seat in senate)
– Lincoln's political thesis
– Slavery is evil; support gradual abolitionists
– Appose expansion of slavery
– There should be no more compromises, it should be
either free, or slave.
– Anti-slavery but racist(no equal rights)
– Lincoln's motive
– Gain votes by putting Douglas to pro-slavery advocate
– Ask for only free or slave
– No more compromises
– Popular sovereignty has not work
– IL is taken by REP
– Purposely divided democrat
– Douglas argument
– Lincoln was trying to start a 'civil war' by using 'house
divided' language
– Douglas rejected Lincoln’s notion of a future conflict
 –
as slavery existed before the union was created
– Slavery will be restricted to some states for economic
and geographical reasons
– Lincoln was trying to ‘abolitionize’ the whig and
democrats. He said that Lincoln and the REP was radical
– Douglas accused Lincoln of taking the side of the
common enemy in the Mexican war
– Douglas said Lincoln wanted to make IL “a free Negro
colony”
– Claim Lincoln support equality to make white common
man vote for him
– Douglas tried to use racism to gain support
– Argued that Lincoln wanted equality for African
Americans to reduce his support of the common man
– Douglas said the gov was made by and benefit white
men
– Douglas also recognize Lecompton and opposed the right
of black citizenship
– Lincoln’s speech against Douglas
– Lincoln did not respond to the questions and was on the
defensive denying the allegations Douglas had made
– Lincoln charged Douglas with trying to nationalize slavery
– He criticized Dred Scott decision and accused Douglas of
supporting slavery with his ideas of popular sovereignty
– Lincoln accused Douglas of slavery expansion
– By using popular sovereignty
– Charged Douglas with conspiring to extend slavery
into free state like IL
– Lincoln argued Douglas was corrupted by not
condemning slavery
– Lincoln argued slavery was sinful
– It is morally wrong to accept slavery
– ‘Declaration of independence’ guaranteed their right to
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
– He accused Douglas as part of slave power conspiracy
that allowed continue existence of slavery and its
expansion to the entire country
Oct 7th 1858,
– Lincoln quoted “all men are created equal” and believed this
also applies to African Americans
 – Douglas believed opposite, he believed that negro has no
share, and he is essentially making the institution of slavery
perpetual and national
Oct 13th 1858
– Douglas maintained that the founding fathers established this
nation as half-slave, half free and it would always be so
Result of senatorial elections

House Divided Speech (provoked Douglas into challenging him)

– Addressed the burning issue of slavery
– He also referred to 1854 KS-NE act by Douglas while Douglas
promise KS-NE would end the agitation over slavery, Lincoln
argued the issue is getting worse
– He believed that a country that is divided against itself
cannot stand and he believed the country cannot always
permanently be half slave and half free
– He emphasise his stance that union could not be dissolved,
but it will come to one thing or another. Either slavery legal
in all state or slavery extinct in the country
– No more compromises — either a fully pro slavery or anti
slavery US
– Force Douglas to not become as REP, but pro-slavery dem
– Prevents Republicans from being receptive to popular
sovereignty as he sees it as a compromise
– Lincoln gains support from both anti slavery factions and free
soilers

Freeport Doctrine (1858)

– A view that voters in a territory could exclude slavery by
refusing to enact laws that gave legal protection to
owning slaves.
– SPLITS the democrat, the end of the democrat (S. DEM
seen this as betrayal)
– Taney and Buchanan was all pro-slavery, territories cannot
lawfully exclude slavery
– Some south is extremely pro-slavery that believes it should
expand and continue on a country wide
– Lincoln's response:
– African-American have the right of life, liberty, and pursuit
of happiness given by the DECLARATION OF
 –

INDEPENDENCE
– Slave power conspiracy that Douglass' policies will lead
to continued existence of slavery
– Evidence that Douglas was part of slave power
conspiracy:
– Federal Slave Act
– KS-NE act
– Played a role in growing popularity of the antislavery REP,
the increasing divisions of REP, and —> Lincoln’s success
in 1860

John Brown (1859)

– Before his attacks in Kansas, he started ‘Virginia scheme’
between 1856-9, he raised money, bought weapons and
arranged for his supporters to receive military training at a
remote ranch in Iowa.
– Brown believed that rebellion was the only way to overthrow
slavery in the country, it targeted the armory at Harpers Ferry,
which contained 100,000 muskets and rifles.
– The plan was: to steal the weapons and free the local
enslaves people who could rise up and free themselves
– Brown and 18 men attacked at midnight, seized weapons and
hostages, stayed on site waiting for uprising, nothing took
place, they were later surrounded by VA and MD state militias
led by Robert Lee. Militia killed 17 men, 10 abolitionists, 7
southerners and captured 6 men incl. John Brown
– Brown was widely denounced in the north as a murderer,
criminal, and madman, leading conservative unionists to
feel confident that his actions would unite the nation
against extremists
– In Harpers Ferry, close to DC
– Raid was unsuccessful, brown was captured and tried for
treason and executed
– Results
Most Northern African Moderate Hard-line
northerne abolitionis American Southerne and Slave-
rs and ts s rs owning
Republica Southerne
n rs
Working Anti- Hero Condemn Exaggerate
white slavery d
people hero southerner
rs and ts s rs owning
Republica Southerne
n rs
Working Anti- Hero Condemn Exaggerate
white slavery d
people hero southerner
were s died
horrified;
northern
wage
laborers
found
brown’s
vision of a
bloody and
abrupt end
to slavery
and the
est. of
racially
equal
society
threatenin
g
Too Lincoln, Martin Believe it Abolitionist
militant 'violence, Delany, will lead to s
and bloodshed, Henry civil war if becoming
condemn and Highland, neither more and
his plan to treason, Frederick side wish more
use but Douglass, to violent
violence to applauded Harriet compromis
free slaves for his Tubman— e; the issue
motive, Knew and of slavery
rejected has
Brown reached a
new critical
turning
point
Sympathe Respected Black Frightened Believe
tic after businesses that if they that north
execution closed on can arm is going to
the day of slaves, invade the
execution everyone south
can
 new critical
turning
point
Sympathe Respected Black Frightened Believe
tic after businesses that if they that north
execution closed on can arm is going to
the day of slaves, invade the
execution everyone south
can
Denounce, John Immediate
condemn Brown SECESSIO
was no N--fire
republican eaters
--Lincoln
Southern
pro-slavery
refuse any
further
compromi
ses

Impact of John Brown

REP:
– Led to virtually no support in the south
– Brown’s violent attack on slavery were inconsistent with
party’s emphasis on lawful challenge and gradual abolitionism
– Politically damaging to the party altho no evidence suggested
John brown was REP (DEM tried to tie the relationship
between John brown and REP tgt)
– —> REP decided to nominate Lincoln instead of William
Seward who was more radical
DEM:
– Some southerners believed that the north was committed to a
slave rebellion
– Fire-Eaters rose again calling for secession

1860 Election (November)

Candidates Policies they Main Support Stats
take
Abraham - Slavery Mainly in New < 40% of the
Lincoln (REP) should be England, CA, popular votes,
abolish in the Oregon, New
West. England+CA+
-‘Moderate’ Oregon+Mid-
Gradual West+NJ(4
Candidates Policies they Main Support Stats
take
Abraham - Slavery Mainly in New < 40% of the
Lincoln (REP) should be England, CA, popular votes,
abolish in the Oregon, New
West. England+CA+
-‘Moderate’ Oregon+Mid-
Gradual West+NJ(4
Emancipation. electoral
-support votes)
railway for the
north(Chicago
-CA).
-Support
businesses &
industries.
-Strong
Central Gov
Stephen -Popular IL+NJ+IA+IN+ Only
Douglas (N. Sovereignty. Mid-West MO+NJ(3
DEM) electoral
votes)
John -Slavery in TX+FL+southe TX+AR+LA+M
Breckinridge territories rn states S+AL+GA+SC
(S. DEM) +NC+DE+MD
+FL
John Bell -Avoid the TN+KY+VA+M KY+TN+VA
(Constitution issue of D
Union) slavery, unite
the country.
-COMPROMI
SE
CANDIDATE.
-support and
hope to
extend 36º30’.
-promise to
defend unity,
not slavery
– Two DEM candidate
– N. believed that Douglas had the best chance to defeat
 –
Lincoln
– Douglas refused to come out publicly for slavery
– S. believed Douglas was a traitor as he support popular
sovereignty that allow territories to ban slavery.
– S. nominated Breckinridge argued that slave owners
should be able to carry their property(slaves) to
anywhere & Pro-slavery, & slavery in west
– Why Lincoln and not William Steward?
– Symbol of frontier, hard-work, self-made men and
American dream
– The need a candidate that could win the whole north and
the electoral college
– Debates with Douglas made him a national figure and
more known
– Publicly against slavery -prefer gradual abolition rather
than immediate due to John Brown
– Who were the Constitutional Union party?
– Nominated Bell, TN, wealthy slaveholder
– Moderate DEM+Unionists+former whigs
– They took no official position on slavery or state right but
promised to defend constitution and the union
– Bell wished to bring back 36 30 and extend the line to the
pacific
– What does the result mean for DEM?
– S. DEM no longer support N. DEM(Douglas)—Splits the
DEM
– DEM support in the North collapsed; but support in
the south solidified
– IMPACTS
– South was politically overwhelmed
– Widespread opposite to REP because of its overtly-
southern rhetoric against slave power and seemingly
unstoppable rise to power in the north
– Political division widened—(No southern states recognize
Lincoln)
– Southern politicians threatened for secession after the
result came out

Result of 1860
Why shouldn’t south secede Southern’s fear
Buchanan said it was illegal to Believed Lincoln was
secede. Constitution only give abolitionists and encourage
them right to secede after rebellion
Lincoln took hostile action
Support from fed gov, can’t Lincoln would stop slavery
survive without other states expansion in the west
Can’t leave only bcz one Surrounded by free state and
president was anti-slavery slavery will be abolish
Abandoning working FSL Lincoln will outlaw slavery or
free all the slaves
Led to civil war (more Lost of power in fed gov
threatening than Lincoln)
Balance of power would shift
to free states
4 problems of secessionist
– Southern unity —all states secede
– Divide between immediate and gradual secession
– Unionists sympathy in the south
– Divided over political strategy

Secession of 7 Deep South States (1860)

– SC+MS+FL+AL+GA+LA+TX
– SC start the convention on 20th DEC 1860
States Reasons given Votes
SC -Hostility of the 100%
North.
-disregarding their
obligation(FSL and
constitutional right
of slavery). -Lincoln
is hostile to slavery
and planning to
outlaw it
MS (Mississippi) -Fed gov refuse 85%
further admission
of slave state.
-nullified FSL in
many northern
state. -advocate
equality. -press,
 is hostile to slavery
and planning to
outlaw it
MS (Mississippi) -Fed gov refuse 85%
further admission
of slave state.
-nullified FSL in
many northern
state. -advocate
equality. -press,
pulpit & school
against union. -ruin
agricultural,
prostrate, industrial
pursuits
FL Protect its wealth 90%
and power-slavery
AL North is hostile.
Claimed that
Lincoln’s election
was the declaration
of civil war
GA Fed gov limits 70%
slavery expansion &
failed to oblige to
the constitution
LA -Impelled to 86.9%
preserve honor,
safety, property and
free institution. -fed
gov has betrayed
the south.
TX -preserve white 96%
supremacy. -
‘protect life, liberty,
& property’
-Anarchy prevails
and civil society is
dissolved into its
original element
● The main reason of the secession was the southern states’
desire to preserve peculiar institution and states’ rights. Each
 ●

declarations makes the defence of slavery as their clear

objectives, some states argue slavery should be expanded,
some believed abolitionism and the rise of violence was
threatening, and some mentioned the economic importance
of slavery in the south
● States rights was that they are not satisfied with the federal
gov, and the FSL was not satisfactory

Did states have legal right to leave the union?

North
Constitution was an
agreement with the PEOPLE,
NOT state, and thus cannot
leave without majority of the
vote
South
States can be independent.
‘Sovereignty of the state’
Constitution was contract/
agreement between
sovereignty state, not people

Northerners reaction
– The began to believe that ‘slave power’ continued to extend
slavery and that secession of the Deep South states was a
method of trying to put pressure to the north and forced them
to accept slavery
– The “deluded masses” narrative of poor white laborers being
controlled by those southern white laborers

For Slave Power conspiracy Anti-slave power conspiracy

Few planters had connected
the electorate into voting for
secession, to which most
southerners were not
committed to
Higher the number of slaves,
higher the number for
secession
Secessionist does not always
mean they are slaveowners,
and nor did all slaveowners
support secession
Many non-slave holders
support secession

The Confederate States of America (1860)

– Est. 4th Feb 1861 at Montgomery, AL
– Was more of a decentralised confederation of states
loosely allied with each other for common defense
– The constitution of CSA was just a continuation of 1787 US
constitution since the constitution originally had slavery, they
just emphasized its legality and autonomy of states right
– President: Jefferson Davis; VP: Alexander Stephens
– Grad. From West Point
– Mexican-American war
– Elected to US senate
– Secretary of war
– Personal flaws
– Sensitive to criticism
– Hates talented people
– Insecure
– Want all power, lost supporters, micromanaging
– He did not possess the charm Lincoln had
– Poor judge to people, protected incompetents such as
Braxton Bragg
– Inauguration speech
– Secession was an act of defense and was legal, and
was Not a choice
– Support state’s right
– Secession did not mean civil war and it will be north
invading the south if the war broke out
– North should not interfere the confederate, also
threaten north to cut off cotton supply

Buchanan, and Lincoln’s action & search for COMPROMISES

– Buchanan
– Buchanan did absolutely nothing
– Claimed that altho secession was illegal, but federal
gov didn’t have the power to stop it
– He called it REVOLUTION but illegal rebellion
– Senate’s solution: Crittenden Compromise (DEC1860-
JAN1861)
– John J Crittenden, Senator from KY,
– Amend the constitution to protect slavery, using
secession to threaten north
– CLAUSES:
– Congress cannot ban slavery in any slave state,
 – Congress could not interfere with the practice of
the interstate slave trade
– Restore 36º30’, bring back MO compromise,
and extend the line to the Pacific Ocean
– No future amendment to the constitution could
reverse these laws or give congress the power to
interfere at any time in the rights of slave state
(COMPLETE BAN ON CONGRESS AND PRES to
stop slavery)
– 1 vote to PASS, BUT NEVER PASSED
– ALL southerner rep passed, 6 northern dem refused,
all REP said no
– Who was the one to blame for the failing of crittenden
compromise?
– Republicans and Lincoln refused to compromise
– Southern state had requested too much for northern
state, for example, FSL was not repealed but it
removed pop sov
– Upper south’s refusal to join CSA
States What happened in Why?
their election?
VA 32/152 Less slaves <1/3
TN&NC Had referendums They questioned
refused convention their benefits of
being held being in the CSA
AR Voted for Close ties with
convention but North and know
reject secession they would saved
more economic
consequences
Peace convention in Washington DC 1861
– 100+ national leading politicians attended on feb 4-27 1861
– VA asked for this peace convention on the day CSA was set
up in AL
– Led by president Tyler was the final formal effort of the states
to start war
– The compromise failed as the provision guaranteeing slave
ownership throughout western territories and future
acquisitions proved too much for the North
 – Also because it forced REP to give up their stance on ‘no
extension of slavery into western Territories’
– Many northerners also believed this was to force the
northern states to accept slavery

Lincoln’s Inauguration Speech(1861)

– Not to interfere with the institution of slavery
– Reassure that he is not interested in taking away their
‘property’—slave or their peace
– Pleaded with the confederate states to reconcile with
Union
– Agrees to suspend activities of the fed gov temporarily in
slavery
– Is not interested in ending FSL and will continue to support
current fed law that protect slavery
– Would NOT allow the union to be peacefully dissolved and
the union states would defend federal property(ports/
outposts)
– He would hope for unity
– BUT, he also made clear that secession was illegal, and
would meet a firms and forceful response
– Refused to accept expansion of slavery to western
Territories and any compromises
– His gov also intended to ‘hold, occupy and possess’ fed
property within seceded states—>forts in the south will
be protected under the fed
– Most importantly, if there is a civil war, it was south to be
blamed, not the north
Positive Negative
REP liked Southerners were not
convinced
Border states approved at his Confederate and its
recognition of slavery & supporters amounted a
attempted to reconciliation decision for confrontation
Frederick Douglass claimed
Lincoln not taking a CLEAR
antislavery position

Fort Sumter (APR1861)

– First state seceded was SC on 20, DEC 1860; By Feb 1861, 6
more states seceded from the union and joined the CSA
. With their secession declarations, the southern states
demanded that all US property to be turned over to those
states, incl. military properties, soldiers, sailors and marines
. After SC’s secession, plans were made to have fed troops
under major Robert Anderson remain. Federal troops stayed
in Charleston, SC withdrew to Fort Sumter. The north
considered the fort as part of US gov property
. Buchanan tried to send supplies via unarmed commercial
ship, the Star of the West. Loaded with foodstuff, and non-
military supplies like candles and blankets. On Jan 9, 1861, it
approached Charleston harbor but SC troops stationed in
fortresses alongside the harbor and opened fire. The star of
the west turned around
. Lincoln inauguration speech made it clear to southern
secessionists that he would fight to maintain fed property and
keep the union intact
. Lincoln understood resupply the fort would spark war,
however, fort Sumter was running out of food in less than 6
weeks—> he decided to only supply food on 4th of April
. On 12nd April 4:30am, Jefferson decided to attack the fort
before the resupply arrived, for 33 hours Sumter’s defenders
exchanged artillery fire with CSA. There were no deaths but
as fire raged through the port, Anderson surrendered
– Southern states demand all US property be turned over to
those states (seceded)
– Why Fort Sumter?
– Fort Sumter was a Symbol of the Union
– The union flag still flew in confederate territory
– Symbol of the confederate independent
– The south had to prove that it had sovereignty over
its territory including all military fortresses
– Lincoln’s aim & actions
– 4th APR, Lincoln planned to resupply the union forces
with food, not weapons.
– If the fed flag should be fired upon, it would unite all the
northern state to defend the union and support Lincoln’s
efforts to protect fed property. Responsibility of beginning
the war would be confederate
– Effects
– Jefferson decided to attack the fort at night time(before
being resupplied)
– Forced the troops to leave before they arrive
– Confederate won, started the civil war.
– Cannon fire broken through the wall; 3000 shots in 34 hrs
– Lincoln had a speech to call people to join the army for 90
days volunteer (75,000)
Impact of southern attack on Fort Sumter
Lincoln’s Call to Arms Apr 1861& 90 days volunteer
– 15th apr, 75,000 volunteers from the union under the 1795
militia act to serve for 90 days and fight against the 7
seceded states
– Support was widespread, governors of OH, Indiana, and
several other states begged to send more troops than the
president had requested
– Newspaper and press called for vengeance and urged their
readers to support the union
– Realised it is not impossible to stay neutral and had to pick a
side
The Second Wave of Secession (APR 1861)
– Lincoln demand for volunteers from each union state
– VA refused, and ‘he would send no troops from the old
dominion’
– KY refused to ‘sabotage their southern brethren’
– TN refused to fight against ‘southern brothers’
– Led VA, AR, TN, and NC secede from union
– West Virginia seceded from VA and stayed in the union
– Secession of VA
– Robert E. Lee’s home state
– Lee explained to his young cousin that his loyalty to
the state VA was more than his loyalty to the army and
the union.
– VA gave confederate a stronger chance (wealth and
population)
– The border states
– MO, KY, WV, DE, MD
– DE’s support of north was strong due to its less slave
population
– KY, MO, and MD all favored the south, KY and MO were
 –
important to control the OH and MS river; Union must
hold MD or DC will be surrounded by CSA
– KY decided to stay neutral and not to join the
confederate, Lincoln refused to occupy KY using troops,
confederate invaded KY in Sep 1861 and KY then
decided to support the north
– Lincoln forcefully hold MO and MD, when MO sided with
CSA, union supporters set up their own gov and fighting
broke out within the state. Lincoln sent troops of which
stayed through out the civil war.
– MD’s southern sympathizers destroyed railroad and
telegraph lines. Lincoln then placed martial laws which
military was in charge and citizens rights are suspended
(it is too important to lose)

Gag Rule 1836

The Gag Rule was a series of resolutions passed by the U.S. House
of Representatives in the 1830s and 1840s that prohibited the
discussion or consideration of petitions related to the issue of slavery.
The rule was designed to prevent anti-slavery petitions from being
introduced and debated in Congress.

The Gag Rule was first introduced in 1836 by pro-slavery members of

Congress who were concerned about the growing abolitionist
movement in the North. The rule stipulated that any petition
related to slavery would be automatically tabled without debate
or consideration.

The Gag Rule was re-introduced and passed every year from 1836
to 1844, despite opposition from Northern members of Congress
who argued that it violated their right to petition and free speech.
The rule was eventually overturned in 1844, thanks in part to the
efforts of abolitionists and other anti-slavery activists who
organized a massive petition campaign to protest the rule.

The Gag Rule was a controversial and deeply divisive issue that
highlighted the growing tensions between the North and South over
the issue of slavery. It also underscored the importance of free
speech and the right to petition in a democratic society, and it helped
to galvanize the abolitionist movement in the United States.