The Coming of the Civil War

Two Nations

Overview

• More and more the cultural differences and differences in political philosophies between the North and the South drove them apart. Ideologically and culturally we were becoming two nations.

Slavery

• A key point of difference b/w North and South

• North– Felt slavery violated basic principles of the US and

Christianity.– Harriet Beecher Stowe

• Uncle Tom’s Cabin– Story of a slave named Uncle Tom who is brutally killed by his

master Simon Legree.

– The book convinced Northerners slavery would be the end of the US.

– Upon meeting Stowe, Lincoln said, “So this is the little woman who started the big war?

Harriet Beecher Stowe

• South– Saw Uncle Tom’s Cabin as a book of lies.– Viewed plantation life as that of a big happy family– Saw slaves as having a better life than the immigrant

workers in the industrial factories• 1857--George Fitzhugh published Cannibals All which

attacked Northern industrialists.

– Argued they represented the true spirit of the American Revolution.

– Was not going to let Northerners tell them what to do.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Other Differences

• North– Urban– Held 70% of the Railroad Tracks– More telegraph lines– 110K factories– Development was fast

• South– Rural– Fewer Railroads– Fewer Telegraph lines– 20K factories– More slaves and cotton– Development was slow.

New Political Parties“I wish to speak today, not as a Massachusetts man, nor as a Northern man, but as an American . . . I speak today for the preservation of the Union. Hear me for my

cause.”--Daniel Webster

Overview

• The Missouri Compromise had established a line which decided whether new states were slave or free. The Mexican War had added much territory south of this line. Controversy broiled as Abolitionists sought to make these territories outlaw slavery before they became states. In 1849 California requested admission as a free state which would upset the balance of power.

The Compromise of 1850

• Proposed by Henry Clay

• Consisted of 5 separate laws– California would be admitted as a free state– New Mexico and Utah territories would decide for

themselves.– Slave trade in D.C. would be ended.– Slavery in D.C. would remain legal.– Fugitive Slave Act--ordered all citizens to assist in

the return of escaped slaves.

Henry Clay

The Compromise of 1850

• John C. Calhoun (SC) opposed it b/c:– The North would have the power to oppress and dominate the

South.– The growing Northern Power threatened state’s rights ie-

Nullification and Secession.– North was twisting the Constitution and the intentions of the

founders.

• Daniel Webster (Mass) supported it b/c:– To preserve the Union– Felt slavery would never be practical in New Mexico– Believed it was a Constitutional duty to return slaves

John C. Calhoun

• Congress eventually passed the compromise which enraged Northerners and Southerners.

Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854

• Introduced by Stephen Douglas of Illinois

• Repealed the Missouri Compromise and instituted popular sovereignty with regards to slavery

• The act passed

Stephen Douglas

Changing Political Parties

• Whigs--by the end of the 1850s had disappeared.• Know-Nothings

– Based on Nativism (idea that Americans should be treated better than immigrants)

– Began as the secret organization called: The Order of the Star Spangled Banner

– When questioned, members replied, “ I know nothing.”– Formed the American party which pledged to work

against Irish Catholic Immigration

• Republican Party– Started by Northerners disgusted with the

Kansas-Nebraska Act– Dedicated to stopping slavery

The System Fails

“A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved--I do not expect the house to fall--but I do expect it will cease to be

divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other.”---Abraham Lincoln 1858

Overview

• With the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Kansas had to decide whether to be slave or free. The battle for Kansas became the focal point of all North / South Tensions.

Kansas

• Topeka was the anti-slavery capital and Lecompton was the pro-slavery capital.

• Pro and anti slavery groups sent settlers to KA to gain a majority.

• “Bleeding Kansas” 1856– May 21--a group of Southerners looted

abolitionist newspaper offices and homes in Lawrence, KA.

– May 24-25 John Brown and a group of New Englanders raided 5 pro-slavery homes at Pottawatomie Creek. They roused 5 men from bed, drug them out and killed them in front of their families.

– Raids and counter raids followed throughout KA.

John Brown

• “Bleeding Sumner”– May 19-20--Sen. Charles Sumner of Massachusetts gave a

speech which made bold insults against Senator Andrew Butler of South Carolina.

– House member Preston Brooks (Butler’s nephew) determined to defend the honor of the South.

– Brooks entered Sumner’s office and began beating him with his cane.

– Brooks resigned, but was immediately reelected.– Brooks was sent a cane with the inscription “Hit Him again.”

Politics and Slavery

• Election of 1856– Democrats--James Buchanan– Republicans--John C. Fremont– American Party--Millard Fillmore– Buchanan won.

James Buchanan

John C. Fremont

Millard Fillmore

• Scott v. Stanford 1857– Dred Scott (slave) sued for his freedom b/c he

and his wife had once lived in territories where slavery was illegal and was therefore free.

– Court Ruled• Slaves were not citizens and could not file suit

• Scott was never free

• The Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional b/c slaves were property and could be carried anywhere.

• The Lecompton Constitution– Constitution sent by pro-slavery forces in

Kansas to apply for statehood.– President Buchanan recognized it despite its

rejection by the people of Kansas.– Congress sent it back to Kansas for another

vote and it was defeated.

• Lincoln-Douglas Debates 1858– Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln were both

running for the Senate in Illinois.– In 7 debates they discussed the issue of slavery in

the territories.– Douglas supported popular sovereignty, but

Lincoln did not.– Douglas won the election.– Lincoln gained national exposure.

John Brown’s Raid

• October 16, 1859

• Brown and 22 others (including 2 slaves) attacked the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, VA.

• Their goal was to take arms to give to the slaves.

• US troops under Gen. Robert E. Lee surrounded the arsenal and captured them.

• Brown was later hung for treason.

The Nation Divides

The Election of 1860

• Democratic Party– Disagreeing over slaver in the territories, the

Democratic party split into 3 factions:• Southern Dem’s nominated John C. Breckinridge• Northern Dem’s nominated Stephen Douglas• Moderate Southern Dem’s formed the Constitution Union

Party and nominated John Bell of Tennessee.

• Republicans– Nominated Abraham Lincoln

• Lincoln won w/o any Southern electoral votes and only 39% of the popular vote.

John C. Breckinridge

John Bell

Secession Begins

• Southerners were outraged that a President could be elected w/o any Southern electoral votes.

• They felt they had no voice in government.• Dec. 20, 1860—South Carolina seceded—MS,

FL, AL, GA, LA and TX soon followed• Feb. 1861—Delegates met in Montgomery, AL,

and created the Confederate States of America (CSA)

• Jefferson Davis of Mississippi was elected President.

Jefferson Davis

War Begins

• Lincoln refused to recognize the secession and the CSA.

• Fort Sumter—Charleston, SC– January 1861—Confederate forces had fired on a ship

attempting to resupply the fort.– April 10—President Davis ordered Gen PGT

Beauregard to demand surrender and to take the fort by force if necessary.

– Beauregard opened fire and 24 hrs later Major Robert Anderson surrendered the fort.

– This open act of rebellion marked the beginning of the war.

Gen PGT Beauregard

Major Robert Anderson

More States Secede

• When Lincoln began to mobilize the army, VA, NC, TN, and AR seceded