Sectionalism: The Causes of the Civil War
Differences Cause a Strain in the National Relationship

SWBAT:

  • How did differences between North and South influence sectionalism?
  • How did the Compromise of 1850 and Kansas-Nebraska Act exemplify the opinions of abolitionists and slave owners?
  • What effect did the Lincoln-Douglas Debates have on the careers of both men and the course of the nation at that time?
  • How did John Brown’s actions in Kansas and at Harper’s Ferry exemplify anti-slavery feelings at the time?
  • What was the Southern reaction to Lincoln election?

Industry Expands

  • By 1861 the North has significantly more rails and railroads than the South
  • Impact of Railroad: more transportation, trade, population growth, more industry and business
  • The North is more industrialized

South Expands Cotton Production

  • The cotton gin makes cotton more profitable (makes more money)
  • Cotton plantations expand and produce more
  • What else expands?
  • The importation of slaves from other countries was banned in 1807.
  • The “desire” for slave labor grew. needed to work cotton plantations.
  • How were the slaves supplied?
  • The internal slave trade expanded – trade between plantations and states
  • What happens to the price of slaves if the supply is lowered? The price of slaves increased.

The Mexican American War and the Effect on Slavery

  • The war added 500,000 square miles to the country (California, New Mexico Territory, Utah Territory)
  • President Polk wanted to extend the Missouri Compromise 36°30’ line to the west coast
  • Others proposed “popular sovereignty” – states’ citizens could choose on their own whether they wanted slavery or not
  • The House passed the Wilmot Proviso banning slavery in the Mexican cession: North has greater representation in the House of Representatives
  • The Senate did not pass the Wilmot Proviso: The South has greater representation in the Senate

Clay’s Compromise of 1850

  • California would enter the Union as a free state
  • The rest of the Mexican Cession would be settled under “popular sovereignty”
  • Slave auctions would end in Wash. D.C. (but not slavery)
  • A more effective federal “Fugitive Slave” law would be enacted: fugitive slave = runaway slave

Fugitive Slave Act

  • Federal and state agents were authorized to capture and return fugitive slaves.
  • The fugitives were taken to US Commissioners.
  • No Jury and only whites were allowed to testify
  • Anyone interfering could be put in jail and fined.
  • Abolition movements in the North grew

1954 Kansas-Nebraska Act

  • Stephen Douglas (congressman from Illinois) wanted a railroad from Chicago westward, southern politicians wanted it from New Orleans to California.
  • To get southern support, Douglas put into his bill, that the northern territories would be “open” to slavery if the settlers voted for it.
  • Northerners were outraged, but the bill passed into law

Bloody Kansas

  • Both southern and northern activists flocked to Kansas to populate it with their own supporters.
  • Two separate governments were elected.
  • City of Lawrence was burned by pro-slavery forces.
  • John Brown killed five pro-slavery men in response.
  • Bloody clashes continued until a federal governor with military authority was sent.

Another Bloody Incident

  • Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts delivered aspeech criticizing pro-slavery forces in Kansas and personally criticized a southern senator Butler.
  • Butler’s nephew, a congressman, beat Sumner with a cane.

Election of 1856

  • Issues: Expanding or limiting slavery and internal improvements. Main candidates:
  • Buchannan, a Southern Democrat / Fremont, an exclusively northern Republican
  • Buchannan wins – Slavery issues remain unanswered

The Dred Scott Decision

  • Dred Scott sued for his freedom based on his having been taken into “free” territory.
  • 11 years later the Supreme Court ruled:

Blacks were not citizens and therefore could not sue

When Scott returned to Missouri, his status was determined by Missouri’s laws

Said The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was unconstitutional because it deprived citizens of their property

Lincoln – Douglass Debates

  • Abraham Lincoln ran as a Republican against the Democrat Stephen Douglas for a Senate seat from Illinois
  • Lincoln stressed the main issue was the spread of slavery in the west and that the nation could not “survive half slave and half free”
  • Douglas said that proved Lincoln wanted every state to be a free state and states should be able to choose whether they had slaves or not
  • Lincoln lost to Douglas

Harper’s Ferry Incident

  • October 16, 1859, John Brown and some men took over the arsenal in Harpers Ferry
  • Some of his men went to slave plantations in hope of inciting a rebellion.
  • The next day, Col Robert E. Lee had marines capture Brown.
  • After a trial, Brown was hanged for treason, murder, and conspiracy
  • Brown was an outspoken opponent of slavery and was willing to kill and die over the issue!

Election of 1860 (electoral map)

Conclusions: split between North and South on issue of Slavery

Southern Reaction to Lincoln’s Election

  • Not waiting for his inauguration, South Carolina (SC) seceded (separates) believing Lincoln would end slavery in the south when he became president.
  • Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas joined SC and formed the CSA electing Jefferson Davis as President.
  • Lincoln believed only amendments or revolution could dissolve the Union
  • In question was who owned Fort Sumter in SC?
  • Lincoln vowed to hold federal land, but would not provoke (start) a fight.
  • South Carolina fires on Fort Sumter - Lincoln orders troops to put down the rebellion
  • States forced to choose sides – War Begins in April of 1861