Road to Civil War
CHAPTER 15
STANDARD 8.H.11
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Disputes over the nature of federalism,
complicated by economic developments in the
United States, resulted in sectional issues,
including slavery, which led to the American
Civil War.
CHAPTER 15 VOCABULARY
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Abstain – to not take part in an activity, such as voting
Arsenal – a storage place for weapons and ammunition
Border Ruffians – Missourians who traveled in armed groups to vote in
Kansas’s election during the mid-1850’s
Fugitive – runaway or trying to runaway
Kansas-Nebraska Act – decision made by Congress to allow people of
Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether they would be a free of slave state
Martyr – a person who sacrifices his or her life for a principle or cause
Popular Sovereignty – idea that people living in a territory have the right to
decide by voting if slavery would be allowed there
Secession – withdrawal from the Union
State’s Rights – the belief that states’ rights supersede federal rights and
law
Wilmot Proviso – proposal in Congress that said any lands acquired from
fighting with Mexico should be free
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Slavery – Crash Course
NEW WESTERN LANDS AND SLAVERY
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For twenty-five years, since the Missouri Compromise, Congress did
not discuss slavery
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With new territories of Texas, New Mexico, and California that
changed
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Just after Mexican War began, Pennsylvania rep David Wilmot
proposed the Wilmot Proviso
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Any lands acquired from Mexico should be free
California applied for statehood in 1849
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At the time, free and slave states were split 15-15
California would give what ever side it chose an advantage in Congress
Southerners began talking of seceding if balance was lost
FREE-SOIL PARTY
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In the 1848 election, neither Whig candidate Zachary Taylor or
Democratic candidate Lewis Cass took a stand on slavery
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Whigs supported power of Congress over President
Name modeled after 1776 revolutionaries going against tyranny
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This angered voters and antislavery Congressmen
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Antislavery Democrats and Whigs left to form the Free-Soil Party
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“Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labor, and Free Men.”
Endorsed the Wilmot Proviso
Martin Van Buren presidential candidate
Zachary Taylor won election
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13 free-soil members won seats in Congress
DISPUTES IN CONGRESS
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After Taylor was elected, he faced heated debate in
Congress. The talk of adding new territories brought slavery
back into the mix
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Antislavery forces wanted District of Columbia to be free
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Southerners wanted a fugitive slave law
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Would New Mexico, Utah, Oregon, and California be free?
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What would this mean for slavery supporters in Congress?
HENRY CLAY’S PROPOSAL
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January 1850, Henry Clay presented a five-point plan to
settle issues dividing Congress.
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1. California admitted as free state
2. New Mexico territory has no restrictions on slavery
3. New Mexico-Texas border set in favor of New Mexico
4. Slave trade but NOT slavery abolished in District of
Columbia
5. Stronger Fugitive Slave Law
Debate over Clay’s proposal raged for seven months
COMPROMISE OF 1850
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Congress could not pass proposal as a whole.
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President Taylor opposed plan but passed away in July 1850. Millard
Fillmore becomes president and supports compromise
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Senator of Illinois Stephen Douglas proposes to vote on points
separately instead of as a whole
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Through bargaining, Fillmore persuaded many Congressmen to
abstain votes so bills could be passed
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The five separate bills were passed into law in August and September
of 1850
A NATION DIVIDING
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Fugitive Slave Act (2:20) required all citizens to help catch runaways
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Anyone caught helping escaped slaves could be fined $1,000 or
imprisoned
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Southerners took advantage of the act
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Traveled into Northern towns and cities to find runaways
Captured runaways from years past
Captured and forced free African Americans into slavery
Many Northerners were angered by the law and southerners actions
THINK ABOUT IT!
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How could slavery be defended?
What do you do if laws are morally wrong?
On the paper provided, answer the following questions…
1. How did the Fugitive Slave Law provide support to Southern
slave owners opinions about slaves (for the primary sources
we read in class)?
2. Why did the Fugitive Slave Law convince many Abolitionists
there was a “Slave Power” conspiracy in the U.S.
Government?
3. How might the Fugitive Slave Law changed slaves opinions
about running away?
KANSAS-NEBRASKA ACT
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The Compromise of 1850 did not last
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Stephen Douglas proposed organizing territories of Kansas
and Nebraska for settlement and a transcontinental railroad
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Both above Missouri 36’30’ boundary which would have
made them free states
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Douglas proposed popular sovereignty
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Many northerners objected; southerners supported idea
Act passed in May 1854
INTERACTIVE MAP
Color free states/territories blue
 Color slave states/territories red
 Abbreviate states
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“BLEEDING KANSAS”
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After Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed, antislavery and proslavery groups rushed
supporters into Kansas for the elections.
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Elections of 1855 voted for a proslavery legislature in Kansas
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6,000 votes cast with only 1,500 voters living there before election
Proslavery supporters crossed from Missouri
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Traveled in armed bands called Border Ruffians
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Proslavery government started to establish laws supporting slavery
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Antislavery supporters refused to obey laws. Armed themselves, held own elections,
and adopted constitution that banned slavery.
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Two governments now existed in Kansas
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Antislavery supported by House of Reps
Proslavery supported by President Franklin Pierce and Senate
“BLEEDING KANSAS” (CONT.)
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Violence erupts in Kansas
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May 1856, 800 slavery supporters attack Antislavery capital of Lawrence.
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Sack town, burn hotel and governor’s home, and destroy newspaper offices
Abolitionist John Brown retaliated by taking his sons and killing five
supporters of slavery
Armed bands roam the territory inciting
violence
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In fall of 1856, U.S. Army finally stops
bloodshed
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More than 200 people were killed
REPUBLICAN PARTY FORMS
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Events in Kansas shake up the political landscape
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Parties start to divide along sectional (North and South) lines
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The death of leaders Henry Clay and Daniel Webster and differing views
destroy Whig party
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In 1854, the remaining antislavery Whigs and antislavery Democrats join
the Free-Soilers to form Republican Party
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Party formed to eliminate slavery from new territories
Support for Republicans in North was strong, but in the south, there was no
support
Democrats win election of 1856; James Buchanan becomes president
DRED SCOTT DECISION
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Buchanan took office on March 4, 1857. Two days later, the Supreme
Court made a historical decision
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Dred Scott was an enslaved African American in Missouri.
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In 1830’s, the doctor who purchased him moved to Illinois (a free state)
and then Wisconsin (where slavery was banned)
In 1846, he obtained lawyers and sued for his freedom, claiming since
he lived on free land, he should be free
The case attracted enormous attention because Americans hoped
the court decision would end the issue of slavery in territories for
good
DRED SCOTT DECISION (CONT.)
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Chief Justice Roger Taney ruled the following
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Scott is still a slave
Scott is not a citizen and therefore cannot bring a lawsuit to court
Scott is property and Congress cannot take away property under 5th
Amendment
Congress has no power to eliminate slavery in territories and Missouri
Compromise of 1820 was unconstitutional
Bottom line: the Constitution PROTECTS
slavery
The decision (3:00) divided the country
even more
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LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS DEBATES
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Illinois Senatorial race of 1858 put the favorite Senator Stephen
Douglas against unknown candidate Abraham Lincoln
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Douglas supported popular sovereignty while Lincoln believed slavery
should not be allowed to spread
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Lincoln challenged Douglas to a series of debates to build his
popularity
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From August through October 1858, Douglas and Lincoln had seven
debates all over Illinois with slavery being the main topic of
discussion
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Lincoln lost, but debates put him in the national spotlight
HARPERS FERRY
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October 16, 1859 Abolitionist John Brown led 18 men (whites and African
Americans) to Harpers Ferry, Virginia
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Brown wanted to seize the federal arsenal there and spark an uprising of
enslaved people.
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His plan failed. No slaves rebelled and U.S. Marines captured Brown and his
men. Ten of Brown’s men were killed.
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Brown and six of his followers were sentenced to hang on December 2nd.
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Brown’s death became a rally point for abolitionists, some even calling him
a martyr
ELECTION OF 1860
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The question on everyone’s mind before the election of 1860 was
‘can the nation stay together?’
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Alabama said they would secede if a republican became president
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Election came down to three candidates: Southern Democrat John
Breckinridge, Northern Democrat Stephen Douglas, and Republican
Abraham Lincoln
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Lincoln won with 180 of 303 electoral votes and only 40% of the
popular vote (Douglas was second with 30% of vote)
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Lincoln’s name was not even on the ballot in most southern states, but
he won every northern state
SOUTH SECEDES
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Southern states feared a Republican president would not protect
southern rights and liberties
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December 20, 1860, South Carolina seceded
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Many STILL wanted to keep Union together, but divide was too wide
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By February 1861, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida,
and Georgia also seceded and on February 4th, established the
Confederate States of America
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Jefferson Davis elected President
Southerners justified seceding on the theory of states’ rights
PRESIDENTIAL RESPONSE
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As southern states seceded, Lincoln had to wait to
do anything until he took office on March 4th.
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Many people, including border states between
northern states and southern (seceded) states,
wanted to see what Lincoln would do
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In Inaugural Address, Lincoln said secession would
not be allowed, but pleaded with south to keep
nation intact
FORT SUMTER
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After seceding, some southern states took control of U.S.
forts within their borders
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Lincoln did not want to start war by taking them back, but
also did not want to admit southern right to take them
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The commander at Fort Sumter sent word to Lincoln he
needed resupplied and Confederates were demanding his
surrender
FORT SUMTER (CONT.)
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Lincoln sent message to Governor of South Carolina, Francis Pickens,
that he was sending and unarmed group to Fort Sumter with supplies
and would not send weapons unless the group was fired upon.
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Confederate President Jefferson Davis ordered the attack of Fort
Sumter before supplies arrived.
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On April 12, 1861, the Civil War began and on April 14th, Fort Sumter
surrendered.
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The North was sparked into action and Lincoln issued a call for
75,000 troops to fight and save the Union.
Summary of Chapter 15 Crash Course