Chapter 10 Section 5
A Nation Divided Against Itself
Border States
• Delaware, Maryland,
Kentucky, and Missouri
• Held moderate views on
slavery
Lower South
• Texas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, and
South Carolina
• Voted for John C
Breckinridge for
President in 1860
– Favored aggressively
expanding slavery
Why did the Democratic Party Split in
1860?
• Over the issue of
slavery
• This split allowed a
Republican, Abraham
Lincoln, to win the
Presidency without a
majority
Secessionist
• Those who wanted the
south to secede
• They argued that since
they voluntarily entered
the union, they could
also choose to leave it
• South was outraged that a
President (Lincoln) could be
elected without winning a
single Southern state
Confederate States of America
• South Carolina leave the
U.S. on 12/20/1860
• Rest of Lower South
follows over the next
few weeks
• Created the
Confederate States of
America
• Elected Jefferson Davis
as President
How did President Buchanan react to
the secession of the southern states?
• He said it was illegal,
but refused to take any
action
Fort Sumter
• Federal fort off the
coast of South Carolina
• Running out of supplies
• Confederates would not
allow supplies to be
delivered
• Lincoln said he would
send in supplies, but no
troops
Fort Sumter
• Confederates said the
Fort should be handed
over, or they would be
forced to take it
• Lincoln refused to hand
it over
• 4/12/1861
Confederates bombard
the Fort and seize it
• Civil War begins
Upper South
- Virginia, North Carolina,
Tennessee, and
Arkansas
How did the Lower South respond to
Lincoln’s election and the attack on Fort
Sumter?
• The Lower South
seceded when Lincoln
was elected without any
southern votes.
• Senator Crittenden
from Kentucky
attempted
unsuccessfully to
mediate
How did the Upper South respond to
Lincoln’s election and the attack on Fort
Sumter?
• After the Confederate
attack on Fort Sumter,
Southerners saw
Lincoln’s call for
volunteers as an act of
war against them
• This caused the Upper
South to secede and
join the Lower South in
the Confederacy
How did the Border States respond to
Lincoln’s election and the attack on Fort
Sumter?
• The Border States
remained temporarily
uncommitted to either
side