William Lloyd Garrison: “To the Public”
Origin:
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Purpose:
Who was William
Lloyd Garrison?
When was this speech
written?
Is this a primary or
secondary source?
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Why did Garrison
write this speech?
Who was his intended
audience?
Is it a propaganda
piece?
Value:
•
•
Limitations:
Is it a reaction to
various events?
Does it illustrate
Garrison’s ideas and
thoughts
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Is it biased?
Are there facts that
are exaggerated or
misrepresented?
Garrison Speech Prompts
1. Who is Garrison’s targeted audience? Why?
2. How did Garrison’s position change over time?
3. What does Garrison say in response to his critics who say he is arguing for too much?
Southern Justification Prompts
1. In documents B-F, what specific arguments are used to justify slavery and combat those who were calling for
abolition? Identify at least 3 specific examples.
Causes of the Civil War Notes Outline
Opening Prompt: Was the Mexican-American War a “just war?” Was it part of a conspiracy on behalf of southerners to
acquire more territory for slavery?
Road to the Civil War
I. Aftermath of the Mexican-American War: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
• U.S. Defeats Mexico in the War
• Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
– U.S. acquires modern day TX, AZ, NM, CO, UT, NV, & CA from Mexico…completes goal of Manifest
Destiny
– Estbl. Rio Grande River as U.S.’ Southern border
• Polk acquires more land than any other president in History
– TX, OR, and territory from Treaty of G-H
• Why doesn’t the U.S. take over all of Mexico?
– • How did land gained from treaty only spell future disaster for the United States?
– II. Rising Tensions over California
• Mass Population Growth in California in 1849…why?
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• California Applies for statehood
– What’s the issue?
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• South threatens secession…why?
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– Compromise Needed…
III. Compromise of 1850
• Negotiations led by Henry Clay…
– What other compromises was he heavily involved in?
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Compromise of 1850 Provisions
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– Remaining territory from MX open to decide slavery thru popular sovereignty (i.e. NM/UT)
• What does this mean?
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Why are these last 3 provisions put in place?
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Opposed by Pres. Taylor, but he dies…in steps Fillmore
Why did this compromise end up angering both the South and the North?
– South?
–
North?
IV. Southern Views of the Compromise of 1850
Source A: Congressman Robert Toombs of Georgia, speech on the House floor, December 13, 1849
I do not, then, hesitate to avow before this House and the country, and in the presence of the living God,
that if by your legislation you [Northerners] seek to drive us from the territories of California and New
Mexico, purchased by common blood and treasure of the whole people, and to abolish slavery in this
District [of Columbia], thereby attempting to fix a national degradation upon half the states of this
Confederacy, I am for disunion. And if my physical courage be equal to the maintenance of my
convictions of right and duty, I will devote all I am and all I have on earth to its consummation.
2. What was Toombs position regarding the Compromise of 1850? Why?
Source B: John C. Calhoun, last speech in the Senate, read on March 4, 1850
I have, Senators, believed from the first that the agitation of the subject of slavery would, if not prevented
by some timely and effective measure, end in disunion….
To this question there can be but one answer,--that the immediate cause is the almost universal discontent which
pervades all the States composing the Southern section of the Union…. What has caused this widely diffused and almost
universal discontent?…
One of the causes is, undoubtedly, to be traced to the long-continued agitation of the slave question on the part of the
North, and the many aggressions which they have made on the rights of the South during the time…
There is another lying back of it—with which this is intimately connected—that may be regarded as the
great and primary cause. This is to be found in the fact that the equilibrium between the two sections, in
the Government as it stood when the constitution was ratified and the Government put in action, has been
destroyed. At that time there was nearly a perfect equilibrium between the two, which afforded a means of
each to protect itself against the aggression of the other; but as it now stands, one section has the exclusive power of
controlling the Government, which leaves the other without any adequate means of protecting itself against its
encroachment and oppression…
3. Who was John C. Calhoun? Where else in our studies has he appeared
4. Why did he argue the Compromise of 1850 would destroy the nation?
V. Fugitive Slave Act…The Most Controversial Provision of the Compromise of 1850
• Fugitive Slave Act Provisions
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• Evidence:
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– Officers who captured a fugitive slave were entitled to a bonus or promotion for their work
– Judges Receive $10 payment for ordering a return of a “runaway slave” (only $5 for finding an A.A.
innocent
• What was the impact/significance of this law?:
– On the North?
–
On the South?
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How did it contribute to the growing tensions between North and South?
VI. Growing Abolitionism
• Abolitionist Movement
– Fight to ban slavery in the U.S.
– Took Multiple forms/Motivations
• Garrisonians
•
• Religious Abolitionists
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• Political Abolitionists
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• Radical/Military Abolitionists
•
• Why did the Fugitive Slave Act lead to a surge in Abolitionism in the North?
VI. Growing Abolitionism (continued…)
• History of Slave Resistance
– Work slowdowns, sabotage tools, steal foodstuffs, etc.
• Surge in activity on the Underground Railroad
• Uncle Tom’s Cabin
– Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe
– Many historians argue it was a direct cause of the Civil War…
– Why did this novel anger both northerners and southerners?
• North?
•
South?
VII. Reactions to Abolitionists
Source: Daniel Webster, speech in the Senate, March 7, 1850
Then, Sir, there are the Abolition societies, of which I am unwilling to speak, but in regard to which I have
very clear notions and opinions. I do not think them useful. I think their operations for the last twenty years
have produced nothing good or valuable…. I do not mean to impute gross motives even to the leaders of
these societies, but I am not blind to the consequences of their proceedings. I cannot but see what mischiefs
their interference with the South has produced…. These Abolition societies commenced their course of
action in 1835. It is said, I do not know how true it may be, that they sent incendiary publications into the
slave States; at any rate, they attempted to arouse, and did arouse, a very strong feeling; in other words,
they created great agitation in the North against Southern slavery….
1. Why does Webster blame Abolitionist groups for furthering the tensions between North and South?
Causes of the Civil War Notes (Continued…)
I. Election of 1852: Changing of the Tides
• Candidates:
– Democrats: Franklin Pierce
– Whigs: Winfield Scott
– Free Soilers: John Hale
• Impact:
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– Collapse of the Whig Party…
• Death of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster…symbolic
• – Leads to Rise of the Republican Party…and sectional parties
II. Controversy: Ostend Manifesto
• Pierce Administration:
– American ministers in Europe:
• Pierre Soulé for Spain
• James Buchanan for Great Britain
• John Y. Mason for France
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• What motivations would the U.S. have for acquiring Cuba?
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• Who would oppose?
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• Impact…
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III. Transcontinental Railroad: Who Knew a Railroad Could Bring About So Much Destruction?
• What does California have to do Nebraska?
– Transcontinental Railroad
– Why did this cause sectional conflict b/n North and South?
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• Stephen Douglas (D-IL)
– Motivations?
– 1854: Designs Kansas-Nebraska Act
IV. Kansas Nebraska Act
• Provisions:
– Divides Nebraska Territory into 2 territories…Nebraska and Kansas
• Why?
– How would issue of slavery be decided in Kansas and Nebraska?
•
– Impact:
• Effectively Repeals the Missouri Compromise… How?
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• Fuels mass opposition in North?
– Why?
•
V. Cartoon Analysis
 What event/conflict is the cartoon referencing? How can you tell?
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Who do the various figures in the political cartoon represent? What clues do we have?
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What is the overall message of the cartoon? Who is the cartoonist blaming for this conflict?
VI. Bleeding Kansas
• Kansas: Territorial Election of 1855
– Issue of “Border Ruffians”…who were they?
•
– What was the outcome/significance of the election?
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Lawrence, Kansas
– Anti-Slavery town sacked in 1856
– Enter John Brown…Pottawatomie Creek Massacre
– Significance
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Lecompton Constitution
– 1857: Kansas applies for statehood
– Anti-slave forces boycott election over Lecompton Constitution…pro-slavery forces come out on top…
– Solves nothing…KS remains divided on the issue
VII. Election of 1856 and the Lecompton Constitution
• Election of 1856
– James Buchanan (Democrat) v. John Fremont (Republican) v. Millard Fillmore (Know-Nothing)
• Outcome
– President James Buchanan wins, takes over for Pierce
– Strong showing for the emerging Republican Party who took a strong position against the expansion of
slavery into the western territories.
• Election of 1856 and Bleeding Kansas
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• Stephen Douglas intervenes
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– Kansas remains a territory, denied statehood until 1861 (outbreak of C.W.)
VIII. Bleeding Kansas Reaches the Halls of Congress: Brooks-Sumner Affair
• Violence reaches the halls of Congress
– May 22, 1856
•
• Response to “The Crime Against Kansas” speech which attacked S.C. and Sen. Andrew Butler
– Significance?
•
IX. Dred Scott v. Sandford
• March 6, 1857: Supreme Court Drops a Bomb Shell!
• Court Ruling (Chief Justice: Roger Taney)
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• Declared Congress did not have jurisdiction to ban slavery in the territories; nor did popular
sovereignty matter
• Impact:
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– Fuels further division between North and South… why?
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X. John Brown’s Raid: Harper’s Ferry
• The Point of No Return…
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– What were his motivations?
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Abolitionist Response
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Southern Response
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