Impending Crisis
Anti-Slavery Movement
• Anti-Slavery sentiments and movements were not
new, but they gained their first significant American
voice in the 1830’s.
• American Colonization Society in 1817 for example.
– Prominent Virginians who wanted to relocate liberated
slaves to form their own African colony.
– Liberia is result of this action
– Their capital of Monrovia is tribute to President James
Monroe who authorized.
William Lloyd Garrison
• Massachusetts born journalist, founded weekly
Boston Newspaper called The Liberator.
• Felt most Americans neglected to see slavery from
the black perspective.
– Even abolitionists generally viewed the possible harm on
white society.
– Also felt negatively about colonization groups.
• talented writer with harsh language and tone
regarding contempt for slavery.
– Founded the American Antislavery Society
• By 1838 he had over 250,00 members.
Popular Black Abolitionists
• David Walker – free man from Boston
– Published Walker’s Appeal … to the Colored Citizens.
– Was rather militant and off putting for many.
• Sojourner Truth – inspired by her involvement in
one of the strange cults in upstate New York.
– Very eloquent spokeswoman for abolition movement.
Frederick Douglass
• Most influential figure in anti-slavery movement.
• Born a slave in Maryland, eventually escaped to
Massachusetts.
• Spent 2 years lecturing and studying in England, and
officially bought his freedom when he returned.
• Forged a tie among white abolitionists and black
anti-slavery proponents.
– Eventually merged with Garrison’s movement.
Anti-Abolition Sentiments
• Many people opposed the new movement.
• Not just Southerners either
– Many northern whites feared the possible social
upheaval caused by drastic measures.
– Garrison himself was kidnapped by a mob and
threatened to be hanged
• Local police had to arrest him to save his life.
Garrisonians
• As Garrison’s ideas became more and more
controversial (pg. 335) his followers became called
Garrisonians.
– Highly involved in the Underground Railroad, advocates
for government and Constitutional involvement, even
paid for legal representation for Amistad case.
• Amistad – Spanish slave ship where the slaves
revolted and overthrew the ship and tried to return
to Africa.
• While a powerful influence, the anti-slavery
movement never officially formed a political party.
Harriet Beecher Stowe
• Her book Uncle Tom’s Cabin was most influential
piece of propaganda.
– Was a work of fiction though.
• First appeared in 1851-52 in some of the antislavery weekly newspapers.
– Eventually became so popular that they turned it into a
book
– Sold 300,00 copies and became one of the best selling
books in American history.
– Completely rocked the nation with its heartwrenching
tale about slavery.
Manifest Destiny: America Grows
• Manifest Destiny – the belief that the U.S. was
destined by God to be a great nation and rule the
entire continent.
– Many believed that in the long term, this was best for all
inhabitants of the continent.
– This is how they justified the mistreatment of various
racial groups.
• The Louisiana Purchase was an example of Manifest
Destiny in practice.
– As People moved westward, slavery became an issue.
Don’t Mess with Texas!
• The U.S. had tried to buy or claim Texas on multiple
occasions from Mexico, but with no success.
• Mexicans viewed it as a buffer between them and
the U.S. and tried to sway Americans to move there.
– Efforts ended up creating wealthy class that competed
with Mexican interests in the region
– More Americans ended up there than Mexicans.
• When Mexican Gen. Santa Anna seized control of
Mexican government he passed a number of laws
which Texans felt were aimed at them.
– led to upheaval and revolt.
Texas Cont.
• The Alamo – unorganized groups of Texans tried to
claim independence from Mexico.
– Santa Anna personally led army to the small mission in
San Antonio to attack a band of Texas “patriots”.
– Futile slaughter included Tennessee Congressman Davy
Crockett.
• Battle of San Jacinto – group of Texans led by Gen.
Sam Houston defeated Mexicans and captured
Santa Anna.
– Just outside of present day Houston.
– Led to eventual independence of Texas as its own nation.
Annexation of Texas
• President Sam Houston immediately tried to
convince the U.S. to annex his new country.
• Many Northern politicians balked at such a large
new slave territory.
• Andrew Jackson wouldn’t support it at the time
because he felt it would lead to war with Mexico.
– When U.S. refused the upset Texans tried to pursuit
territory so they could rival the U.S.
• When European countries supported them
President John Tyler revisited the idea of
annexation in 1844.
The Election of 1844
• Annexation of Texas became the primary issue.
• Democrats selected James Polk as their candidate
because he took a firm stance supporting the
annexation of Texas and Oregon.
– The Whigs selected Henry Clay, who was non-committal
on the issue.
– Polk won in a landslide and Texas was annexed before he
even took office.
– Polk eventually negotiated obtaining Oregon territory
from the British and set the Canadian border at the 49th
Parallel, where it is today.
Mexican War
• Mexico broke off relations with the U.S. as soon as
Texas became a state.
– Immediately disputes over the actual border, eventually
Polk declared the Rio Grande.
– U.S. also expressed interest in acquiring New Mexico and
California, since more Americans lived there than
Mexicans.
– Mexico refused his attempt to buy the lands and was
appeared imminent.
• “Staged” confrontation along the Rio Grande was
viewed as an act of war and the Mexican War began
Mexican War Cont.
• Eventual victory, but not as quickly as many had
hoped.
• Bear Flag Rebellion – U.S. forces combined with
Californians already rebelling to gain control of the
territory.
– U.S. had occupied territory they wanted, but Mexico
refused to concede victory.
• Eventually Winfield Scott devised plan to capture
Mexico City.
– New Mexican government agreed to peace Negotiations
and Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war.
Debate over New Territory
• With new territories the major question was how to
handle them, and more importantly what role
slavery would play.
• Wilmot Proviso: appropriate $2 million during the
war to purchase Mexican territories, provided
slavery wouldn’t exist there.
– Hotly debated, Polk suggested simply extending the 3630 line from the Missouri Compromise.
– Ultimately led to the Free-Soil Movement of voters
unhappy with either the Whig or Democratic party
became central issue in 1848 Election.
Kansas-Nebraska Act
• Stephen Douglas (D- Sen. Illinois) wanted to
manipulate the transcontinental railroad route to
include his state.
– In order to do so some territory from the Louisiana
Purchase would need to become a state. (Nebraska)
– To appease Southern Democrats he proposed nullifying
the Missouri Compromise to allow territories to vote on
slavery.
• Also introduce Kansas as a state as well, hoping that Nebraska
would vote down slavery and Kansas accept it.
Death of the Whig Party
• Whigs were divided over the Kansas-Nebraska Act
– Many had been strong supporters of the Missouri Comp.
• As the Whig party disbanded, Anti-Nebraska Whigs
and Democrats combined with Free-Soil movement
to form the Republican Party.
– In 1854 mid-term elections they combined with KnowNothings to form majority in the House of Reps.
Bleeding Kansas
• Debate over the vote on slavery led to bitter fighting
between abolitionists and slavery.
– Thousands moved to Kansas to establish a government there
to support their side.
– While pro-slavery groups constituted majority of residents,
free-sate supporters seized control of the new government
and fight broke out.
• Pro-slavery federal marshals arrested free-state leaders
and burned the governors house.
• Pottowatomie Massacre: John Brown and followers
mutilated and killed 5 pro-slavery supporters and left
their bodies to discourage any other pro-slavery
supporters.
The Dred Scott Decision
• Dred Scott v. Stanford: Scott was slave of a Missouri
surgeon who had taken him to Wisconsin and Illinois
(free states)
– when the surgeon died he sued his widow for freedom and
initially won.
– The widow’s brother Stanford, now claiming ownership,
appealed the case and it eventually made it to the Supreme
Court.
– First time the Supreme Court had to rule in slavery issue.
• Sided with Sanford claiming Scott was not a citizen and
therefore property protected under 5th Amendment.
– Viewed as triumph by Southerners and upset Republican.
John Brown and Harper’s Ferry
• Already well-known for his actions in Kansas, Brown
attempted an even more high profile campaign
against slavery.
• Brown’s goal was to seize control of the garrison at
Harper’s Ferry, then use the weapons to lead a slave
insurrection against their masters.
– Ultimately he was trapped by civilians and soldiers and
eventually arrested by a unit under Robert E. Lee
– Was tried and hanged for treason
• Brown was viewed as a martyr for his cause by
abolitionists and a villain by Southerners.
The Election of 1860
• Lincoln vs. Douglas
– Emerged from Senatorial race with Lincoln’s soaring
popularity despite losing.
– Lincoln became first Presidential candidate for the new
Republican Party.
• John Breckinridge represented Southern Democrats
along with Douglas, they split the Democratic vote.
• Lincoln won the election without winning a single
southern state.
– Wasn’t even on the ballot in most.