During the 1840’s & 50’s, Why did the idea
civil war in the US appear to be inevitable?
LINCOLN VS DOUGLASS 1858:
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
In my opinion, it will not cease until a crisis shall have
been reached and passed. "A house divided against itself
can not stand." I believe this Government can not endure
permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the
Union to be dissolved--I do not expect the house to fall-but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all
one thing, or all the other. Either the opponents of slavery
will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the
public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in course of
ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward till
it shall become alike lawful in all the States, old as well as
new, North as well as South.
Abraham Lincoln 1858
Lincoln’s view on slavery
controversy:
Lincoln believed that:
– Slavery was an immoral labor system
based on greed
– Legislation needed to be passed to stop
the spread of slavery (against popular
sovereignty)
– The nation could not exist half free and
half slave
LINCOLN VS DOUGLASS 1858:
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
"It is the true intent and meaning of this act
(Kansas Nebraska Act) not to legislate slavery
into any State or Territory, or to exclude it there
from, but to leave the people thereof perfectly free
to form and regulate their domestic institutions in
their own way, subject only to the federal
constitution.'‘
Stephen A. Douglass
Douglass’ view on slavery
controversy:
Douglas believed that:
– That popular sovereignty would be the best
way to stop the spread of slavery into the new
territories
– Slavery was a backward labor system, the
people understood this, and would reject it by
vote
– Douglas won the Senate seat, but Lincoln
gained national attention & became the front
runner for the Republican Presidential
nomination in 1860
COMPROMISES/THE SLAVERY ISSUE:
Kansas-Nebraska
Missouri
Compromise
Act: (1820)
Compromise
of 1850:
–– Senator
Split
territories
Stephan
at 36/30
Douglas
linesponsored
(north free/south
the act
California
enters
as
a free
state
slave)
in
which
the
Nebraska
territory
would
be
– Utah/New Mexico decide on their own
inslavery
half to continue as the nation
–– divided
Allowed
Strict fugitive slave laws
– Both territories would vote on the slavery
issue
– When pro slavery & anti slavery forces moved
to Kansas, violence between the groups
escalated
– The term Bleeding Kansas refers to this time
period
Violence in the Senate symbolizes the
growing national problem.
Congressman Preston Brooks beats Senator Charles Sumner,
after Sumner verbally attacked his uncle Senator Andrew Butler
for Sen. Butlers pro slavery position.
ECONOMIC DIFFERENCES/NORTH & SOUTH:
North
– Remained industrial, manufacturing base for
the US.
– Labor force was made up of low skilled,
poorly paid workers (immigrants)
South
– Remained agricultural
– Plantation system relied on slave labor
COMBINED EFFECT OF DIVISIVE INFLUENCES
Dred Scott decision by Supreme Court
– Scott is declared property, not a citizen, the decision is celebrated in the
south, begins to polarize the north against slavery
New Political Parties
– Free Soil Party, the Republican party attempt to keep slavery out of
territories
Poor Presidential Leadership
– President Taylor dies in office, unable to confront issues that fuel
secession
– Presidents Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan provide poor leadership in the
face of growing tensions between the regions
Lack of Leadership in the Senate
– Senators involved in compromise movements (Webster/Clay, Calhoun)
died, or no longer in office
Growth of Abolitionist Movement
– Harriet Tubman-underground rail road
– John Brown-violent raids against slavery/Harper’s Ferry
– Harriet Beecher Stowe-Uncle Tom’s Cabin/puts a human face on the
suffering of slaves
The Election of 1860
The Election of 1860
– Lincoln nominated by Republicans
– Douglas nominated by Democrats (moderate on
slavery)
– Breckinridge 3rd candidate (from south)/Bell forms new
party
– Douglas/Breckinridge/Bell split vote--Lincoln emerges
as winner
South views Lincoln’s election as the worst
possible outcome
– Lincoln wins without the support of a single southern
state/the south feels powerless
"If you are as happy, my dear sir, on entering this house
– 1 month
after Lincoln’s election the south secedes
as I am in leaving it and returning home,
from you
the are
union.
the happiest man in this country.“
James Buchanan to Abraham Lincoln on Inauguration Day
During the 1840’s & 50’s, Why did the idea civil
war in the US appear to be inevitable?
Economic & cultural differences put North
& South on a collision course
North viewed slavery as a moral issue
South believed strongly in states rights to
nullify federal decisions