South & Impending Crisis
I.
II.
Intro
The South
A. Slavery & S.
Society
B. Why fight?
III. Road to War
A. Controversies
B. Compromise
IV. Crises
A. Fugitives
B. Stowe
C. Kansas
(1850s)
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Key Terms
Paternalism
Small Farmer Model
Free Soiler
Popular Sovereignty
Henry Clay
Stephen Douglas
Compromise of 1850
Fugitive Slave Law
Abolitionists
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Kansas/Nebraska Act
Bleeding Kansas
Slavery & The Bible
• Various passages were used to justify
slavery.
– “Curse of Ham”
Slavery & History
1. Ancient Greeks &
Romans owned slaves.
2. US Constitution protected
slavery:
– 3/5 Compromise
– Fugitive Slave
Provision
Slavery & Social Justification
Paternalism
• Slaves were like children
(family) in need of help.
• Slaves were provided with
food and shelter.
• “Civilization” and
Christianity were brought to
people considered heathens.
Slaves were treated better Virginia Planter's Family by
than Northern factory
August Köllner, 1845
workers.
Southern Society
(1860)
Society Was Very Stratified
• Great Planters (1% of pop: 20+
slaves)
• Small Farmers (35-45% of pop:
0-5 slaves = most common)
• Landless Whites (20-25% of pop)
• Slaves (35% of pop)
About 75% of Southern Whites
were NOT slaveholders
Virginia: Community Life
River
Small Farmer Model
Why would a Southern white male fight to protect
slavery if he didn’t own slaves?
1. Large plantation was the social center of life.
2. Large planters lent small farmers a “helping
hand” VERY often.
3. A small farmer’s goal: to become a big
planter!

The entire system was based on slave
labor; at least they weren’t black slaves!
Controversy/Concerns After Mexican War
• Would slavery expand into
newly acquired land?
• What about Texas (border &
debt) & California?
• Some felt slavery in WA DC
was embarrassing for the
nation
A group of slaves passing
by the US Capital
Different Solutions
1. Free Soilers
All new territory should be FREE (prohibit
slavery).
2. Popular Sovereignty
Allow people who live in new territories
for vote and decide themselves.
3. Extend Missouri Compromise line
Who Can Develop A Compromise?
Henry Clay
Stephen Douglas
•He failed
•He succeeded
Compromise Of 1850
1. California entered Union as a
free state
2. Slavery in Utah & New Mexico
territories will be decided by
popular sovereignty
3. Texas border was settled &
their debt was paid
Douglas
4. The slave trade was outlawed
in WA DC (but slavery
remained legal)
5. A stricter Fugitive Slave Law
Significance: Compromise Of
1850
•
Its Impact: It averted war for 10 years.
Presidents & The
Compromise
Zachary Taylor
Millard Filmore
(1849-50)
(1850-1853)
Fugitive Slave Law
(Part of Compromise of 1850)
1. All runaway slaves had to be
returned to their owners.
2. It became illegal to aid
runaway slaves.
3. Accused runaways were
denied a jury trial; a judge
decided their fate.
• It INFURIATED opponents of slavery & showed
slavery was a national problem, not regional.
Escaping From Slavery
Boston’s Park
Street Church
Hosted many antislavery rallies
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
(1852)
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Her Goal: Show horrors of slavery.
•National & international best-seller
•Its Impact: It infuriated North
AND South
•“So, you’re the little lady…”
A Slave Family Is Ripped Apart
Uncle Tom’s Final Beating
Abolitionists
• Condemned slavery as
immoral and called for an
immediate end to slavery.
• Strongest in New England,
but still very small in number.
The Liberator Publisher
William Lloyd Garrison
Kansas & Nebraska
(Background)
• Northerners supported a railroad out West
• Southerners wanted slavery to expand
• Stephen Douglas wanted to be President;
wanted support of North & South!
Kansas/Nebraska Act
(1854)
1. Organized two new territories:
Kansas & Nebraska.
2. The Missouri Compromise
was repealed.
3. Slavery in Kansas & Nebraska
was to be determined by
Popular Sovereignty.
Stephen Douglas
 Angered many in the North;
they feared slavery would
expand into new areas!
Bleeding Kansas
(1855-56)
• Supporters & opponents of
slavery converged in
Kansas.
• This led to bloodshed
between the two groups.
• Pottawatomie Creek
Massacre
John Brown
South & Impending Crisis
I.
II.
Intro
The South
A. Slavery & S.
Society
B. Why fight?
III. Road to War
A. Controversies
B. Compromise
IV. Crises
A. Fugitives
B. Stowe
C. Kansas
(1850s)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Key Terms
Paternalism
Small Farmer Model
Free Soiler
Popular Sovereignty
Henry Clay
Stephen Douglas
Compromise of 1850
Fugitive Slave Law
Abolitionists
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Kansas/Nebraska Act
Bleeding Kansas