XXXV. The Spread of Slavery
A. Northern opposition
1. Moral objections
2. Economic and pragmatic reasons
a. competition with slave owners
b. competition with free when slavery ends
3. Political objections
a. slave owners sway southern politics
b. 1846, Texas admitted with Iowa as a balance
B. Wilmont Proviso, 1846
1. War with Mexico may bring in more territory
a. slave or free
b. opposition to expansion of slavery in new territory
2. David Wilmont, Dem. Congressman, Penn.
3. amendment tied to appropriations bill for war
4. failed to pass but brought up questions
a. Did congress have right to limit slavery?
b. Southerners claim should protect property
c. Northerners claim Constitution limited
d. Northwest Ordinance&Missouri Compromise
C. Election of 1848
1. Slavery divided both political parties
2. Sec. of State James Buchanan, extension of Missouri Compromise
3. Sen Lewis Cass, Dem. Mich., "popular sovereignty"
a. Democratic candidate for President in 1848
b. opposed abolitionists and Wilmont Proviso
c. two campaign biographies, one for north, other for south
4. Whigs nominate Gen. Zachary Taylor, hero of Mexican War
a. Louisiana slave owner
b. felt he was above politics, like George Washington
c. took no stand on Wilmont Proviso
5. John Calhoun S.C. Sen. tried to start third party
a. opposed laws limiting slavery
b. vilified northern states for attempts at interfering
6. Northern Democrats in N.Y. bolt to support Martian Van Buren
a. started over internal state politics
b. Whigs join opposition to a slave owner for president
c. abolitionists and fear of freed slaves start Free Soil Party
7. Taylor wins, Free Soilers not strong but gain Penn & N.Y.
D. Compromise of 1850
1. Four major problems when Taylor becomes President
a. California seeks admission as state
i. gold rush brings 80,000 people
ii. outlawed slavery for quick admission
iii. More free than slave states
b. Mexican territory, slave status unresolved
i. Wilmont Proviso or extension of slavery
ii. Texas boundary or subdivision unsure
c. Washington, D.C.
i. in south and no state tax becomes largest slave market
d. Lax enforcement of Fugitive Slave Act of 1793
2. Sen. Henry Clay, Whig Ken., attempt to tie issues together
a. benefited both north and south
b. too complicated and too much opposition
c. Clay retired from Senate
3. Sen. Stephen Douglas Ill. Dem., proposes
4. Package known as the Compromise of 1850
a. California a free state
b. New Mexico and Utah remain open to choose for themselves
c. Texas gives up western claims & U.S. pays $10 mill in debts
d. Slave trade abolished, but slavery allowed in D.C.
e. Fugitive Slave Act renewed with stronger enforcement
i. denied a jury trial to alleged fugitive
ii. special commission decided each case
iii. Commissioners get $10 for each convicted & $5 for every freed
iv. compelled all northerners to assist enforcement of act
a. northerners upset, passed "personal liberty laws"
b. prohibit state funds to assist recovery of slaves
c. some attempts at trying to free escaped slaves
d. 200 slaves arrested in north 15 rescued 3 by force
e. many unsuccessful attempts, well publicized
E. Uncle Tom's Cabin 1851
1. Harriet Beecher Stowe writes a serial carried by newspapers
a. follows slave family and their lives in the south
b. each week ended on some dramatic event
c. published as one book in 1852
2. emotional appeal to end slavery
a. more effective than intellectual appeal
b. 300,000 copies sold in first year
c. outraged south
F. The Election of 1852
1. lackluster, both parties very similar
a. support Compromise of 1850
b. New State Constitutions did away with many patronage jobs
2. Booming economy lessened domestic issues
3. Democratic Candidate, Franklin Pierce ran on expansion
a. won election with 50.9% popular vote, low participation
G. Gadsden Purchase, 1853
1. Pierce wants to expand U.S. sent James Gadsden to Mexico
a. Gadsden tried to buy part of Northern Mexico, inc. Baja
b. Mexico refused to give into further American expansion
i. Patriotism and self determination rises after loss
ii. However, Mexican President, Santa Ana needs money
2. Santa Ana sells a small strip of land
3. Gadsden proposes to build a southern transcontinental railroad
H. Filibusters
1. Despite diplomatic failures during 1850s private armies try to expand
2. William Walker from Tennessee made several filibuster attempts
a. 1853, 300 men invaded Baja & declare the Republic of Sonora
i. Mexican Army arrests Walker, sent to U.S. for trial
ii. after 8 min. of deliberation jury acquitted Walker
b. 1855, invaded Nicaragua proclaimed himself elected dictator
i. He legalized slavery which angered the British
ii. British back the ousted Nicaraguans and attack
iii. with aid from the U.S. Navy Walker escaped to U.S.
c. Walker toured the south gaining support for another attempt
d. Walker made two more attempts to reconquer Nicaragua
e. 1860 captured in Honduras and shot by a firing squad
3. Cuba also a target for southern expansion
a. Polk tried to pay $10 million to Spain
b. 1850 filibusters set out from New Orleans
i. failed & hundreds sent to Spanish prisons
ii. N Orleans mobs stormed Spanish embassy
a. Congress had to pay for damages
c. Pierce continues to negotiate for Cuba from Spain
i. Secretary of State, William Marcy offered $130 mil. for Cuba
ii. Spanish emissary, Pierre Soulé refused
d. Ostend Manifesto, 1854
i. American ministers to France, England, Belgium try pressure
ii. They declared Cuba really belonged to U.S.
iii. Trade in area wasn't secure until both under one government
iv. Promised to promote revolution in Cuba
v. if revolution failed they promised war with Spain
vi. Marcy saw manifesto too radical & rejected it
vii. Southern Democrats supported, Northerners outraged
XXXVI. The Failure to
Compromise
A. Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854
1. 2 states out of Indian Territory
2. Both decide popular election about slavery
3. Eli Thayer starts MA Emigrant Aid Society
a. recruits free-soilers to settle in Kansas
b. 1855 1,200 New Englanders in Kansas
4. Sen. David Atchison of MO people should cross border
a. twice as many ballots as registered voters in 1854 election
5. 1855 Kansas hold another election for territorial legislators
a. Proslavery forces immigrate and intimidate free-soilers
b. elect a pro-slavery legislature in Shawnee Mission
c. later move their government to Lecompton
6. Free-soilers stage own constitutional convention in Lawrence
a. create Free-soil government in Topeka
b. banned all African-Americans form their state
7. With two separate governments, Federal government should decide
8. President Pierce refuses to act
9. Congress sent investigators & inflamed issue
B. "Bleeding Kansas"
1. 5/1856 proslavery factions, raided Lawrence
a. federal marshal helps smashed newspaper
b. destroyed press, several shops and homes
c. shot a cannon into the local hotel
2. John Brown raided Pottawatomie Creek
a. dragged five men out of their homes
b. hacked as women & children watch
3. Sen. Charles Sumner "The Crime Against Kansas"
a. accused some southern senators of contributing to violence
b. accused David Atchinson and Andrew Butler
c. Preston Brooks beat Sumner senseless with a cane in Senate
4. Several more raids continued throughout the decade
a. over 200 people died and $2 million in property destroyed
C. Immigration
1. Catholic Europeans largest immigrant group
a. different clothes, spoke funny and drank
b. joined Democratic party, less interfering
2. Know-Nothing Party
a. Whigs, opposed to immigrants
a. middle and lower class workers
b. opposed Catholics wanted restrictions
3. Republican Party
a. end Slavery in D.C.,
b. stop internal slave trade, & Fugitive Slave Act
c. Abraham Lincoln led the opposition to expansion of Slavery
d. 3rd group opposed immigrants
e. 4th group wants government support of commerce & industry
4. In the Election of 1856 three parties contended
a. Millard Fillmore ran for Know-Nothings
b. John C. Fremont Republican, hero of Bear Flag Revolt
c. Democrat James Buchanan won with 45% of popular vote
d. Know-Nothings fell apart after the election
D. Dred Scott v. Sandford 1857
1. 1846 Dred and Harriet Scott in MO
a. taken to Minnesota, Wisconsin & other free area
i. returned to Missouri & sold
b. Roger B. Taney wrote 7 to 2 decision
i. claimed blacks, inferior
ii. Dred Scott not a citizen had no right to sue
iii. Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional
a. Congress had no power to ban slavery in territories
iv. Scott passing through free states didn't make free
2. Decision had far reaching effects
a. it questioned the status of all free African-Americans
i. they were not citizens, their rights threatened
b. question of slavery in states unsure
c. territories all open to slavery compromises void
E. Lincoln, Douglas Debates, 1858
1. 1857Lecompton Constitution needs approval
a. 2,000 of 24,000 registered voters approved
b. proslavery, banned free Blacks in state,
c. Senate split along regional lines, Buchanan supported it
d. Steven Douglas, running for election in Illinois opposes it
i. looses support of southern Democrats
ii. had national ambitions & usually tried to walk middle
e. Congress sent constitution back to territory
f. Kansas remained a territory without a constitution til 1861
2. Douglas gained new respect with stand on Lecompton Constitution
3. Abraham Lincoln chosen by Republicans, mild abolitionist,
a. claimed the nation was headed for a confrontation over slavery
4. Two candidates have seven debates on national and state issues
a. Lincoln traced dominance of south since Kansas- Nebraska Act
b. Against Dred Scot decision, claimed it was a southern conspiracy
c. Claimed he had a large following opposed to slavery
d. Lincoln far from radical abolitionist
i. believed African-Americans were inferior to whites
ii. believe two races could not live together as equals
iii. supported Black migration to Liberia or Latin America
iv. believed African-Americans had certain rights
e. Douglas tried to unite white raciest against Lincoln
i. claimed within rights to establish slavery locally
f. Lincoln showed the direction of the Republican party
i. opposed slavery but prevented by constitution from outlawing it
F. John Brown's Raid at Harpers Ferry, Virginia 1859
1. 10/16 John Brown & 22 men attack arsenal
2. insight a slave revolt with guns
3. Federal troops killed 11 of Brown's men
4. Brown captured, tried and hanged for treason
a. religious fanatic with an unhappy life
b. In death he became a hero
c. Northerners viewed respect admired
d. Southerners feared afraid of future fanatics
i. fear Republicans run by Blacks
G. Election of 1860
1. Democratic party crippled
a. Douglas alienated south & north unwilling to support slave owner
b. two conventions, S. Carolina 59 votes no candidates
c. at Baltimore they decide on two candidates
i. Steven Douglas for northern democrats
ii. John C. Breckenridge, Buchanan's V.P. for southerners
iii. Democrats from border states form Constitutional Union party
a. John Bell a slave owner from Tennessee nominated
2. Lincoln had little trouble capturing Republican candidacy
a. reduced his attacks on slavery to oppose its expansion
b. stood for tariffs, internal improvements, free labor & homestead ac
3. Lincoln swept Northeast & Midwest won with 39.8% popular vote
a. last straw for many southerners
H. Confederate States of America
1. 12/20/1860 South Carolina seceded
2. by 2/1 six other states in deep south secede
a. MS, FL, AL, GA, LA, & TX
b. 2/8 delegates formed Confederacy
i. adopted a constitution
ii. Sen. Jefferson Davis of MS, President
3. Washington had to react
a. they could not compromise as before
b. Horace Greeley, editor of New York Tribune suggested to let go
c. Northern opposed the loss of southern business & secession
d. Others opposed the idea claimed Union inseparable
e. only other option to force states to remain in Union
4. Republicans waited and hoped south would reconsider
a. Buchanan took no action and nation waited for Lincoln
5. Lincoln opposed secession & any compromise extending slavery
a. not determined to force states to rejoin
b. at inauguration pledged to maintain all federal property
i. Ft. Pickens, Fl & Ft. Sumter in Charleston harbor, South Carolina
6. South Carolina militia surrounded Ft. Sumter & cut off supplies
a. demanded surrender but federal troops refused
b. Lincoln warned South of intentions to resupply fort
c. Jefferson Davis orders Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard to demand surrender
d. Major Anderson refused to surrender 4/12/1861
e. Beauregard attacked, next day fort surrendered and Civil War began
XXXVII. The Civil War
A. Lincoln reacts
1. Lincoln declares a state of insurrection, calls on state militias
2. Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, & Arkansas side with south
3. Maryland, Kentucky & Missouri debate, too close to north
a. Northern Maryland, german farmers who support north,
b. Slave owning tobacco farmers in south & coast support south
b. Baltimore mobbed the 6th Mass. regiment on way to D.C.
i. threw rocks and fired on army, finally burnt bridges
4. Lincoln suspends Habeas Corpus, arrested hundreds of southerners
a. including 19 Maryland legislators & the Mayor of Baltimore
b. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney challenged legality of move
c. court ruled Ex parte Merryman
i. only Congress had right to suspend habeas corpus
d. Lincoln thought about throwing Taney in jail but didn't
5. Lincoln directs troops around Baltimore
a. Maryland governor called legislature to meet in Frederick, MD
i. Frederick was a northern stronghold
ii. southerners cut off & sympathy for south subsided
6. Lincoln watch the border states closely
a. avoided loosing Maryland through quick action
b. Aug. 1861 Gen. John C. Fremont issued declaration of emancipation
i. Lincoln worried about effect on Kentucky, Missouri
ii. rescinded the order and recalled the general