Chapter 3- The Rise Of The Republican Party Flashcards
What happened to the Democrats in the 1854 mid term elections? What was happening to the Whigs?
Hey lost all but 23 of their previously 91 free state seats in congress
They were blamed for sponsoring the Kansas Nebraska Act
By 1854 Whigs were no longer a major force in many free states
Whig collapse blamed on Kansas Nebraska however Whig decline began before. In state and local elections in 1853, the results were a disaster for Northern Whigs as they had failed to deal with the immigration and Catholic issues- this leads to the emergence of the Know Nothings
How many immigrants entered the USA between 1845 and 54? How many of these were Irish Catholics? What other country did most immigrants come from? Where did these different groups of immigrants settle?
3 million
Over 1 million of these were Irish Catholics, escaping the horror of the potato famine. They had little money and tended to settle in North West cities like New York and Boston
German immigrants outnumbered Catholics, they had more money so could purchase land out west.
Why were the Americans scared of Catholic immigrants?
Association of Irish immigrants and increased crime and welfare costs
Fear of a Papal plot, in the Protestant United States, they didn’t want the Catholic Church conspiring to increase their influence
Resentment of the growing political power of Irish voters- belief that they voted as political bosses or priests told them to- threat to democracy!!
How did the Number of Catholic Bishops, priests and churches increase between 1850 and 1854?
Almost Doubled
What party did most immigrants vote for? Which party tried to win Catholics over?
Most Irish and German immigrants voted for the Democrats- it made sense therefore if they were not anti-immigration or anti-catholic
Whigs failed to respond to nativist concerns. In fact in the 1852 election the Whigs were actively pro-Catholic, trying to capture the growing immigrant vote-
- this didn’t work, and traditional Whig voters refused to vote for a party tying to appease Catholics
Northerners began to look to new parties ( disintegration of loyalty not due to north south tensions but actually occurred in a lull in that conflict)
Who is a nativist?
Someone who is suspicious of immigrants and usually aggressively nationalistic
Who were the Know Nothing’s?
Pledged to vote for nobody but Native-born protestants
By 1854 takes characteristics of a political party
Most know nothings want checks on immigration and a 21 year probation period before immigrants could become citizens
How did he know nothings do in the 1854 election? How big was the movement?
The Kansas Nebraska Acts unpopularity was associated with the Democrats which helped the Know nothings
They had 1 million members
It 1854 it won 63% of the vote in Massachusetts.
Changed name to the American Party in 1855 and took control of three more New England States
What northern political desire created the Republicans?
The desire to support parties opposed to the expansion of slavery.
Kansas Nebraska had made Northerners worry about the SPC
Who was expected to be the Democrats main opponent in 1856? Why?
The Know Nothings as they drew support from both North and South, the Republicans couldn’t be more than a northern party.
What was the situation in Kansas in 1854-6?
After 1854 settlers began to move into Kansas.
Politically charged as if slavery expanded there it may expand elsewhere and for Southerners making it a free state would be another nail in the coffin.
The Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company sponsored over 1500 Northerners to settle in Kansas
Senator Atchinson formed the Platte County Defensice Association and pledged to ensure Kansas became a slaver state. Due to Missouri’s proximity to Kansas this process was easy
What happened in the March 1855 election in Kansas?
Hundreds of pro-slavery Missourians crossed into Kansas to vote
There was a pro-slave victory
Sending in Missourians was probably a mistake as the pro slaves were likely to have won anyway and all this did was cast doubt on the election outcome.
When the legislature met at Lecompton to pass tough pro-slavery laws, Northerners were outraged
What was the Topeka Government?
‘Free state’ settlers in Kansas, denying the validity of the pro-slave government set out their own government at Topeka.
Free states were deeply divided, there were fanatic abolitionist and moderates were openly racist, opposing slavery expansion because it would result in a influx of black people.
The Topeka government banned black people, enslaved or free from Kansas.
When was the town of Lawrence sacked by a pro-slavery posse?
What was the consequence and significance of this?
May 1856
They were trying to arrest free state leaders and burnt some buildings. The events were magnified by media, the Northern journalists said many died but in reality no casualties but one pro-slaver
The Lawrence raid sparked more violence
What were John Brown’s actions at Pottawatomie Creek?
John Brown, a fervent abolitionist, with some of his sons murdered five pro-slavery settlers
Northern newspapers, suppressing some facts, made him a northern hero who had acted in self-defence
In Kansas there was an increase in tension and tit for tat killings.
Northern Papers exaggerated and said it was a civil war
Who was the new governor in Kansas Pierce appointed to patch up a truce between warring factions?
John Geary
Why did ‘Bleeding Kansas’ boost Republican fortunes?
Perceived to be slave power Conspiracy at work. Led to support of Republican Party
What issues did the American party (the know nothings) have?
If they wanted to be a national party they had to drop their anti-Kansas-Nebraska position. This lost them a lot of Northern support
The decline of immigration in the mid 1850’s- decline in nativism
Failure of known nothings to make good their campaign promises- they know nothing and they do nothing
Many hated the secretive side of the movement
It’s success tarnished its image as an authentic people’s party/ attracts the old politicians it’s set up to get rid of
Who became Speaker of the House of Representative in 1856?
Nathaniel Banks
A republican- ex know nothing
This speakership helped turn the Republicans into a more coherent party
What did the Republican Party stand for?
It was a large mixture of people, abolitionists (e.g. Charles Sumner) ex-Whigs (William Seward), ex-Democrats (David Wilmot) and ex know-Nothings (Nathaniel Banks)
This meant it was difficult to know what the Republicans stood for, easier to say what they stood against
- against the Democrats
- against Slave Power
- moral aversion to slavery
Slave Power Conspiracy - a Republican article of Faith
However, different people had different views on who was conspiring
Did Republicans support slavery abolition?
Some did but not many
Most opposed to slavery expansion
Abolition could mean emancipated slaves coming north and undercutting white workers wages
Very few believed in black equality
What things were the Republicans divided on?
Economics
- high tariffs seemed to promote industry but most republican voters were farmers in the 1850’s
Nativism
What was ‘bleeding Sumner’?
Congressman Preston Brooks beats Senator Sumner with a cane, which was shattered in the process. Sumner was an abolitionist, Brooks a southerner
This outraged Northerners - slave power, using force to silence free speech
Brooks becomes a southern hero
Sumner becomes a northern martyr
Who did the American party nominate as its candidate for the 1856 election? Why was this choice a mistake?
Ex-president Fillmore
He was more an old fashioned Whig than a know nothing
He was known to have pro-southern sympathies (it was he who had signed the fugitive slave act in 1850) and he had limited appeal in the North due to this
Who was the republican candidate in the 1856 election?
Why was he chosen?
What was the republican platform?
John c Frémont
He was a western explorer - exciting and popular. He had little political experience
They pledged to prohibit slavery and polygamy in the territories. Support a northern Pacific railroad
Free soil, free labour, free men, Frémont
Who was the democrat choice in 1856? What was the democrat platform?
James Buchanan
A northerner with southern sympathies
From battleground Pennsylvania
Democrat platform upheld the 1850 compromise and endorsed popular sovereignty
What was the 1856 campaign like?
North - between Buchanan and Frémont
South- between Buchanan and Fillmore
If Frémont had won, states would perhaps seceded
Republicans portrayed Buchanan as old and boring
Democrats attacked republicans saying they were raging abolitionists
What was the results of the election?
Buchanan won with 45.3% of the popular vote
Frémont 33.1%
Fillmore 21.6%
Why were the Republicans optimistic at the election results?
They had trounced the American party
They had come very close to capturing the presidency
What was ‘bleeding Sumner’?
Congressman Preston Brooks beats Senator Sumner with a cane, which was shattered in the process. Sumner was an abolitionist, Brooks a southerner
This outraged Northerners - slave power, using force to silence free speech
Brooks becomes a southern hero
Sumner becomes a northern martyr
Who did the American party nominate as its candidate for the 1856 election? Why was this choice a mistake?
Ex-president Fillmore
He was more an old fashioned Whig than a know nothing
He was known to have pro-southern sympathies (it was he who had signed the fugitive slave act in 1850) and he had limited appeal in the North due to this
Who was the republican candidate in the 1856 election?
Why was he chosen?
What was the republican platform?
John c Frémont
He was a western explorer - exciting and popular. He had little political experience
They pledged to prohibit slavery and polygamy in the territories. Support a northern Pacific railroad
Free soil, free labour, free men, Frémont
Who was the democrat choice in 1856? What was the democrat platform?
James Buchanan
A northerner with southern sympathies
From battleground Pennsylvania
Democrat platform upheld the 1850 compromise and endorsed popular sovereignty
What was the 1856 campaign like?
North - between Buchanan and Frémont
South- between Buchanan and Fillmore
If Frémont had won, states would perhaps seceded
Republicans portrayed Buchanan as old and boring
Democrats attacked republicans saying they were raging abolitionists
What was the results of the election?
Buchanan won with 45.3% of the popular vote
Frémont 33.1%
Fillmore 21.6%
Why were the Republicans optimistic at the election results?
They had trounced the American party
They had come very close to capturing the presidency
What did Buchanan’s policies do?
Pushed Northerners into the Republican camp
Contributed to the fragmentation of the Republican Party
What was the Dred Scott case?
Dred Scott a slave who had travelled with his owner to Illinois and then Wisconsin territory. Claimed he was free as he had resided in a free state and a free territory
Supreme Court ruled ( led by Taney)
Scott couldn’t sue for his freedom (as a black he didn’t have the same legal rights)
Scott’s stay in Illinois didn’t make him free
Scott’s stay in Wisconsin made no difference, the Missouri compromise was illegal, US citizens had the right to take their property Into the territories
What were the issues surrounding the Dred Scott case?
The ruling looked like a confirmation of the slave power conspiracy, Republicans claimed a whispered conversation between Taney and Buchanan before the inauguration proved that Buchanan was aware of the ruling when he asked people to accept it in his speech.
Many northerners saw it as an attempt to undermine the Republican Party (committed to the exclusion of territories slavery)
He concept of popular sovereignty
How could a state be free if slaves could be taken into them?
What was the issue surrounding Kansas in Buchanan’s presidency? With elections
There were still two governments (official pro slave Lecompton) and (free slave Topeka)
The majority in Kansas were now free slave, given Buchanan’s commitment to popular sovereignty, Geary suggested he let the will of the people win. This would also deprive the Republicans of a key issue.
Geary resigns in 1857, warning Buchanan he shouldn’t support the pro slavers. Walker replaced him and aimed to bring Kansas into the Union as a free state.
In 1857 an election held in Kansas to draw up a new constitution, free staters thought it would be rigged and refused to get involved. Pro slavers won all the seats
In October 57 there were elections for the territorial legislature. Walker convinced free slavers to get involved. Pro slavers won but there was proof of fraudulence. Walker overturned enough fake votes to give the free slavers a majority.
What did Buchanan do about the Lecompton Constitution issue?
After the free slavers won a majority in the territorial legislature, the constitutional constitution was the last refuge of pro slavers.
They said they could keep the constitution as it was or have a constitution that banned further imports of slaves but kept the ones hat were already there.
Walker called it a vile fraud and wanted Buchanan to intervene.
Buchanan believed that the anti-slavery forces were to blame for troubles in Kansas and decided to reject Walker’s advice.
Walker resigned
In the vote on the constitution, free staters abstained in protest.
What did Buchanan’s decision to accept the Lecompton constitution do?
This was a huge blunder
Gave the Republicans a lot of political ammunition.
Enraged Northern Democrats who were committed to popular sovereignty.
This split the Democrat party north and South
In the House the constitution was defeated
Buchanan eventually accepted that Kansas should vote again on the measure. This resulted in free state victory and Kansas entered the Union as a free state in 1861
What did Buchanan do about the panic of 1857?
fuck all really- he felt the govt shouldn’t be involved in economic matters
Northerners blamed him for being indifferent
Republican economic proposals such as higher protective tariffs were blocked by congress democrats
The depression was over by 1859 but it helped the Republicans in the 1858 mid terms.
What was the focus of the 1858 mid terms?
Due to the democrat split over those who liked Buchanan and those who liked Douglas
The re election of Douglas as Illinois senator drew national attention.
Lincoln was the Republican who ran against Douglas
Who was Abraham Lincoln in 1858?
He had been in the House of Representatives in 1846, talking against the Mexican war.
He returned to Illinois in 1848 when he was defeated and ran a law practice.
Kansas Nebraska bought Lincoln back into politics, he changed from Whig to Republican and became more anti-slavery and anti-slave power.
He was well known in Illinois and respected by Douglas
What were the Lincoln Douglas debates like?
They drew large crowds as both men were gifted speakers.
They debated race, slavery and slavery expansion.
Both considered blacks to be inferior to whites
Douglas never said slavery was morally wrong, Lincoln believed blacks and whites had a common humanity.
Lincoln believed that if slavery did not expand it would eventually die
What notable results of the 1858 midterms were there?
Although Lincoln won more popular votes than Douglas, Douglas was re-elected by the state legislature which was still full of Douglas’s supporters.
Douglas had said much that alienated southerners (the Freeport doctrine which was that voters in a territory should refuse to enact laws that gave legal protection to owning slaves, this invalidated the Dred Scott ruling)
Lincoln emerged from the election as a Republican spokesperson of national stature.
The 1858 elections were a distaste for Northern Democrats. The Republicans won control of the House of Representatives.
What was John Brown’s raid?
John Brown had risen to fame in Kansas, he wanted to do something decisive for the anti-slavery cause.
Brown and 18 men left their base in Maryland and went to the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry. They aimed to seize weapons and spark a slave revolt.
It all went wrong and Brown ended up in refuge in the fire engine house, after a 36 hour siege Robert E Lee captured him.
What were the results of John Brown’s raid in 1859?
Brown determined to die a martyrs death, helping the anti-slavery cause more than his raid had done
The raid had raised sectional tensions to new heights. An abolitionist had tried to stir a slave revolt
The fact Brown had considerable financial support made many suspect that most Northerners sympathised with this action
Some Northernerd did see Brown as a hero but a lot of leading democrats and republicans condemned him
However southerners saw abolitionists and republicans as the same.
What happened to sectional tensions in 1859-1860?
After John Brown’s raid, there were many rumours of slave insurrection. Local vigilante committees were set up and slave patrols strengthened
Many slaves were lynched if suspected of planning revolt
In Congress the house was divided along sectional lines. Southerners opposed all Republican measures (free homesteads, higher tariffs and Pacific railroad) and Northerners blocked all pro-southern proposals (purchase of Cuba)
Was Buchanan’s presidency successful?
No
He fought to avoid controversy and failed
Instead of easing tension his policies had exchange rates the sectional rift.
One of the greatest failures of leadership in Us history!
What did the election of Buchanan do?
Prevented a major sectional rift
If the problem of Kansas could be solved tension was likely to ease
Buchanan seemed safe
However Northerners feared he was a tool of Slave Power and his actions began to show this fear had grounding
Buchanan was ideologically attached to the South and was dependant on Southern support and chose a pro southern cabinet
Buchanan pushed Northerners to the republican camp
Buchanan contributed to splits in the Democrat Party.
