Civil War Flashcards
What to do with slavery in the new western territories, became a major issue that helped lead to the American Civil War
Should it be allowed to expand West?
Proposals to resolve the question:
- Missouri Compromise: above the line = FREE, below the line = SLAVE - Henry Clay
- Wilmot Proviso: said that all land acquired from Mexico should be free (not open to slavery). *Talk of Secession for the first time - leave the Union
- Compromise of 1850: attempt to save union - Henry Clay
- Popular Sovereignty: let the American people decide for themselves the issue of slavery- promoted by Stephen Douglas
6 things that split the south and north
- The fugitive slave law: 1850 -
- Uncle Tom’s Cabin (anti-slavery book) - 1852
• - Bleeding Kansas - (Border-War abolitionists vs. pro slavery) - 1854
- The Dred Scott Supreme Court Decision - 1858
- Raid at Harper’s Ferry 1859
- The Presidential Election of Abraham Lincoln - November 1860
The fugitive slave law
- The fugitive slave law: 1850 - required ALL American citizens to help catch and return runaway slaves to the south
• Personal Liberty Laws: laws passed by several US states in the North to counter the Fugitive Slave Acts of 1859. Different laws did this in different ways, including allowing jury trials for escaped slaves and forbidding state authorities from cooperating in their capture and return
• How did it split the two sides? It caused many Northerners to see slavery for the first time - this caused many to become abolitionists
• Underground Railroad: had to extend to Canada
Uncle toms cabin
- Uncle Tom’s Cabin (anti-slavery book) - 1852
• written by Harriet Beecher Stowe
• Written as propaganda (the spreading of information in order to influence public opinion and to manipulate people’s beliefs)
• Purpose was to show people the evils of slavery
• It was an instant bestseller in the North and around the world
• It was a best seller in the north and around the world
• Queen Victoria of England and wept when she read the book!
• How did it split the two sides?
Bleeding Kansas
Border-War abolitionists vs. pro slavery) - 1854
• Kansas-Nebraska Act: introduced “popular sovereignty”
• A series of violent confrontations in the territory of Kansas involving anti-slavery “Abolitionists” and pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” people.
• Henry Beecher - leader of the abolitionists- “Beecher’s Bibles” - guns
• Violence: “Sacking of Lawrence and Potawatomie Creek massacre” (John Brown)
• Mini Civil War broke out
• How did it split the two sides?
• It was the first acts of violence between the north and south
Part of 3:
Violence goes to Congress
• Preston brooks (pro-slavery congressman) beats a Charles Sumner (abolitionist congressmen) with a cane in Congress!
The dred scott decision
slave sued his master for his freedom based on where he lived (Illinois, Wisconsin)
• Two questions had to be answered before they could make a decision.
1. Could blacks sue the USA government?
2. Did freedom go with the territory?
• ruling: (decision)
1. No, blacks were not citizens of the USA, thus could not sue?
2. Slaves were considered to be property, thus the government could not take away a citizens property
Why was this ruling controversial? (Split the two sides)
It said that slavery could exist anywhere, North, South, West!
• there was nothing the north could do to stop it!
Raid at harpers ferry
• abolitionist John Brown attempts to lead an armed slave uprising in Virginia
• Purpose is to abolish slavery by force
• Harper’s ferry - USA federal arsenal (storehouse of guns and ammunition)
• Uprising failed, why? No slaves come!
• Col. Robert E. Lee came and out down the uprising and John Brown was captured and put on trial for TREASON (the betrayal of ones own country)
• “I, John Brown am now quite certain, that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away, but with blood”.
• How did this event split the two sides?
• The north turned John brown in a martyr (someone who is willing to die for a cause) - like a HERO
• he was even compared to Jesus Christ
• This angered the south, they thought of him as a traitor!
Part of 5:
In the Presidential election of 1856:
• three new political parties come on the scene:
1. Free Soil party; opposed to the expansion of the slavery west
2. American Party: (Know nothings) opposed to immigrants. (Irish Catholics)
3. Republican Party: anti-slavery Party
• pro-slavery party - the democrats win!
• James Buchanan becomes president - BUT!!!!!
The Presidential electron of Abraham Lincoln
The Presidential Election of Abraham Lincoln - November 1860
• Republican Party: new anti-slavery Party
• Abraham Lincoln chosen!
• Democratic party split: 1. Pro slavery - chose John Breckenridge 2. Stephen Douglas
• Lincoln wins the election without one single vote from the south!
• The south could see the “handwriting on the wall” = the future!
• What did it tell them?
• The north had all the power and would eventually abolish slavery!!!
• This event pushed the south over the edge to secede from the union (to leave)
- Free Soil party;
- Free Soil party; opposed to the expansion of the slavery west
- American Party: (
- American Party: (Know nothings) opposed to immigrants. (Irish Catholics)
)
3. Republican Party:
anti-slavery Party
Crittenden Compromise:
Crittenden Compromise: one last attempt to save the union - failed!
December 1860
• South Carolina becomes the first southern state to ______ from the union
Secede
February 1861
• ___ more leave!
•
- 6 more leave!
* Mississippi, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana also secede!
April 1861
• __ more leave
•
• ____total
April 1861
• 4 more leave
• Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee
• 11 total
