The Compromise of 1860 Flashcards
what did John Crittenden propose
Missouri Compromise (1820) line of 36°30° would be restored
Any attempts to prohibit slavery would be stopped.
Compensation would be given for owners of runaway slaves
Personal Liberty Laws passed in Northern states would be repealed.
Slavery would be introduced into the Constitution by a constitutional amendment
what happened John Crittedens proposals
The proposal were never put to the US public as Republicans in Congress rejected them and the south did not find them acceptable either.
why was the compromise not accepted - the constitution
Constitution: The word Slavery was not used in the Constitution for fear it would bring about tensions between North and South, which would prevent the Constitution being accepted
why was the compromise not accepted - the republicans
Lincoln and the Republicans did not believe there was a serious danger of the South seceding they believed that Union was too popular.
Republicans were definitely not willing to agree on the final point of the compromise proposal by Crittenden.
This would mean the slavery issue would be left for future generations to deal with. It would affect how the USA was viewed by other countries too.
why was the compromise not accepted - the south
Many in the South were willing to risk leaving the Union because they would then be free to pass measures to protect slave owners.
why was war unlikely - southern perception
Many plantation owners also believed that faithful slaves would work the plantations leaving the men free to fight, so they felt this would worry the North.
Southern states felt in a strong economic position as the Northern states needed the cotton.
why was war unlikely - Britain
believed Britain would support the separation
why was war unlikely - lack of beliefs
States did not expect war even though 6 more states seceded the union by the end of February 1861.
why was war unlikely - small forces
The federal armed forces were small and many officers would not be willing to fight the South.
why was war unlikely - economic position
The economic system by which the northern factories used southern cotton and sold manufactured goods to the South seemed to be mutually beneficial and would be disrupted by war.
why was war unlikely - moderate policies
There was every hope that a moderate policy would prevent the upper South from joining in the new Confederacy, established in 1861, and remain with the Union. The border states had voted for Bell in 1860 and where the old party system of Whigs against Democrats still existed there were indications of support and affection for the Union, if not for Lincoln personally.
why was war unlikely - Lincolns cabinet
When Lincoln became president on 31st March 1861, his cabinet was not behind any policy involving military force. Secretary of State Seward, even proposed, as a more experienced politician, he take over the government and proposed a war with England to rally the nation.
