Download USH-unit-4-section1

UNIT 4:
THE UNION IN CRISIS
Section 1: THE NATION SPLITS APART
BLEEDING KANSAS
The victory over Mexico in 1848 raised
questions about continued expansion…
Would new territories allow slavery?
COMPROMISE OF 1850 A compromise
introduced by Kentuckian Henry Clay keeping
the balance of power among the states
COMPROMISE OF 1850
Admitted California as a free state
Set Texas-New Mexico border
Organized New Mexico and Utah territories,
allowing slavery to be decided by people
Imposed heavy penalties on those aiding
runaway slaves (FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT)
KANSAS-NEBRASKA ACT
May 1854
Organized Kansas and Nebraska territories
Allowed popular sovereignty to decided slave
issue
Note: before Kansas could be admitted as a
state, there had to be a vote by the population
to approve a Constitution either allowing or
banning slavery
SECTIONAL CONFLICT AND
NATIONAL POLITICS
In Kansas, both pro-slavery and free-soilers
wrestled for control – violence erupted
(in Lawrence, Kansas a group attacked antislavery newspapers and burned buildings; on
Pottawatomie Creek, John Brown led an attack
killing five pro-slavery settlers)
“Bleeding Kansas”
ELECTION OF 1856
Events in Kansas dominated the election –
northern Democrats refused to support
Stephen Douglas or President Franklin
Pierce, and nominated James Buchanan
New Republican party nominated John C.
Fremont
American Party nominated former President
Millard Filmore
Candidate
James Buchanan
Party
Democratic
Electoral Votes
174
Popular Votes
1,838,169
John C. Fremont
Millard Fillmore
Republican
American
114
8
1,341,264
873,000
DRED SCOTT DECISION
Pres. Buchanan had vowed not to interfere with
slavery where it existed, but tensions
increased
Dred Scott vs. Sanford: slave who had lived on
free soil for many years; sued for freedom;
1857 Supreme Court ruled against him
JOHN BROWN’S RAID
Radical abolitionist John Brown planned a raid
on the U.S. Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia
to get guns for a slave revolt – Brown and his
followers captured the arsenal, but a
company of U.S. Marines captured Brown –
Brown tried with murder and treason, and
executed on December 2, 1859
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Born 1809 in one-room cabin in Kentucky
Moved to Indiana then Springfield, Illinois
1846 elected to Congress – served until 1849
1858 decided to run for U. S. Senate against
Stephen Douglas
“LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES”
“house-divided speech”
1860 runs for President as a Republican
ELECTION OF 1860
THE SOUTH SECEDES
A week after Lincoln’s election, South Carolina
legislature called a convention – on
December 20, 1860, passed a resolution
withdrawing South Carolina from the Union
By February 1, 1861, MISSISSIPPI, FLORIDA,
ALABAMA, GEORGIA, LOUISIANA, TEXAS
had all seceded.
Reactions to Secession
Other states threatened to secede: Virginia,
North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas
Some northerners supported secession – others
warned about letting secession occur
Outgoing Pres. Buchanan thought secession
wrong, but that the Constitution gave the
federal government no power to prevent it
CONFEDERATE STATES OF
AMERICA (CSA)
In February 1861 representatives of the seven
seceded states met in Montgomery, Alabama
to form a new nation
They chose Jefferson Davis President, and
Alexander Stephens as Vice-President
The Crittenden Compromise in Washington
tried to resolve the crisis, but failed
Jefferson Davis
born in Kentucky –
Senator from
Mississippi
What led to the CIVIL WAR?
(“War Between the States”)
1. Economic & Social Differences Between
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
North and South
States’ Rights vs. Federal Rights
Fight Between Slave & Non-Slave
Proponents
Growth of the Abolition Movement
Election of Abraham Lincoln
Secession of Southern States