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Questions for the Missouri Comp.
& the Wilmot Proviso…
1. What two states were added to the Union with the
passage of the Missouri Compromise?
2. Who was the author of the Missouri Compromise?
3. What did the Wilmot Proviso suggest? Why did it
fail?
4. Why would the South be concerned about the
Wilmot Proviso?
Missouri Compromise
(Compromise of 1820)
• 1820- Missouri applies to admission into the
Union as a slave state
• In order to maintain an equal # of slave and free
state, the Compromise created Maine, and
entered it as a free state
– 12 free states, 12 slave states
– Northern states (more population) would always
control the House of Reps, but South would be
satisfied with a balance in the Senate
Missouri Compromise
Congress also established the 36,30N Line
(Missouri Compromise line)
- future states north of the line would be free
-south of the line would be slave
Both North and South were satisfied with this.
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1820 worked well for 30
years, but the Mexican War would create new
problems.
With the acquisition of new western lands, a new
solution would be needed; balancing the
Senate would prove to be impossible.
Compromise of 1850
• Towards the end of the Mexican War, David
Wilmot, a northern House member introduced a
bill which would establish any new territory
acquired in the war to be free= Wilmot Proviso
• The bill passed in the northern controlled
House, but was defeated in the Senate. To the
South, if the North ever gained controlled of the
Senate, it could spell the end of slavery.
Who said this?
“In contemplating the causes which may
disturb our Union, it occurs as matter of
serious concern that any ground should
have been furnished for characterizing
parties by geographical
discriminations”
- George Washington’s farewell address, 1796
Compromise of 1850
Don’t write this slide down
(Background info.)
• In 1850 California applies to the Union as a free
state
• As the 31st state admitted, Ca.’s admission
would upset the balance of the Senate; the
South, led by John C. Calhoun, was unhappy.
• Henry Clay hammers out a 5 part compromise
that will appease both sides for the time being.
• Most historians believe it postponed the Civil
War for a decade.
The Compromise of 1850 -yeah, this one.
1. Ca. is admitted as a free state
2. Mexican Cession is organized into New
Mexico and Utah territories with issue of
slavery to be decided by popular sovereignty.
3. A stricter Fugitive Slave law is passedrequiring northerners to assist in finding
runaway slaves
4. Slave trade is abolished in Washington DC
5. Texas surrenders land claims in New Mexico
in exchange for $ from fed. gov.
Compromise of 1850
Compromise of 1850
• John C. Calhoun, dying
of throat cancer, will
have his speech read on
the Senate floor,
opposing the
Compromise.
“The South has given all
she can give”
“ Let us separate and part
in peace”
Compromise of 1850
Speaking in favor of the
Compromise was
Daniel Webster
“I wish to speak today,
not as a Massachusetts
man, nor as a Northern
man, but as an
American… I speak
today for the
preservation of the
Union.”
Harriet
Beecher
Stowe
(1811 – 1896)
So this is the little lady who
started this big war.
-- Abraham Lincoln
Uncle Tom’s
Cabin
1852
 Sold 300,000 copies in
the first year.
 2 million in a decade!
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
• Novel depicting fictional characters. The main
character is a gentle, kind slave known as Tom.
In the end, he is beaten to death because he
would not reveal the whereabouts of a runaway
slave.
• Those that read it began to see slavery in
human terms. Northerners could not believe
the cruelty of slavery. Southerners claimed it
was a completely false depiction of slavery.
Kansas-Nebraska Act
• In 1854, Congress again tackled the delicate
issue of slavery.
• Stephen Douglas, Senator from Illinois, pushed
through the Kansas-Nebraska Act in order to
organize the Kansas and Nebraska territory for
eventual statehood.
Kansas-Nebraska Act
• At the time, Douglas was a
nationally recognized, powerful
politician who was known to
have presidential aspirations
• His nickname, “The Little Giant”
conveyed his short physical
stature and his powerful
political influence
• His motives in the KN Act is to
get the new transcontinental
railroad built- with Chicago as
its eastern terminal. To do this,
he needs the lands out west to
be organized.
Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854
Kansas-Nebraska Act
• Douglas’s plan called for popular
sovereignty to determine whether the
territory would have slavery in it.
– Popular = the people, the majority
– Sovereignty the right to run your own affairs
Very quickly, both Pro-slavery advocates
(many crossing over from Missouri) and
“Free-soilers” soon to be known as JayHawks flooded into Kansas to cast their
votes
Kansas-Nebraska Act
• Election results showed corruption on both
sides; both sides claimed victory, both sides set
up capitals in the territory. Before long,
violence set in.
• “Bleeding Kansas” was the name given to the
territory as violence erupted. Pro-slavery
groups destroyed the Free-soil town of
Lawrence.
• In retaliation, a radical abolitionist named John
Brown led a raid against Pottawatomie. 5 proslavery men were dragged out of the beds and
were murdered. Kansas erupted in civil war.
Kansas-Nebraska Act
• The nation was shocked at the events in
Kansas- that people were willing to go to such
lengths for their causes.
• South viewed the KN Act as a victory - it meant
that the possibility of slavery existed above the
Missouri Compromise line.
• The North became greatly alarmed at the
extreme actions southerners were willing to
take.
“Bleeding Kansas”
Border “Ruffians”
(pro-slavery
Missourians)
What’s the message in this
political cartoon?
Brooks-Sumner Affair 1856
• As the violence raged in Kansas, another event
showed the nation just how far the North and
South had become divided.
• On the Senate floor, Mass. Senator, Charles
Sumner, known for his abolitionist views, gave
a speech called “The Crimes Against Kansas”
-within Sumner’s speech was an attack on
S.Carolinian senator Andrew Butler (who was
absent)
- all were appalled, but none more than
Preston Brooks, Butler’s nephew, and a
congressman from South Carolina
Brooks-Sumner Affair
Knowing that a northerner would not duel, and having to
uphold his family’s honor, Brooks approached Sumner
on the Senate floor the next day, and began brutally
beating him with his cane.
After a few minutes, Brooks was pulled off of Sumner,
who was beaten unconscious, and would suffer from the
effects of his beating for the rest of his life.
Brooks was viewed as a hero in the South. He was sent
canes from admirers, some etched with the words, “Hit
him again”.
- Unremorseful, Brooks bragged about his
accomplishment say, “I gave him 30 first rate stripes, but
saved the head of my cane.” (It was gold.)
“The Crime Against Kansas”
Rep. Preston Brooks
(D-SC)
Sen. Charles Sumner (RMa.)
Brooks-Sumner Affair
• Northerners were again appalled at the violent
spirit of the South. Mass. Voted Sumner back
in office even though he was too injured to
serve. One of Mass. Senate seats sat empty
as a sign to the South that they would not be
intimidated.
• As a result of this incident, members of
Congress began carrying pistols and daggers
into the capital building for personal protection.
Dred Scott Decision- 1857
Dred Scott
Dred Scott Decision
• With Congress unable to solve the crisis,
the nation turned its’ eyes to a Supreme
Court ruling.
• The Dred Scott Decision was a victory for
the South, and for many in the North, a
giant leap backwards.
Dred Scott Decision
• The case was brought by Dred Scott, a slave,
whose owner at one time, moved to Illinois
(bringing Scott with him). Eventually, Scott’s
owner dies and Scott is given to another.
• Scott will bring his case to court, saying that
when he was brought into Illinois, he should
have been made free. The case will go all the
way to the Supreme Ct.
Dred Scott Decision
Chief Justice, Roger B. Taney,
will write the majority decision.
Taney will deliver two major
findings:
– Scott had no business in court,
the case should have never been
heard. Blacks, free or slave, “had
no rights any white person needs
to recognize.” Basically, AfricanAmericans are not citizens
– Congress has no right to deny
property to citizens. The Missouri
Compromise Line is, therefore,
unconstitutional. In a sense,
slavery could exist anywhere in
America.
Roger B. Taney
Dred Scott Decision
• The South was thrilled
with the verdict, felt it
settled the issue once
and for all
• Northerners were
shocked.
Southerners were thrilled
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates, 1858
A House divided against
itself, cannot stand.
Lincoln-Douglas debates
• 1858- Senate race in Illinois
• Well-known Stephen Douglas (Democrat) vs.
little known Abraham Lincoln (Republican)
• The 2 candidates will agree to a series of 7
debates around the state of Illinois.
• These debates will be followed by the entire
country because of the influence of Douglas.
• The two men express their views on slavery,
which set the ideology of both political parties.
Their views on slavery…
• Douglas will continue to support the idea of
popular sovereignty despite Lincoln’s attack on
it due to the results of “Bleeding Kansas.”
• Lincoln’s will eloquently state the Republican
Party’s view of slavery- while at the same time
hinting of what he personally believes should
happen.
Republican View of Slavery
“Slavery is a moral wrong.
And one of the ways of
treating it as a wrong, is
to not let it spread”
“Slavery is like a cancer.
But, to cut it out of the
patient completely would
kill the patient. So we
just don’t want the cancer
to spread.”
Lincoln’s Personal
View of Slaveryperhaps a bit of
foreshadowing?
“A house divided
cannot stand. We
cannot endure being
half-free and halfslave. We must be
one or the other”
Results
• Douglas wins the election in a very close vote.
• However, northerners will now side with the
Republican Party- who they viewed as being
moderate on the slavery issue.
• Southerners who followed the debate feel the
Republican Party, and especially Lincoln, are a
threat to their way of life. They begin to state
that if a Republican is elected President in
1860, they will be forced to leave the Union.
John Brown’s Raid
on Harper’s Ferry, 1859
John Brown @Harpers Ferry.com
• 1859- John Brown will lead an anti-slavery
attack on the town of Harper’s Ferry, Va.
• Harper’s Ferry contained an arsenal (storage of
weapons). Brown’s plan was to seize the
arsenal, have slaves run from their owners, give
them each a weapon, and then sweep thru the
South to end slavery.
• Initially, Brown and his men (about 20) are
successful, capturing some buildings and taking
a few hostages. Greatly alarmed, Pres.
Buchanan will order Col. Robert E. Lee down to
Harper’s Ferry to put an end to the revolt.
Lee’s small force of
Marines storm the
firehouse where Brown
and his men were hiding,
killing some of the men,
and capturing Brown.
Colonel Robert E Lee
Firehouse
Brown’s trial for treason was
quick. He was found
guilty and sentenced to
death. On his way to the
gallows, he handed
someone a piece of
paper. It read: “I, John
Brown, am now quite
certain that the crimes of
this guilty land will never
be purged away, but with
blood.”
John Brown
Reactions
North- while many
South- always fearful of a
disagreed with
massive slave uprising, this
Brown’s actions, for
event scared them even
others, he became a
more.
hero.
They believe the North is now
full of “John Browns”
During the CW, Union
waiting to come down
troops will sing a song
South and cause further
about him, “John
insurrections.
Brown’s Body”.
The South begins to form
Brown becomes a
militias to combat what
martyr.
they believe is an eventual
invasion.
√ Abraham Lincoln
Republican
S. Douglas
Northern Democrat
1860
Pres.
Election
John Bell
Constit. Union
John C. Breckinridge
So. Dem. (& V.P.)
1860
Election
Results
Crittenden Compromise:
A Last Ditch Appeal to Sanity
Senator John J.
Crittenden
(Know-Nothing-KY)
Crittenden Compromise
After the election, and with Southern states
threatening to leave the Union, Sen. John
Crittenden attempted to pass legislation to
appease the South.
- extend the Missouri Compromise line all
the way to the Pacific, allowing slavery to exist
south of the line
- use federal $ to reimburse slave holders
whose slaves had runaway
President-elect Lincoln told Republicans in
Congress to reject it, and they did.
Secession!: SC Dec. 20, 1860
Fort Sumter: April 12, 1861