Transcript CHAPTEr 19
Drifting Towards Disunion Chapter 19 Stowe and Helper: Literary Incendiaries Harriet Beecher Stowe- Uncle Tom’s Cabin • Dismayed by fugitive slave law • Awaken north to cruelty • Very popular in North • Prompted by the 2nd Great Awakening Incredible Force in Shaping Politics • Slavery became evil to millions of people • Sold millions of copies world wide “So you’re the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war”-Lincoln • Helped start and win the civil war • Many turned against slavery because of the book • The south condemned her and her book Impression on the North • Would not enforce Fugitive Slave Law • Many Yanks fought to end slavery as a moral wrong • England and France would not enter the war on the side of the South because of the slavery issue Impending Crisis of the SouthHinton Helper • Hated both slavery and blacks • Tried to prove that non-slaveholding whites suffered the most from slavery • Published in the North Book banned in the South • Distributed as campaign literature in the North • South alarmed at North for spreading these lies • South turned against the North more and more The North-South Contest for Kansas Kansas opens up for settlement • Most northerners looking for richer land • Some sponsored by Abolitionists to settle and keep Kansas free – sponsored by New England Emigrant Aid Co. about 2,000- to make a profit – carried Beecher’s bibles -Sharp’s rifles – Henry Ward Beecher helped raised money to send settlers • South mad b/c they supported KansasNebraska Act supposing Kansas would be a slave state – now Nabrascals trying to abolitionize Kansas – South trying to send new slave-owning farmers to Kansas to vote for slavery • many not willing to go • may go to free state • few blacks in Kansas • Border Ruffians from Missouri help make a slave-owning constitution • Free-soilers make a constitution in Topeka with no slaves Lawrence Kansas • Violence broke out over land and slaves in Kansas • Free town of Lawrence was burned Kansas in Convulsion Pottawatomie Creek • John Brown moves into Kansas • Anti-slavery zealot • Leads family on killing spree • Hurt free-soil cause and brought vicious retaliation from proslavery forces Civil War in Kansas • 1856 • Intermittently and merged with Civil War • Millions in property and personal loss Lecompton Constitution • Free-soilers had enough to apply for statehood without slavery • Pro-slavery forces push through document to vote only with or without slavery – would protect slave owners who already had slaves there – free-soilers boycott polls and slaveryites approve constitution in 1857 • New President Buchanan supports this notorious Lecompton Constitution • Douglas through his support behind true popular sovereignty (cost him presidency and support from South) • Entire constitution set up for vote – free-soilers overwhelm the constitution and Kansas remained a territory Democratic Party • Buchanan and Douglas sectionalize the Democratic Party (only national party left) • James Buchanan “Bully” Brooks and His Bludgeon Charles Sumner • Not liked in Senate • Angry at failure of popular sovereignty • Gave blistering speech – condemned pro-slavery men – insulted south Carolina – insulted Andrew Butler-very popular senator Preston Brooks of South Carolina • Mad b/c of insults to S. Carolina and its Senator • Wants to duel but only with social equals • May 22, 1856-beat Sumner with his cane until bleeding and unconscious House could not expel Brooks • Brooks resigns – gets canes from admirers – Sumner left seat for 3 and 1/2 years to go to Europe for treatment – South Carolina defiantly re-elects him North Publishes Speech • Arouses Republicans in the North • South condemns speech and angry at North b/c Sumner applauded the North “Old Buck versus “The Pathfinder” Election of 1856 • Democrats nominate Buchanan – Douglas and Pierce too close to KansasNebraska Act – Pennsylvania lawyer and minister to London – Kansasless b/c he was gone and enemyless – called for popular sovereignty • Republicans nominate John C. Freemont – Seward did not think this was the Republican year – No political experience – Against the extension of slavery into territories Know-nothing Party • Nativist organized this against the influx of recent immigrants of Irish and German • Secretiveness is where they got their name • Nominate ex Millard Fillmore • Anti-foreign and Anti-catholic • “Americans must rule America” • Party Whigs threaten to take Republican votes Mudslinging Campaign • Buchanan assailed b/c he was a bachelor • Freemont assailed b/c of illegitimate birth – born inn the south – roman catholic The Electoral Fruits of 1856 Why did Republicans lose? • Freemont’s honesty and sound judgement • fire eaters claiming that his election would be a declaration of war – intimidated by the Northern business people connected to the South Probably good that Freemont lost • Not a Lincoln • 1856 North more willing to let South depart in peace than in 1860 • Republicans make a great showing the in election – many anxious about the election of 1860 The Dred-Scott Bombshell Dred Scott • Dred Scott lived with master for 5 yrs in Illinois and Wisconsin territory – sued for freedom based on residence on free soil Supreme court makes a political case out of a simple case • Dred Scott could not sue in court – he was property • Chief Justice Taney was from a slave stateMaryland – made judgement on slavery issues in territories – pro-southern majority wanted to lay issue to rest • 1. B/c slave was private property they could be taken to any territory • 2. Compromise of 1820 (Missouri) was unconstitutional-congress had no authority to ban slavery in the territories • North aghast at the decision against popular sovereignty • South elated at unexpected victory • Republicans infuriated by the Dred Scott decision – hurt their rallying cry – considered the courts ruling only and “opinion” and not binding – Republicans defiant of ruling – Ruling hurt b/c majority of court’s members were southerners and sullied itself by entering politics – south wondering how long it could stay in union that defied the court and constitution The Financial Crash of 1857 Financial Crash • Financial Crash of 1857 not as bad financially but more psychologically What caused the crash? • • • • Gold from California inflated prices Over stimulation of grain by Crimean War Over speculation in land a railroads Unemployment and business failure Hit North the Hardest • South doing ok during the crash – proved cotton was king and helping country – southerners over confident New vigor for demand of free land • Pioneers were worthy and hardy • would get many to move west Opposition to free homesteads • 1. Eastern industrialists were afraid it would take cheap labor west • 2. Southerners afraid 160 acre farms would fill up the west and add population Homestead Act • 1. Gave land at nominal price $0.25 per acre • 2. vetoed by Buchanan Also clamor for higher tariffs • Tariff 1857 – reduced rate to 20% – financial crisis hit right after this – north blamed panic on low tariffs • Panic of 1857 gave Republican two economic issues – protection for unprotected – free farms for families An Illinois Rail-Splitter Emerges Senatorial election of 1858 in Illinois • Douglas up for reelection • Republicans nominate Lincoln 1809 in Kentucky • • • • Attends frontier school avid reader wrestler and rail splitter could tell a great story Married Mary Todd • Slave owning family from Kentucky • married above himself • well known lawyer from Illinois • “Honest Abe” Congress in 1846 • Spot resolutions • Illinois state legislature • received votes in 1856 Republican convention The Great Debate: Lincoln v. Douglas Lincoln Challenges Douglas to a series of debates • Douglas considered America’s best debator • Douglas seemed to be an over match for Lincoln • Lincoln became effective as debates grew Freeport Doctrine • Lincoln asks who prevails in territory, Court (Dred Scott) or people (popular sovereignty)? – Douglas’ reply becomes the Freeport Doctrine • Douglas believes that the people who do not support slavery will eventually end slavery • says people should decided Douglas wins seat in senate by state legislature • Lincoln won the moral victory • Lincoln becomes a national figure – emerges as the leading Republican Douglas hurt his chances for Presidency • Supports popular sovereignty over the courts (isolates the south from the Democrats) • Opposed the Lecompton Constitution and defied the Supreme Court • Preliminary battle field of the Civil War John Brown: Murderer or Martyr? John Brown’s idea • • • • Invade south have slaves rise up arm slaves establish black free state as sanctuary Harper’s Ferry • 1859 • John Brown and 20 followers they invade and take over Harper’s Ferry – killed some innocent people – looking for ammunition – blacks did not rise up – captured by Robert E. Lee Brown found guilty of murder and treason • Tried to prove insanity • Brown saw he would be a martyr • took on exalted character – did not flinch – unfailing devotion to abolitionist cause – John Brown’s body lies a mould’ring in the grave Effects of Harper’s Ferry • South saw him as a murderer and guilty of treason • moderate Republicans deplored Brown’s exploits • South saw all of North supporting Brown • Abolitionists angry with Brown’s execution-thought he was working for a righteous cause • legacy would live on The Disruption of Democrats • Fate of the nation hinged on the election of 1860 Southerners secede for the National Nominating Convention in South Carolina • Douglas was leading candidate – south distrusted him b/c of the Freeport Doctrine and the Lecompton Constitution – walk out – Douglas does not have the votes for nomination Democrats again in Baltimore • Northern Democrats nominate Douglas after South walks out again • platform for popular sovereignty and against obstruction to the Fugitive Slave Law Southern Democrats organize Convention in Baltimore • Nominate John C. Breckinridge from Kentucky • Platform wants extension of slavery and annexation of Cuba Constitutional Union Party • • • • Middle of roaders sneered at old Democrats Met in Baltimore Nominate John Bell of Tennessee “The Union, the Constitution, and the Enforcement of the Laws” A Rail Splitter Splits the Union Republicans met in Chicago • Nominate Lincoln over Seward – fewer enemies and less radical Platform (for everyone) • Free-soilers - non-extension of slavery • northern manufacturers - no abridgement of rights • northwest - pacific railroad • west - internal improvements • farmers - free homesteads Southerners said election of Lincoln would split the Union • Lincoln no abolitionist • would compensate south for loss of slaves • Douglas supports saving the Union and campaigns in the south Lincoln got all votes from the North • Shows voting strength of the North over the South • South feels they have lost political power The Electoral Upheaval of 1860 Lincoln a minority president • Sectional president (only in the North) • south had reason to secede Douglas made good showing • Campaigned for himself (breaking precedent) • Democrats together would have defeated Lincoln ? Lincoln would have won anyway • Democrats would have been better organized and more united Breckinridge • Could not carry his state of Kentucky • no disunionist South • Controlled Supreme Court 5-4 • Republicans did not control House or Senate • More than 1/4 of states favored slavery • Senate The Secessionist Exodus South Carolina-4 days after election of Lincoln • Special convention • unanimously voted to secede • Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas followed • four more to bring it to 11 Confederacy formed • Jeff Davis elected first president – senator – West Pointer – Cabinet member During Lincoln’s election 4 more states secede • He could do nothing Buchanan • Surrounded by pro-southerner advisors • did not believe South could secede • constitution would not let him act Small standing army • Many were used to to control western Indians • North not really ready to fight • Lincoln’s wait and see policy continues The Collapse of Compromise Crittenden amendments • Wants to appease the South • Kentucky Senator – no slavery above 36’30” – federal protection of territory south of this – territories south of 36’30” could vote for slavery or not • would protect full rights in southern territories of slavery • might turn whole area into slavery Lincoln rejects the Crittenden Compromise • Elected against the principle of extension of slavery • would be perpetual to war against any area south of 36’30” Buchanan did not force war • North would be seen as aggressor Farewell to Union Secessionist reasons for leaving: • Political balance tips towards the North • South dismayed by success of sectional party (Republicans) which threatened their lifestyle • tired of free-soil and abolitionist criticism • tired of underground railroad and John Brown • thought secession would be unopposed – believed North would not fight – if war came, debt would be eliminated • could throw off North dominance and develop their own industry – could control the hated tariff • Nationalism sweeping world and infected the South – did not want to be lorded over by the hostile North • did not feel they were in violation of the Declaration of Independence • felt they were throwing off the yoke of despotic North and Lincoln • could determine their own destiny