Chapter #18: Renewing the Sectional Struggle – Big Picture Themes
1. The main question facing the nation was, “Will new lands won from Mexico have slaves or be free?”
2. The answer to the question was hammered out in the Compromise of 1850. It said California was to be free, popular sovereignty (the people decide) for the rest of the lands.
3. A tougher fugitive slave law was a major concession to the South, but it wasn’t enforced. This angered the Southerners.
4. The North—South rift was widened with the Kansas-Nebraska Act. It repealed the Missouri Compromise which had kept the peace for a generation. In it’s place, popular sovereignty opened the Great Plains to potential slavery. Whereas the slave-land issue had been settled, now it was a big question mark.
IDENTIFICATIONS:
Stephen Douglas
A senator of Illinois, also known as the "Little Giant"(5'4). His role is more important than Henry Clay's in the compromise. He took over for Clay in the compromise of 1850, he split the compromise to get it passed.
Franklin Pierce
Unrenowned lawyer-politician from New Hampshire. "The Young Hickory of the Granite Hills". Weak and indecisive. Youngish, handsome, militarily erect, smiling, and convivial. served in Mex war. "Fainting General" by scandalmongers. Enemyless. Prosouthern northerner. His platform revived the Democrats' commitment to territorial expansion as pursued by Polk and emphatically endorsed the Compromise of 1850.
Compromise of 1850
Signed by Millard Fillmore, deals with disputed territory and the controversy of California. California joined as a free state, and what was left of the Mexican Cession land became New Mexico and Utah, and did not restrict slavery. The compromise benefited the North more than the South.
Zachary Taylor
General that was a military leader in Mexican-American War and 12th president of the U.S. Whig. Sent by prez Polk to lead the American Army against Mexico at Rio Grande, but got defeated. Died in 1850.
John C. Calhoun
Leader of the Fugitive Slave Law. Argued on the floor of the senate that slavery was needed in the south. Argued on the grounds that society is supposed to have an upper ruling class that enjoys the profit of a working lower class.
Matthew C. Perry
1853, presented the Japanese with a letter from the President calling for Japan to grant trading rights to Ams, they signed a treaty opening Japan for trade in 1854.
Henry Clay
Senator from Kentucky, who ran for president five times until his death in 1852. He was a strong supporter of the American System, a war hawk for the War of 1812, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and known as "The Great Compromiser." Outlined the Compromise of 1850 with five main points but he died before it was passed.
Free-Soil Party
Formed in 1847 - 1848, dedicated to opposing slavery in newly acquired territories such as Oregon and ceded Mexican territory. Liked the Wilmot Proviso, advocated federal aid for internal improvements and free govt. homesteads for settlers. "Free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men". Condemned slavery not so much for enslaving blacks but for destroying the chances of free white workers to rise up from wage-earning dependence to self-employment. Argued that only with free soil in the west could a traditional Am commitment to upward mobility continue to flourish.
Fugitive Slave Law
Came from the Compromise of 1850; federal commissioners were appointed and given authority to issue warrants, gather, posses and force citizens to help catch runaway slaves.
Harriet Tubman
American abolitionist. Born a slave on a Maryland plantation. escaped to the North in 1849 and became the most renowned conductor on the Underground Railroad, leading more than 300 slaves to freedom.
Ostend Manifesto
Declaration (1854) issued from Ostend, Belgium, by the U.S. ministers to England, France, and Spain, stating that the U.S. would be justified in seizing Cuba if Spain did not sell it to the U.S. for the offered $120 million.
Kansas-Nebraska Act
1854. By Stephen Douglas. Act in 1854 which created two new organized territories and allowed popular sovereignty to determine the status of slavery. A victory for the South.
Chapter #19: Drifting Toward Disunion – Big Picture Themes
1. Uncle Tom’s Cabin drove a wedge between the Northerner and Southerner. The South cried foul saying it gave a view of slavery that was too harsh and unrealistic, but it cemented each section’s feelings on the issue.
2. Kansas became the battleground over slavery. Since slavery there was to be decided by popular vote, each side passionately fought for their position. Bloodshed resulted.
3. The Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision was huge. It said that Congress or a legislature cannot outlaw slavery in the territories. Effectively then, all new lands were possible slave lands.
4. A financial panic in 1857 added to the chaos and uncertainty.
5. Abe Lincoln arrived on the scene. Although he lost to Stephen Douglas for Illinois Senate, he made a name for himself there.
6. In 1860, Abe Lincoln won a very sectional race for president over 3 other candidates. The South had promised to leave the union if Abe won. He won, and the South indeed seceded.
IDENTIFICATIONS:
George Fitzhugh
He was an american theorist, in the Antebellum era, who published his views on slavery. He believed that slavery is necessary because it provided blacks to be morally civilized and economically secure. He was a leading pro-slavery theorist for the south.
John Brown
He raided Harpers Ferry in1859. He had a few followers and he chopped up 5 proslavery people. He was deemed insane but was hanged for his crimes after being captured by Marine Lt Colonel Robert E. Lee. He knew he would be contributing a lot as a martyr for abolition. And he was. Despite his horrible actions, after his death, the north believed him a saint and used his name for their cause.
Charles Sumner
A leading abolitionist who condemned the proslavery men and referred insultingly to SC and to its Senator, Andrew Butler one of the best liked senators in his speech. His speech was vile and insulting, this caused Brooks to be enraged enough to go after Sumner with his cane and beat him on the head. Sumner was sent to England for recovery that took 3 long expensive and painful years. He was reelected by Mass while he was gone and rallied the north, which sold copies of Sumner's abuive speech.
Dred Scott
A slave who tried to sue his master. He was in the Dred Scott case. Supreme court judge Taney ordered the case in favor of the north. Agreeing that since Dred Scott was a slave, a piece of property, he couldn't sue and it was unconstitutional to take property away from a person by the 5th amendment.
Abraham Lincoln
A republican candidate for president who won in the election of 1860. He got 39.79% of pop vote and 180 electoral votes. Born humbly and married into a higher social class. Known as Honest Abe and old abe. born in Kentucky. mainly self-educated. Was a Springfield lawyer. Republicans chose him to run against Senator Douglas in the senatorial elections of 1858. Although he lost, Lincoln came to be one of the most prominent northern politicians. Although he won the presidential elections of 1860, he was a minority and sectional president (he was not allowed on the ballot in ten southern states).
John Crittenden
A Senator of Kentucky. He is responsible for the Crittenden Compromise.
“Bleeding Kansas”
Kansas was being disputed for free or slave soil during 1854-1857, by pop sovereignty. In 1857, there were enough free-soilers to overrule the proslavery people. So many people were feuding that disagreements eventually led to killing in Kansas between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces. (Beecher's bibles and border ruffians).
American or “Know-Nothing” Party
Developed from the order of the Star Spangled Banner. made up of nativists. Was organized due to its secretiveness and in 1865 nominated the ex-president Fillmore. Were antiforeign and anti-Catholic and adopted the slogan "American's must rule America!" Remaining members of the Whig party also backed Fillmore for President.
Panic of 1857
The California gold rush increased inflation. overspeculation in land and railroads "ripped economic fabric". hit the North harder than South because the South had king cotton; the North wanted free land from the government. it drove Southerners closer to a showdown and caused an increase in tariffs. it gave Republicans an issue for the election of 1860.
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Lincoln challenged Douglas to a series of 7 debates. Though Douglas won the senate seat, these debates gave Lincoln fame and helped him to later on win the presidency. While giving Douglas less support and splitting the Democrats. These debates foreshadowed the Civil War.
Freeport Doctrine
The Freeport Doctrine occurred in Freeport, Illinois during the Lincoln -Douglas debates for senator. A question that Lincoln asked Douglas caused Douglas to answer in such a way that the South would know that he was not truly supporting them and thus causing the Freeport doctrine.
Harper's Ferry Raid
Oct of 1859. John Brown of Kansas attempted to create a major revolt among the slaves. He wanted to ride down the river and provide the slaves with arms from the North, but failed to get the slaves organized. Brown was captured by Marine Lt Col Robert E. Lee. The effects of Harper's Ferry Raid were: the South saw the act as one of treason and were encouraged to separate from the North, and Brown became a martyr to the northern abolitionist cause.
Constitutional Union Party
also known as the "do-nothings" or "Old Gentlemen's" party. in the 1860 election. was a middle of the road group that feared for the Union. it consisted mostly of Whigs and Know-Nothings and met in Baltimore and nominated John Bell from Tennessee as candidate for presidency. its slogan for this candidate was "The Union, the Constitution, and the Enforcement of the laws."
GUIDED READING QUESTIONS:
Stowe and Helper: Literary Incendiaries
Know: Harriet Beecher Stowe, Hinton Helper
1. Which book, Uncle Tom's Cabin or The Impending Crisis of the South was more important? Explain.
Uncle Tom's Cabin because it caused rallied and unified the north and convinced European countries that the south was cruel. This cost the south the support of England, which they were counting on. Lincoln, when he met Beecher, said "So you're the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war.
The North-South Contest for Kansas
Know: Beecher's Bibles, Border Ruffians
2. What went wrong with popular sovereignty in Kansas?
Both the north and the south created problems. Examples are the border ruffians and beecher's bibles. The border ruffians caused chaos, but so did beecher's bibles aka rifles. The northerners that migrated there were ordinary pioneers but a small part oas financed by antislavery groups. Southerners were angry.
Kansas in Convulsion
Know: John Brown, Pottawatomie Creek, Lecompton Constitution
3. What was the effect of "Bleeding Kansas" on the Democratic Party?
It basically split the democratic party, and with the split, came the breakage of one of the last important parts that was barely binding the Union together.
"Bully" Brooks and His Bludgeon
Know: Charles Sumner, Preston Brooks
5 What was the consequence of Brook's beating of Sumner in the North? The South?
In the south, they admired Brook and provided him with a lot more canes, some gold headed, for the one he broke beating Sumner. Massachusetts reelected Sumner as senator, even though he wasn't there, so the seat was empty. The north was angered by Brooks, copies of Sumner's abusive speech were sold by the tens of thousands. And with this selling of the speech, the south was angered at the applauding of the horrible speech.
"Old Buck" versus "The Pathfinder"
Know: James Buchanan, John C. Fremont, The American Party
6. Assess the candidates in the 1856 election.
James Buchanan of the democrats was muscular, white haired, tall, short necked, and had a protruding chin. He cocked his head to the side because of an eye defect. He was a Penn lawyer and had been serving as minister to London during the Kansas-Nebraska uproar. He was mediocre, irresolute, and confused. pro popular sovereignty. John C Fremon of the republicans was a dashing but erratic explorer-soldier-surveyor. He was flashy and had almost no political experience, but like Buchanan he wasn't involved in the Kansas crisis. Against slavery.
The Electoral Fruits of 1856
7. Interpret the results of the election of 1856.
Buchanan won, fremont lost because of doubts of his character. The election foreshadowed what will happen in the future, which made everyone anxious or scared.
The Dred Scott Bombshell
Know: Dred Scott, Roger B. Taney
8 Why was the Dred Scott decision so divisive?
The south said that since he's a slave, he had no rights, he was property and it's unconstitutional to take away someone's property. Roger B Taney agreed. The north said because the slave was on free land for sometime, he should be free. Also, his master rented Dred Scott out and that isn't right in a free state. This caused controversy and anger, it just piled on the threat of the Civil War.
The Financial Crash of 1857
9. How did the Panic of 1857 make Civil War more likely?
The north was hard hit, over 5000 businesses collapsed. Buy the south was barely affected which proved that cotton was king and the south's economy was better than the north's. This contributed to the cause of civil war. Free farms were gaining popularity and the south didn't like it because the southern farmers couldn't flourish i only 160 acres and the free farmers would fill up with free soilers and tip the political balance against the south. The panic also created higher tariffs and gave the republicans economic issues for later on in the election of 1860: protection for the unprotected and farms for the farmless.
An Illinois Rail-Splitter Emerges
10. Describe Abraham Lincoln's background.
A rustic Springfield lawyer. 6'4 and 180 lbs. He wasn't a child of the elite, he was born in 1809 in a Kentucky log cabin to impoverished parents, he attended a frontier school for not more than a year. He was an avid reader and was mainly self educated. He was a wrestler and weight lifter in the frontier community. He worked as a log splitter before and he was an excellent storyteller. He married above himself socially into the Todd family of Kentucky. His temperamental wife (the she-wolf) taught him patience and forbearance. He studied law a little and became a well known lawyer. Referred to as "Honest Abe". He served in congress from 1847-1849.
The Great Debate: Lincoln versus Douglas
Know: Freeport Doctrine
11. What long term results occurred because of the Lincoln-Douglas debates?
Though Lincoln lost, he got recognized and he began to emerge as a potential republican nominee for president. But Douglas, who won, her his own chances at president while further splitting the democrats. The southern democrats despised douglas for going against the Lecompton constitution.
John Brown: Murderer or Martyr
Know: Harper's Ferry, Robert E. Lee
12. Why were the actions of one (crazy?) man so important in the growing conflict between North and South?
This one crazy man became a martyr and he knew it. The effects of Harpers Ferry were that the south thought Brown was a murderer and thought all of the north had the same violent views as Brown. The north was riled by Brown's death.
The Disruption of the Democrats
Know: John C. Breckenridge, John Bell
13. What happened when the Democratic Party attempted to choose a candidate for the presidency in 1860?
When they met in Charleston, the southerners regarded Douglas as a traitor for the Lecompton constitution and the fremont doctrine. The delegates from most of the cotton states walked out. The remainder couldn't get the 2/3 votes needed for douglas. The democrats tried again in Baltimore where the northern democrats got Douglas selected. This angered the southern democrats and they chose Breckinridge for VP.
A Rail-Splitter Splits the Union
14. Why was Lincoln chosen as the Republican candidate instead of Seward?
Seward had ruined his image with his irrepressible conflict, among other things. He had many enemies. Lincoln had fewer enemies.
The Electoral Upheaval of 1860
15. Did the South have any power in the national government after Lincoln’s election, or were they helpless?
No, they had a 5 to 4 majority on the supreme court. The republicans didn't control the senate or the house of reps. The federal gov couldn't touch slavery in slave states except by a unpassable amendment..
The Secessionist Exodus
Know: Secession, Jefferson Davis
16.. What did President Buchanan do when the South seceded? Why?
He didn't resort to force because the tiny standing army of ~15,000 men was needed to control the Indians in the west. He was a wait and see president.
The Collapse of Compromise
17. What was the Crittendon Compromise and why did it fail?
The proposed Crittenden amendments to the Constitution were to appease the south, as in the 36-30 parallel would be put back. Future states north or south of the line could come into the union with or without slavery. But lincoln rejected it because he promised to stop the extension of slavery.
Farewell to Union
18. What advantages did southerners see in secession? Who did they compare themselves to?
They felt that it would give them freedom from the republican party, free soil criticism, abolitionist nagging, and northern interference. They felt that their departure would be unopposed, they believed that yankees wouldn't suffer the economic costs. they felt it would be a golden opportunity to cast aside their generations of vassalage to the north. They compared themselves to the 13 original colonies who seceded from the British Empire.
1. The main question facing the nation was, “Will new lands won from Mexico have slaves or be free?”
2. The answer to the question was hammered out in the Compromise of 1850. It said California was to be free, popular sovereignty (the people decide) for the rest of the lands.
3. A tougher fugitive slave law was a major concession to the South, but it wasn’t enforced. This angered the Southerners.
4. The North—South rift was widened with the Kansas-Nebraska Act. It repealed the Missouri Compromise which had kept the peace for a generation. In it’s place, popular sovereignty opened the Great Plains to potential slavery. Whereas the slave-land issue had been settled, now it was a big question mark.
IDENTIFICATIONS:
Stephen Douglas
A senator of Illinois, also known as the "Little Giant"(5'4). His role is more important than Henry Clay's in the compromise. He took over for Clay in the compromise of 1850, he split the compromise to get it passed.
Franklin Pierce
Unrenowned lawyer-politician from New Hampshire. "The Young Hickory of the Granite Hills". Weak and indecisive. Youngish, handsome, militarily erect, smiling, and convivial. served in Mex war. "Fainting General" by scandalmongers. Enemyless. Prosouthern northerner. His platform revived the Democrats' commitment to territorial expansion as pursued by Polk and emphatically endorsed the Compromise of 1850.
Compromise of 1850
Signed by Millard Fillmore, deals with disputed territory and the controversy of California. California joined as a free state, and what was left of the Mexican Cession land became New Mexico and Utah, and did not restrict slavery. The compromise benefited the North more than the South.
Zachary Taylor
General that was a military leader in Mexican-American War and 12th president of the U.S. Whig. Sent by prez Polk to lead the American Army against Mexico at Rio Grande, but got defeated. Died in 1850.
John C. Calhoun
Leader of the Fugitive Slave Law. Argued on the floor of the senate that slavery was needed in the south. Argued on the grounds that society is supposed to have an upper ruling class that enjoys the profit of a working lower class.
Matthew C. Perry
1853, presented the Japanese with a letter from the President calling for Japan to grant trading rights to Ams, they signed a treaty opening Japan for trade in 1854.
Henry Clay
Senator from Kentucky, who ran for president five times until his death in 1852. He was a strong supporter of the American System, a war hawk for the War of 1812, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and known as "The Great Compromiser." Outlined the Compromise of 1850 with five main points but he died before it was passed.
Free-Soil Party
Formed in 1847 - 1848, dedicated to opposing slavery in newly acquired territories such as Oregon and ceded Mexican territory. Liked the Wilmot Proviso, advocated federal aid for internal improvements and free govt. homesteads for settlers. "Free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men". Condemned slavery not so much for enslaving blacks but for destroying the chances of free white workers to rise up from wage-earning dependence to self-employment. Argued that only with free soil in the west could a traditional Am commitment to upward mobility continue to flourish.
Fugitive Slave Law
Came from the Compromise of 1850; federal commissioners were appointed and given authority to issue warrants, gather, posses and force citizens to help catch runaway slaves.
Harriet Tubman
American abolitionist. Born a slave on a Maryland plantation. escaped to the North in 1849 and became the most renowned conductor on the Underground Railroad, leading more than 300 slaves to freedom.
Ostend Manifesto
Declaration (1854) issued from Ostend, Belgium, by the U.S. ministers to England, France, and Spain, stating that the U.S. would be justified in seizing Cuba if Spain did not sell it to the U.S. for the offered $120 million.
Kansas-Nebraska Act
1854. By Stephen Douglas. Act in 1854 which created two new organized territories and allowed popular sovereignty to determine the status of slavery. A victory for the South.
Chapter #19: Drifting Toward Disunion – Big Picture Themes
1. Uncle Tom’s Cabin drove a wedge between the Northerner and Southerner. The South cried foul saying it gave a view of slavery that was too harsh and unrealistic, but it cemented each section’s feelings on the issue.
2. Kansas became the battleground over slavery. Since slavery there was to be decided by popular vote, each side passionately fought for their position. Bloodshed resulted.
3. The Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision was huge. It said that Congress or a legislature cannot outlaw slavery in the territories. Effectively then, all new lands were possible slave lands.
4. A financial panic in 1857 added to the chaos and uncertainty.
5. Abe Lincoln arrived on the scene. Although he lost to Stephen Douglas for Illinois Senate, he made a name for himself there.
6. In 1860, Abe Lincoln won a very sectional race for president over 3 other candidates. The South had promised to leave the union if Abe won. He won, and the South indeed seceded.
IDENTIFICATIONS:
George Fitzhugh
He was an american theorist, in the Antebellum era, who published his views on slavery. He believed that slavery is necessary because it provided blacks to be morally civilized and economically secure. He was a leading pro-slavery theorist for the south.
John Brown
He raided Harpers Ferry in1859. He had a few followers and he chopped up 5 proslavery people. He was deemed insane but was hanged for his crimes after being captured by Marine Lt Colonel Robert E. Lee. He knew he would be contributing a lot as a martyr for abolition. And he was. Despite his horrible actions, after his death, the north believed him a saint and used his name for their cause.
Charles Sumner
A leading abolitionist who condemned the proslavery men and referred insultingly to SC and to its Senator, Andrew Butler one of the best liked senators in his speech. His speech was vile and insulting, this caused Brooks to be enraged enough to go after Sumner with his cane and beat him on the head. Sumner was sent to England for recovery that took 3 long expensive and painful years. He was reelected by Mass while he was gone and rallied the north, which sold copies of Sumner's abuive speech.
Dred Scott
A slave who tried to sue his master. He was in the Dred Scott case. Supreme court judge Taney ordered the case in favor of the north. Agreeing that since Dred Scott was a slave, a piece of property, he couldn't sue and it was unconstitutional to take property away from a person by the 5th amendment.
Abraham Lincoln
A republican candidate for president who won in the election of 1860. He got 39.79% of pop vote and 180 electoral votes. Born humbly and married into a higher social class. Known as Honest Abe and old abe. born in Kentucky. mainly self-educated. Was a Springfield lawyer. Republicans chose him to run against Senator Douglas in the senatorial elections of 1858. Although he lost, Lincoln came to be one of the most prominent northern politicians. Although he won the presidential elections of 1860, he was a minority and sectional president (he was not allowed on the ballot in ten southern states).
John Crittenden
A Senator of Kentucky. He is responsible for the Crittenden Compromise.
“Bleeding Kansas”
Kansas was being disputed for free or slave soil during 1854-1857, by pop sovereignty. In 1857, there were enough free-soilers to overrule the proslavery people. So many people were feuding that disagreements eventually led to killing in Kansas between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces. (Beecher's bibles and border ruffians).
American or “Know-Nothing” Party
Developed from the order of the Star Spangled Banner. made up of nativists. Was organized due to its secretiveness and in 1865 nominated the ex-president Fillmore. Were antiforeign and anti-Catholic and adopted the slogan "American's must rule America!" Remaining members of the Whig party also backed Fillmore for President.
Panic of 1857
The California gold rush increased inflation. overspeculation in land and railroads "ripped economic fabric". hit the North harder than South because the South had king cotton; the North wanted free land from the government. it drove Southerners closer to a showdown and caused an increase in tariffs. it gave Republicans an issue for the election of 1860.
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Lincoln challenged Douglas to a series of 7 debates. Though Douglas won the senate seat, these debates gave Lincoln fame and helped him to later on win the presidency. While giving Douglas less support and splitting the Democrats. These debates foreshadowed the Civil War.
Freeport Doctrine
The Freeport Doctrine occurred in Freeport, Illinois during the Lincoln -Douglas debates for senator. A question that Lincoln asked Douglas caused Douglas to answer in such a way that the South would know that he was not truly supporting them and thus causing the Freeport doctrine.
Harper's Ferry Raid
Oct of 1859. John Brown of Kansas attempted to create a major revolt among the slaves. He wanted to ride down the river and provide the slaves with arms from the North, but failed to get the slaves organized. Brown was captured by Marine Lt Col Robert E. Lee. The effects of Harper's Ferry Raid were: the South saw the act as one of treason and were encouraged to separate from the North, and Brown became a martyr to the northern abolitionist cause.
Constitutional Union Party
also known as the "do-nothings" or "Old Gentlemen's" party. in the 1860 election. was a middle of the road group that feared for the Union. it consisted mostly of Whigs and Know-Nothings and met in Baltimore and nominated John Bell from Tennessee as candidate for presidency. its slogan for this candidate was "The Union, the Constitution, and the Enforcement of the laws."
GUIDED READING QUESTIONS:
Stowe and Helper: Literary Incendiaries
Know: Harriet Beecher Stowe, Hinton Helper
1. Which book, Uncle Tom's Cabin or The Impending Crisis of the South was more important? Explain.
Uncle Tom's Cabin because it caused rallied and unified the north and convinced European countries that the south was cruel. This cost the south the support of England, which they were counting on. Lincoln, when he met Beecher, said "So you're the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war.
The North-South Contest for Kansas
Know: Beecher's Bibles, Border Ruffians
2. What went wrong with popular sovereignty in Kansas?
Both the north and the south created problems. Examples are the border ruffians and beecher's bibles. The border ruffians caused chaos, but so did beecher's bibles aka rifles. The northerners that migrated there were ordinary pioneers but a small part oas financed by antislavery groups. Southerners were angry.
Kansas in Convulsion
Know: John Brown, Pottawatomie Creek, Lecompton Constitution
3. What was the effect of "Bleeding Kansas" on the Democratic Party?
It basically split the democratic party, and with the split, came the breakage of one of the last important parts that was barely binding the Union together.
"Bully" Brooks and His Bludgeon
Know: Charles Sumner, Preston Brooks
5 What was the consequence of Brook's beating of Sumner in the North? The South?
In the south, they admired Brook and provided him with a lot more canes, some gold headed, for the one he broke beating Sumner. Massachusetts reelected Sumner as senator, even though he wasn't there, so the seat was empty. The north was angered by Brooks, copies of Sumner's abusive speech were sold by the tens of thousands. And with this selling of the speech, the south was angered at the applauding of the horrible speech.
"Old Buck" versus "The Pathfinder"
Know: James Buchanan, John C. Fremont, The American Party
6. Assess the candidates in the 1856 election.
James Buchanan of the democrats was muscular, white haired, tall, short necked, and had a protruding chin. He cocked his head to the side because of an eye defect. He was a Penn lawyer and had been serving as minister to London during the Kansas-Nebraska uproar. He was mediocre, irresolute, and confused. pro popular sovereignty. John C Fremon of the republicans was a dashing but erratic explorer-soldier-surveyor. He was flashy and had almost no political experience, but like Buchanan he wasn't involved in the Kansas crisis. Against slavery.
The Electoral Fruits of 1856
7. Interpret the results of the election of 1856.
Buchanan won, fremont lost because of doubts of his character. The election foreshadowed what will happen in the future, which made everyone anxious or scared.
The Dred Scott Bombshell
Know: Dred Scott, Roger B. Taney
8 Why was the Dred Scott decision so divisive?
The south said that since he's a slave, he had no rights, he was property and it's unconstitutional to take away someone's property. Roger B Taney agreed. The north said because the slave was on free land for sometime, he should be free. Also, his master rented Dred Scott out and that isn't right in a free state. This caused controversy and anger, it just piled on the threat of the Civil War.
The Financial Crash of 1857
9. How did the Panic of 1857 make Civil War more likely?
The north was hard hit, over 5000 businesses collapsed. Buy the south was barely affected which proved that cotton was king and the south's economy was better than the north's. This contributed to the cause of civil war. Free farms were gaining popularity and the south didn't like it because the southern farmers couldn't flourish i only 160 acres and the free farmers would fill up with free soilers and tip the political balance against the south. The panic also created higher tariffs and gave the republicans economic issues for later on in the election of 1860: protection for the unprotected and farms for the farmless.
An Illinois Rail-Splitter Emerges
10. Describe Abraham Lincoln's background.
A rustic Springfield lawyer. 6'4 and 180 lbs. He wasn't a child of the elite, he was born in 1809 in a Kentucky log cabin to impoverished parents, he attended a frontier school for not more than a year. He was an avid reader and was mainly self educated. He was a wrestler and weight lifter in the frontier community. He worked as a log splitter before and he was an excellent storyteller. He married above himself socially into the Todd family of Kentucky. His temperamental wife (the she-wolf) taught him patience and forbearance. He studied law a little and became a well known lawyer. Referred to as "Honest Abe". He served in congress from 1847-1849.
The Great Debate: Lincoln versus Douglas
Know: Freeport Doctrine
11. What long term results occurred because of the Lincoln-Douglas debates?
Though Lincoln lost, he got recognized and he began to emerge as a potential republican nominee for president. But Douglas, who won, her his own chances at president while further splitting the democrats. The southern democrats despised douglas for going against the Lecompton constitution.
John Brown: Murderer or Martyr
Know: Harper's Ferry, Robert E. Lee
12. Why were the actions of one (crazy?) man so important in the growing conflict between North and South?
This one crazy man became a martyr and he knew it. The effects of Harpers Ferry were that the south thought Brown was a murderer and thought all of the north had the same violent views as Brown. The north was riled by Brown's death.
The Disruption of the Democrats
Know: John C. Breckenridge, John Bell
13. What happened when the Democratic Party attempted to choose a candidate for the presidency in 1860?
When they met in Charleston, the southerners regarded Douglas as a traitor for the Lecompton constitution and the fremont doctrine. The delegates from most of the cotton states walked out. The remainder couldn't get the 2/3 votes needed for douglas. The democrats tried again in Baltimore where the northern democrats got Douglas selected. This angered the southern democrats and they chose Breckinridge for VP.
A Rail-Splitter Splits the Union
14. Why was Lincoln chosen as the Republican candidate instead of Seward?
Seward had ruined his image with his irrepressible conflict, among other things. He had many enemies. Lincoln had fewer enemies.
The Electoral Upheaval of 1860
15. Did the South have any power in the national government after Lincoln’s election, or were they helpless?
No, they had a 5 to 4 majority on the supreme court. The republicans didn't control the senate or the house of reps. The federal gov couldn't touch slavery in slave states except by a unpassable amendment..
The Secessionist Exodus
Know: Secession, Jefferson Davis
16.. What did President Buchanan do when the South seceded? Why?
He didn't resort to force because the tiny standing army of ~15,000 men was needed to control the Indians in the west. He was a wait and see president.
The Collapse of Compromise
17. What was the Crittendon Compromise and why did it fail?
The proposed Crittenden amendments to the Constitution were to appease the south, as in the 36-30 parallel would be put back. Future states north or south of the line could come into the union with or without slavery. But lincoln rejected it because he promised to stop the extension of slavery.
Farewell to Union
18. What advantages did southerners see in secession? Who did they compare themselves to?
They felt that it would give them freedom from the republican party, free soil criticism, abolitionist nagging, and northern interference. They felt that their departure would be unopposed, they believed that yankees wouldn't suffer the economic costs. they felt it would be a golden opportunity to cast aside their generations of vassalage to the north. They compared themselves to the 13 original colonies who seceded from the British Empire.