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Period: to
Road to the Civil War
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The Northwest Ordinance (political)
Most important accomplishment of Articles of Confederation - included West in political structure of new nation. Initial ordinances unfavorable; settlers could not afford land. NO got rid of 10 districts est. 1784; created 1 NW Territory from land north of OH River (divided into 3-5 territories) w/ 60,000 min pop to apply for statehood, freedom of religion/right to trial by jury, prohibited slavery there. Threw off balance between slave & free states - starts 75 year path to Civil War. -
The Missouri Compromise (political)
1819: MO applied for statehood. Proposed amendment to bill to prohibit further slaves & gradually emancipate slaves in MO. 2 yr controversy - states in pairs of N & S; 1819, 11 free & 11 slave. Free MO would upset balance. If northerners blocked as slave, southerners would block ME as free. Senate combined as 1 bill - ME free, MO slave. Senator Thomas proposed amendment prohibiting slavery in LA Purchase territory north of 36°30’ - passed. Nationalists in N & S saw resolution to threat to Union. -
Nat Turner Rebellion (social)
Turner, slave preacher, led band of African Americans w/ guns & axes from house to house in Southampton County, VA - killed 60 white men, women, & children (2 days); overpowered by state & federal troops. After, over 100 blacks executed; hundreds beaten by white angry mobs/militias. Increased southern fears of slave insurrection & views of blacks as dangerous - further subjugation of slaves; rise in slave mistreatment & northern sympathy; increased southern suspicion of northern abolitionists. -
The Gag Rule (political)
Abolition petitions overran Congress; SC Representative Hammond (S Dem; pro-slavery) proposed bill that tabeled any petitions on issue of slavery; forbade discussion of slavery in H of R. Supported by southern Whigs & Democrats; silenced North. Set precedent of gag rules put in place by Congress or president. Many incensed at unconstitutional infringement on 1st Amendment right to petition. Prolonged issue of slavery. Repeal secured 1844 by House group led by JQ Adams & Joshua Giddings. -
The Amistad Case (political)
Some abolitionists helped fund legal battle over Spanish slave vessel Amistad. 1839: Africans destined as slaves in Cuba seized ship & tried to return to Africa - US Navy seized & held as pirates; w/ abolitionist support, legal efforts to declare free (bc international slave trade illegal) reached SC - antislavery position argued by JQ Adams. Court declared free; antislavery groups funded passage to Africa. Galvanized growing abolitionist movement & widened N & S division. -
The Annexation of Texas (political)
After TX Revolution, Houston, new TX president, offered to join Union. Expansionist supporters in US; northerners opposed new slave territory & inc. southern votes in Congress & electoral college. Jackson feared sectional controversy & war w/ MX. Tyler persuaded TX to apply again 1844. Calhoun presented treaty as if purpose to extend slavery; N senators defeated it. Spurred Manifest Destiny advocates; TX central issue in election 1844. Under Polk, made state. Contributed to start of Mexican War. -
The Mexican War (political)
Mexicans rejected Slidell offer to purchase territories. Polk ordered Taylor’s army to Rio Grande. MX refused to fight for months; Congress declared war (Whigs claimed Polk staged incident; took attention from Pacific NW) Victory not as quick as hoped: US controlled 2 territories; Mexico refused defeat. Seized Mexico City; Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended war & gave US vast territory. Bitter battle between expansionists for annexing all Mexico & anti-slavery leaders (opposed expanding slavery). -
The Wilmot Proviso (political)
During Mexican War, Polk asked Congress to appropriate $2 million to purchase peace w/ Mexico. Representative Wilmot of PA (antislavery Dem) introduced WP - amendment to appropriation bill prohibiting slavery in territory acquired from Mexico. WP passed in House; failed in Senate - debated & voted on repeatedly for years amid growing sectional conflict. Southern militants believed Americans had equal rights in new territories, including right to take property there; strengthened Repub Party. -
The California Gold Rush (economic)
News of strike (Jan 24, 1848) spread rapidly; people around world flocked to CA. 1st Chinese migrants to western US. CA labor shortage; 49ers abandoned jobs & families - work for immigrants; Indian Hunters & forced labor. Tiny fraction found gold. More diverse - Europeans, Chinese, South Americans, Mexicans, free blacks, slaves - racial/ethnic tensions; territory turbulent. Pressure for more stable & effective federal gov’t - pressured gov’t to resolve status of CA & all territories - & slavery. -
The Fugitive Slave Act (political)
In Compromise of 1850, Calhoun insisted North observe laws concerning fugitive slaves - strengthened 1793 law, permitted slave catchers, & mandated free blacks could be. Northern opposition to Fugitive Slave Act intensified when southerners began pursuing people in the North they claimed fugitives. Mobs in northern cities prevented enforcement; northern states barred deportation of fugitive slaves; underground railroad. Southerners angered that victory in Compromise of 1850 became meaningless. -
The Compromise of 1850 (political)
KY Sen. Clay presented omnibus bill to settle sectional tensions: admitted CA as free state, territorial gov’ts in acquired MX territory w/o slavery reforms, abolished slave trade in District of Columbia, enacted FSL. 7 months debate: older congressmen Clay, Calhoun, Webster argued broad ideals; replacements Douglas, Davis, Seward ratified compromise (Sept 9-20) when Douglas separated measures - each side believed other benefited, but Congressmen hailed as just settlement of sectional problem. -
Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin (social)
Abolitionist propaganda written by Harriet Beecher Stowe appeared in antislavery weekly then published as book (1852) - sold over 300,000 copies w/in year; historical best seller. Combined sentimental novel w/ abolition movement & portrayed good slaves victimized by cruel system. Stowe became hero to North; reviled in South. Brought message of abolitionism to new audience (readers & watchers of theater dramatizations; helped inflame sectional tensions. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act (political)
Douglas wanted transcontinental railroad based in South; had to organize NE for settlement. Knew South would oppose (new free state), so added slavery determined by territorial legislatures (popular sovereignty); clause that repealed MO Comp & divided K (likely slave state) & N. Passed w/ full Southern support & partial of Northern Dems - divided. Divided & destroyed Whigs. Those who opposed K-N became new Republican Party - split US into 2 major political camps; N (Repub) & S (Dem). -
Bleeding Kansas (social)
KS events in 2 yrs after KN Act inc political turmoil in N. 1855: territorial legislature election. 1,500 voters; Missourians made 6,000. Pro-slavery majority legalized slavery; free-staters elected constitutional convention excluding slavery - petitioned for statehood - Pierce admin claimed traitors. Abolitionist John Brown murdered 5 proslavery settlers - Pottawatomie Massacre. Led to more civil strife - guerrilla warfare armed bands. Each side believed caused by aggressive designs of other. -
The Ostend Manifesto (political)
Pierce supported Democratic Party movement “Young America”: sought worldly expansion of democracy to diverting attention from slavery. Dreamed of European gov’ts modeled on US, territories in Western Hemisphere, & expanding US commerce in Pacific. Pierce pursued unsuccessful attempts to buy Cuba from Spain; envoys sent private document from Ostend, Belgium - made case for seizing by force. When leaked to the public, enraged anti-slavery Northerners bc would bring new slave state into Union. -
The Dred Scott Decision (political)
Scott v. Sandford: MO slave owned by surgeon - went to IL & WI (slavery forbidden). 1846, surgeon died; Scott sued widow; circuit court ruled free. Sanford, widow’s brother, appealed state SC; reversed. Scott appealed federal SC - divided. 1857: Taney ruled not citizen (no rights), property (5 amendment prohibited seizure). Congress could not take slaves - MO Comp unconstitutional. Fed gov’t could not challenge state prohibition of slavery - elated S, dismayed N - inflamed Election of 1860. -
John Brown and the Raid on Harpers Ferry (social)
Brown = antislavery zealot; bloody actions inflamed BK. W/ private abolitionist encouragement & funds, planned to seize fortress in VA & foment slave insurrection. Brown & followers seized arsenal in Harpers Ferry, VA. But no insurrection - besieged by citizens, local military, & troops under Lee. After 10 of his men killed, Brown surrendered. For treason against state, hanged. Convinced white southerners could not live safely w/in Union - incorrectly believed Brown had support of Repubs & N. -
The Crittenden Compromise (political)
KY Senator Crittenden proposed compromise - amendments to guarantee permanent slavery in slave states (appease to stay in Union): reenact MO Comp & extend west, compensate owners of fugitive slaves, est popular sovereignty in territories, protect slavery in District of Columbia, & forbid interference w/ interstate slave trade. Southerners in Senate willing; Repubs, FS Party, & Lincoln not (opposition to slavery expansion). Senate never acted on national referendum; 2 months later, defeated.
