Events that led to the Civil War Notes

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Events that led to the Civil War Notes
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• 1. Missouri Compromise
• Tallmadge Amendment an attempt to add Missouri
  as a free state. It failed.
• This is 1819-1820 and the issue was whether or
  not to add a new slave state to the Union (the
  U.S.). This would upset the balance of Senators
  in the US Senate.
• Resolution Maine now qualified for statehood so
  it would enter as free and Missouri would enter a
  slave. The balance was maintained. Also, in the
  future, slavery would only be legal in areas
  below the latitude line of 36 30.
• 2. Imbalanced Congress
• The US Congress has two houses. In the House of
  Representatives representation is based on
  population and the free states had larger
  populations.
• In the Senate, each state had 2 senators.
• The advantage was on the side of the North or
  free states but Senate was where laws could be
  stopped due to the deadlock or tie.

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• 3. Abolition Movement
• The growing number of anti-slavery Americans put
  pressure on the government to try and end
  slavery. It also forced slave owners into
  fighting more aggressively for less government
  interference into their affairs, such as slavery.
  
• 4. Rebellion
• The fear of slave uprisings causes the owners to
  treat slaves even harsher and to pass slave codes
  or laws that restrict slaves more than ever. The
  owners are now fearful on two fronts. Slave
  uprisings and government interference.
• Examples include Nat Turner Rebellion, Denmark
  Vesseys Planned rebellion and John Browns raid
  at Harpers Ferry.
• 5. Runaways
• Abolition efforts to help slaves escape increases
  resentment from owners that their property is
  being stolen and they have no help in regaining
  their property. It further draws a difference
  between slave owners and northern abolitionists.

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• 6. Compromise of 1850
• When California wanted to become a state there
  were no other areas that qualified for statehood.
  Therefore the balance would be upset when it
  entered as a state. In order to compromise
  Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act. This law
  did the following
• 1. Made it legal to recapture and return runaways
  from any area of the US.
• 2. It made the act of helping or hiding a runaway
  a federal crime.
• 3. Gave higher payments to judges who ruled in
  favor of the slave owner (10 to return, 5 to
  set free)
• 7. Uncle Toms Cabin
• An anti-slavery novel written in 1852 by Harriet
  Beecher Stowe. Gave many Americans their first
  exposure to slavery and its cruelty.

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8.Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854-This law by Stephen
Douglas created two territories on the Great
Plains, Kansas and Nebraska. Because they were
above 36 30 it was agreed that future settlers
(voters) could decide whether to be slave or
free. Pro and anti slavery groups move into the
areas and violence breaks out. 9. States
Rights The Tenth Amendment allowed states to take
power over those things not under the control of
the Federal government, such as slavery. The
claimed that no federal law could interfere with
slavery. Later the 14th amendment will makes the
Bill of Rights apply to all laws (state and
federal).
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10. Brooks attacks Sumner 1856. While debating
the violence in Kansas, Massachusetts Senator
Sumner, is caned by Representative Brooks, the
nephew of SC Senator Butler. This attack
represents the growing inability to peacefully
resolve differences. Some call it the first
attack of the Civil War. 11. Dred Scott
Decision 1857- The Supreme Court rules that
slaves were not citizens not entitled to legal
protection. Slaves were property. Also, the court
ruled that Congress had no right to limit slavery
in new states or territories.
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• 12. Lincoln-Douglas Debates
• Stephen Douglas was the Democratic senator
  from Illinois running for reelection against the
  republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln. The two
  met on several occasions to discuss the issues
  including slavery. Lincoln loses the election but
  becomes a national name in politics and in the
  anti-slavery movement.
• 13. Presidential Election of 1860
• November, 1860-Four candidates run but
  Lincoln (Republican) wins by carrying nearly all
  of the northern states. The South now realizes
  that they are a minority region with less power
  to protect their rights (slavery).