Impending Crisis

Anti-Slavery Movement

• Anti-Slavery sentiments and movements were not new, but they gained their first significant American voice in the 1830’s.

• American Colonization Society in 1817 for example.– Prominent Virginians who wanted to relocate liberated

slaves to form their own African colony.– Liberia is result of this action– Their capital of Monrovia is tribute to President James

Monroe who authorized.

William Lloyd Garrison• Massachusetts born journalist, founded weekly

Boston Newspaper called The Liberator.• Felt most Americans neglected to see slavery from

the black perspective.– Even abolitionists generally viewed the possible harm on

white society.– Also felt negatively about colonization groups.

• talented writer with harsh language and tone regarding contempt for slavery.– Founded the American Antislavery Society• By 1838 he had over 250,00 members.

Popular Black Abolitionists

• David Walker – free man from Boston– Published Walker’s Appeal … to the Colored Citizens.– Was rather militant and off putting for many.

• Sojourner Truth – inspired by her involvement in one of the strange cults in upstate New York.– Very eloquent spokeswoman for abolition movement.

Frederick Douglass

• Most influential figure in anti-slavery movement.• Born a slave in Maryland, eventually escaped to

Massachusetts.• Spent 2 years lecturing and studying in England, and

officially bought his freedom when he returned.• Forged a tie among white abolitionists and black

anti-slavery proponents.– Eventually merged with Garrison’s movement.

Anti-Abolition Sentiments

• Many people opposed the new movement.• Not just Southerners either– Many northern whites feared the possible social

upheaval caused by drastic measures.– Garrison himself was kidnapped by a mob and

threatened to be hanged• Local police had to arrest him to save his life.

Garrisonians• As Garrison’s ideas became more and more

controversial (pg. 335) his followers became called Garrisonians.– Highly involved in the Underground Railroad, advocates

for government and Constitutional involvement, even paid for legal representation for Amistad case.

• Amistad – Spanish slave ship where the slaves revolted and overthrew the ship and tried to return to Africa.

• While a powerful influence, the anti-slavery movement never officially formed a political party.

Harriet Beecher Stowe• Her book Uncle Tom’s Cabin was most influential

piece of propaganda.– Was a work of fiction though.

• First appeared in 1851-52 in some of the anti-slavery weekly newspapers.– Eventually became so popular that they turned it into a

book– Sold 300,00 copies and became one of the best selling

books in American history.– Completely rocked the nation with its heartwrenching

tale about slavery.

Manifest Destiny: America Grows

• Manifest Destiny – the belief that the U.S. was destined by God to be a great nation and rule the entire continent.– Many believed that in the long term, this was best for all

inhabitants of the continent.– This is how they justified the mistreatment of various

racial groups.• The Louisiana Purchase was an example of Manifest

Destiny in practice.– As People moved westward, slavery became an issue.

Don’t Mess with Texas!• The U.S. had tried to buy or claim Texas on multiple

occasions from Mexico, but with no success.• Mexicans viewed it as a buffer between them and

the U.S. and tried to sway Americans to move there.– Efforts ended up creating wealthy class that competed

with Mexican interests in the region – More Americans ended up there than Mexicans.

• When Mexican Gen. Santa Anna seized control of Mexican government he passed a number of laws which Texans felt were aimed at them.– led to upheaval and revolt.

Texas Cont.• The Alamo – unorganized groups of Texans tried to

claim independence from Mexico.– Santa Anna personally led army to the small mission in

San Antonio to attack a band of Texas “patriots”.– Futile slaughter included Tennessee Congressman Davy

Crockett.• Battle of San Jacinto – group of Texans led by Gen.

Sam Houston defeated Mexicans and captured Santa Anna.– Just outside of present day Houston.– Led to eventual independence of Texas as its own nation.

Annexation of Texas• President Sam Houston immediately tried to

convince the U.S. to annex his new country.• Many Northern politicians balked at such a large

new slave territory.• Andrew Jackson wouldn’t support it at the time

because he felt it would lead to war with Mexico.– When U.S. refused the upset Texans tried to pursuit

territory so they could rival the U.S.• When European countries supported them

President John Tyler revisited the idea of annexation in 1844.

The Election of 1844

• Annexation of Texas became the primary issue.• Democrats selected James Polk as their candidate

because he took a firm stance supporting the annexation of Texas and Oregon.– The Whigs selected Henry Clay, who was non-committal on

the issue.– Polk won in a landslide and Texas was annexed before he

even took office.– Polk eventually negotiated obtaining Oregon territory from

the British and set the Canadian border at the 49th Parallel, where it is today.

Mexican War• Mexico broke off relations with the U.S. as soon as

Texas became a state.– Immediately disputes over the actual border, eventually

Polk declared the Rio Grande.– U.S. also expressed interest in acquiring New Mexico and

California, since more Americans lived there than Mexicans.

– Mexico refused his attempt to buy the lands and was appeared imminent.

• “Staged” confrontation along the Rio Grande was viewed as an act of war and the Mexican War began

Mexican War Cont.• Eventual victory, but not as quickly as many had

hoped.• Bear Flag Rebellion – U.S. forces combined with

Californians already rebelling to gain control of the territory.– U.S. had occupied territory they wanted, but Mexico

refused to concede victory.• Eventually Winfield Scott devised plan to capture

Mexico City.– New Mexican government agreed to peace Negotiations

and Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war.

Debate over New Territory• With new territories the major question was how to

handle them, and more importantly what role slavery would play.

• Wilmot Proviso: appropriate $2 million during the war to purchase Mexican territories, provided slavery wouldn’t exist there.– Hotly debated, Polk suggested simply extending the 36-

30 line from the Missouri Compromise.– Ultimately led to the Free-Soil Movement of voters

unhappy with either the Whig or Democratic party became central issue in 1848 Election.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

• Stephen Douglas (D- Sen. Illinois) wanted to manipulate the transcontinental railroad route to include his state.– In order to do so some territory from the Louisiana

Purchase would need to become a state. (Nebraska)– To appease Southern Democrats he proposed nullifying

the Missouri Compromise to allow territories to vote on slavery.• Also introduce Kansas as a state as well, hoping that Nebraska

would vote down slavery and Kansas accept it.

Death of the Whig Party

• Whigs were divided over the Kansas-Nebraska Act– Many had been strong supporters of the Missouri Comp.

• As the Whig party disbanded, Anti-Nebraska Whigs and Democrats combined with Free-Soil movement to form the Republican Party.– In 1854 mid-term elections they combined with Know-

Nothings to form majority in the House of Reps.

Bleeding Kansas• Debate over the vote on slavery led to bitter fighting

between abolitionists and slavery.– Thousands moved to Kansas to establish a government there

to support their side.– While pro-slavery groups constituted majority of residents,

free-sate supporters seized control of the new government and fight broke out.

• Pro-slavery federal marshals arrested free-state leaders and burned the governors house.

• Pottowatomie Massacre: John Brown and followers mutilated and killed 5 pro-slavery supporters and left their bodies to discourage any other pro-slavery supporters.

The Dred Scott Decision• Dred Scott v. Stanford: Scott was slave of a Missouri

surgeon who had taken him to Wisconsin and Illinois (free states)– when the surgeon died he sued his widow for freedom and

initially won.– The widow’s brother Stanford, now claiming ownership,

appealed the case and it eventually made it to the Supreme Court.

– First time the Supreme Court had to rule in slavery issue.• Sided with Sanford claiming Scott was not a citizen and

therefore property protected under 5th Amendment.– Viewed as triumph by Southerners and upset Republican.

John Brown and Harper’s Ferry• Already well-known for his actions in Kansas, Brown

attempted an even more high profile campaign against slavery.

• Brown’s goal was to seize control of the garrison at Harper’s Ferry, then use the weapons to lead a slave insurrection against their masters.– Ultimately he was trapped by civilians and soldiers and

eventually arrested by a unit under Robert E. Lee– Was tried and hanged for treason

• Brown was viewed as a martyr for his cause by abolitionists and a villain by Southerners.

The Election of 1860• Lincoln vs. Douglas– Emerged from Senatorial race with Lincoln’s soaring

popularity despite losing.– Lincoln became first Presidential candidate for the new

Republican Party.• John Breckinridge represented Southern Democrats

along with Douglas, they split the Democratic vote.• Lincoln won the election without winning a single

southern state.– Wasn’t even on the ballot in most.