The failures of compromise in the prelude to the Civil War.

2. Expansion westward
Growing abolitionist sentiment in the
North
Failure of compromise
Fugitive Slave Act complicates
enforcement across the country
Kansas-Nebraska border feud illustrates
the growing trend toward violence.

3. Major compromises over slavery:
• Missouri Compromise of 1820:
Missouri asks to be allowed in to the Union – Whigs
oppose, Southern Democrats support.
Maine allowed in as a result – 1 free, 1 slave state
enter the Union simultaneously.
Slavery banned north of 36’ 30 line.

5. Compromise of 1850:
• Stronger Fugitive Slave Act
• South denies the Wilmot Proviso which would have
banned slavery in territories acquired from the
Mexican-American War
• California enters as a free state

6. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 stated
that any escaped slaves had to be
returned to their owners in the South, or
those complicit could face a fine.
• Violates the rights of freed blacks
• Stokes fears of Slave Power in the North
• Further ignites abolitionist sentiment

8. Repeals 36’ 30 line of Missouri Compromise
of 1820.
Act intends to create states of Kansas and
Nebraska to allow for transcontinental
railroad.
Slavery would be settled by popular
sovereignty:
• The decision to be a slave or free state would be left to
the residents of the state.
• All males eligible to vote could vote pro- or anti-slavery
• Leads to Bleeding Kansas

10. Many believe this to be the unofficial start
of the Civil War.
Pro- and anti-slavery forces battle in
Kansas. Lawrence under siege by anti-slavery
forces.
John Brown and a group of abolitionists
raid a pro-slavery event. Hack five men to
death with swords on May 24, 1855.
Potttawatommie Creek Massacre.

13. Republican party forms in aftermath of
Bleeding Kansas – party of anti-slavery.
Republican Party will forward Abraham
Lincoln as a candidate for president in 1860.
South Carolina first to secede upon Abraham
Lincoln’s election.
The Democratic Party splits in to Southern
Democrats and Northern Democrats.
SD’s want federal protection of slavery; ND’s
favor popular sovereignty.

14. Four candidates –
• Abraham Lincoln: Republican, anti-slavery.
• John Bell: Constitutional unionist, concerned with
upholding the Constitution and protecting slavery.
• Stephen Douglas: Northern Democrat. Favors
popular sovereignty in order to settle slavery.
• John Breckinridge: Southern Democrat from
Kentucky. The gov’t must protect slavery.

17. Lincoln wins the election with only 40% of
the vote – despite not winning a single
vote in the Southern states.
Within a month, South Carolina secedes
from the Union.

18. “We, the people of the State of South Carolina, in
convention assembled, do declare and ordain, and it is
hereby declared and ordained, That the ordinance
adopted by us in convention on the twenty-third day of
May, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and eighty-eight, whereby the Constitution of
the United States of America was ratified, and also all
acts and parts of acts of the General Assembly of this
State ratifying amendments of the said Constitution,
are hereby repealed; and that the union now subsisting
between South Carolina and other States, under the
name of the "United States of America," is hereby
dissolved.”