3. Sectionalism
Merriam Webster: an exaggerated devotion to the
interests of a region
Meaning: Placing the needs of one’s own region
ahead of the needs of the nation.
What does this mean for 19th century America?
The North, South, and West all had different viewpoints
on ways of life. The North was industrialized and had
no need for slaves. The South was based on
agriculture and used slaves in the fields. The West was
making their own choices on whether or not slavery
was necessary or even wanted.
4. Popular Sovereignty
Merriam Webster: a pre-civil war doctrine
asserting the right of the people living in a newly
organized territory to decide by the vote of their
territorial legislature whether or not slavery would
be permitted there
What does this mean for 19th century America?
The states/territories formed during western
expansion had the right to choose whether or not
they wanted to allow slavery in their territory or
not.
5. Dred Scott Case
Who was Dred Scott?
A slave, owned by Dr. John Emerson, who tried to
sue for his own freedom in 1847.
When Emerson died, Scott attempted to buy his
freedom from Mrs. Emerson for $300. When he
was rejected, he turned to the courts.
What happened?
The case went to the Supreme Court.
In March of 1857, the court ruled that since Scott
was black, he was not a citizen and therefore had
no right to sue.
7. The Missouri Compromise of
1820
Missouri was picked up in the Western
Expansion.
They wanted to be a slave state, but that created
an unbalance between slave and free states.
Popular sovereignty was not a known concept
yet.
The compromise settled the issue of unbalanced
slave and free states.
8. Compromise of 1850
There was a controversy over slavery in the
territories gained in the Mexican – American war.
This compromise solved the controversy and
completed some “housekeeping” items for the
country.
9. The 3/5ths Compromise
The amount of representatives in the House of
Representatives in Congress for each state is
determined by the population. The more people each
state has, the more representation the state has in
the House.
The South wanted to include their slaves in the
population, even though slaves weren’t considered
citizens (as decided in the Dred Scott case) and
could not vote.
The North did not find this to be a fair representation.
This compromise solved this controversy.
10. Fugitive Slave Act
Slaves ran away to get to the free states and
become free people.
The plantation owners were furious that they
could lose their slaves and never get them
returned, even if the slaves had been found.
This act resolved this issue.
11. Kansas-Nebraska Act
This act mandated (created, defined) popular
sovereignty.
Made Kansas an undecided state until more
settlers could vote on whether or not to become
a slave state.
This act led to Bleeding Kansas.
12. Bleeding Kansas
In response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, many
people began to move into Kansas. The people
were both pro-slavery and anti-slavery.
The differences in viewpoints of the masses of
people cause violence.
13. What is a Republican?
1860’s
Now
activist “big”
government
small “limited”
government
pro-income tax
anti- income tax
pro-economic
intervention
pro-states’ rights
14. Raid on Harper’s Ferry
October 16, 1859
John Brown
Led 18 men, both African American and white, to
raid an arsenal in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia.
Wanted to start a rebellion against slave holders
The raid was paid for by abolitionists
Brown was caught, convicted, and executed.
15. The Election of 1860:
Key Players - Democratic
Party by the northern
Stephen Douglass – Nominated
wing (anti slavery)
John C. Breckinridge – Nominated by the
southern wing (pro-slavery)
John Bell – Nominated by the “Constitutional
Union Party” made up of moderates from both
the southern and northern wing (no position on
slavery)
16. The Election of 1860:
Key Players – Republican
Party
Abraham Lincoln –
Only nominee for the
party
Said that slavery
should remain
undisturbed where it
existed but would not
be included in the new
territories
17. The Election of 1860:
Outcome
Abraham Lincoln won!
Since the Democratic party was so divided, none
of their candidates received enough votes to win.
He won in every northern state, but didn’t even
show up on many southern state ballots.
Lincoln won with only 40% of the vote.
18. The South Secedes
Secede: withdraw formally from membership in a
federal union, an alliance, or a political or
religious organization
Following the election, the South was concerned
with Lincoln keeping his word about slavery.
December 20, 1860 – South Carolina is the first
state to secede from the union.
19. The South Secedes
By February 1861, the following states had
joined SC:
Texas
Louisiana
Mississippi
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
They called themselves the Confederate States
of America and elected Jefferson Davis as their
President.
20. Lincoln’s Inaugural
Address:
March 4, 1861
“For instance, why may
not any portion of a
new confederacy a
year or two hence
arbitrarily secede
again, precisely as
portions of the present
Union now claim to
secede from it?...
Plainly the central idea
of secession is the
essence of anarchy.”
21. Fort Sumter
Location: Charleston, South Carolina (Union or
Confederacy?)
March 5, 1861 – General wrote to Lincoln in
need of supplies. He also said that the
Confederates were demanding their surrender.
Would it be a good idea on Lincoln’s part to send
supplies?
22. Fort Sumter: What started
it?
Lincoln decided to send supplies unarmed,
leaving the choice to fire up to the South.
Confederate President Jefferson Davis made the
call to attack Fort Sumter before the Union
arrived with supplies.
April 12, 1861 – Confederate army opened fire
on Fort Sumter.
23. Fort Sumter: The Battle
Union relief ships were out to sea and could not
read the fort due to extremely rough waters.
The fort held out for 33 hours before
surrendering on April 14, 1861.
24. Fort Sumter: Aftermath
When Lincoln heard of the attack, he sent 75,000
troops to fight for the Union. Many people
volunteered!
Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas
voted to join the Confederacy.
THE CIVIL WAR HAS BEGUN!
25. Why didn’t NC join the
Confederacy at first?
NC was made up of a few huge plantation
owners and many independent farmers.
The plantation owners were on board with
secession while the independent farmers were
more willing to see what Lincoln had to offer.
Stagville Plantation
Durham, NC
26. NC Governor John Ellis
(secession supporter)
was outraged when
Lincoln called for
volunteers for the Army.
Guilford County planner
Jonathan Worth said, “The
South is committing
suicide.”
