Antebellum Politics

Antebellum Politics: Antebellum Politics Main ideas: Three major Political Players     Henry Clay: Kentucky (West) John C. Calhoun: South Carolina (South) Daniel Webster: Massachusetts (North) These three never were elected president, but served America in Congress and the President’s Cabinet.  Helped to prevent the Civil War through their maneuverings to compromise.  Were very different in terms of their political beliefs, yet would work together when needed. John C. Calhoun John C. Calhoun I  “Champion of the South”  Served America in the following offices: – House of Representatives for South Carolina – President Monroe’s Secretary of War – Vice President 1825-1829 – President Polk’s Secretary of State – Senator for South Carolina  At first he worked to strengthen the US: – Helped create 2nd Bank of the United States – Supported protective tariffs John C. Calhoun II  During the 1820s Calhoun changed his ideology (or political thinking).  Instead of working to unify the nation, he worked to support the sectional (or local) issues of the South, specifically South Carolina. – Tariff Crisis of 1828 – Annexation of Texas – Expansion of Slavery – Multiple compromises John C. Calhoun III On Slavery:  Calhoun owned a large plantation in South Carolina that had over 80 slaves  He defended the rights of slave owners  Calhoun also worked to increase the number of slave states, states where slavery was permitted, and expand slavery into newly acquired territories (Mexican Cession) Henry Clay Henry Clay I  “Harry of the West” – Master at political deals or compromises – Great public speaker or orator  Served America in the following offices: – House of Representatives for Kentucky – Elected Speaker of the House – President J.Q. Adams’ Secretary of State – Senator for Kentucky  Lost Presidential elections in 1824, 1828, 1832, and 1844 Henry Clay II On Slavery:  Like most wealthy men from Kentucky, Clay owned a plantation and slaves.  However he felt slavery was morally wrong and evil  Unsuccessfully worked to ban slavery in his home state of Kentucky.  Upon his death Clay freed his slaves Daniel Webster Daniel Webster I  “The Great Orator” – Great public speaker or orator – Famous speeches made in Congress and as a lawyer at the Supreme Court  Served America in the following offices: – House of Representatives for Massachusetts – Secretary of State for Presidents WH Harrison, Tyler, and Fillmore – Senator for Massachusetts  Often allied with Henry Clay in debates, except with War of 1812 and nullification Daniel Webster II  Opposed: most policies of President Jackson, although did agree with his position on nullification  Opposed Slavery: felt it was morally wrong and gave the South too much power  Worked often times with Henry Clay to create compromises to avoid Civil War and keep the country together  Lost the Presidential election of 1936 to Martin Van Buren Slavery: Calhoun, Clay, & Webster  Calhoun owned a big plantation in Fort Hill SC and had over 70 slaves.  Politically Calhoun defend the institution of slavery and its expansion  Clay owned a plantation and slaves in Kentucky. In his will he freed his slaves.  Politically Clay detested slavery and unsuccessfully worked to end it in Kentucky  Webster… DO NOW:  How is one elected President of the US?  Define: majority and plurality Goals for Election of 1824 1. I will be able to devise how Clay, Calhoun, and Webster played a pivotal role in the shaping of the nation from 1812-1850 2. I will be able to identify the winners and losers of the election of 1824. 3. I will be able to devise how political parties evolved from the initial Federalist/Jeffersonian split and became the modern two party Republican/Democrat system. What the Constitution says From Article II Section 1 Clause 3: “…and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately [choose] by Ballot one of them for President…” Election of 1824 I Five candidates run for president:  All five were from the same political party: the Democrats, however they were from different sections of the United States  John Quincy Adams: Massachusetts  John C. Calhoun: South Carolina  Henry Clay: Kentucky  Andrew Jackson: Tennessee  William Crawford: Georgia (not important) Election of 1824 II  Before the election, Calhoun withdraws his name and instead runs for Vice President.  Calhoun wins the election for Vice President  During the campaign a rivalry develop between Clay and Jackson.  In the Presidential election Jackson wins the most electoral votes. 99 of 261 possible votes  Adams finishes with 84, Crawford gets 41, and Clay receives 37 electoral votes  Who becomes President? Election of 1824 III  What happens next? … Take it to the House  Jackson receives a plurality not a majority  Therefore the election turns to a run off election in the House of Representatives where each state gets one vote.  Clay came in 4th, but also had the important position of Speaker of the House  the three remaining candidates had to have Clay’s favor if they wanted to win.  Who will Clay support? What does he want? Election of 1824 IV  Clay was going to support whoever gave him the best offer  Clay was adamantly against Andrew Jackson, so he would never support him.  Calhoun had already dropped out of the election.  Crawford had no chance, so who will Clay back? Election of 1824 V  When Clay voiced his support for JQA during the run off elections in the House, JQA made him Secretary of State, which usually meant that you eventually became President.  Jackson was upset at JQA and Clay. Jackson called this the “corrupt bargain”  Clay and Jackson had a long standing feud  In addition, the Democratic Party split, into Adams and Jackson factions, which lasted until the Civil War “The Corrupt Bargain” Sour Grapes? Review Questions 1. How do Presidential elections in which no one receives a majority of electoral votes get resolved? 2. Who were the candidates in 1824? Where was each candidate from? How did this field of candidates illustrate political sectionalism? 3. What role did Clay play in the election? 4. How important was the position of Secretary of State before this election? 5. How did this election affect the political relationship between Clay and Jackson and the political history of the United States? Review Questions 1. How do Presidential elections in which no one receives a majority of electoral votes get resolved? 2. Who were the candidates in 1824? Where was each candidate from? How did this field of candidates illustrate political sectionalism? 3. What role did Clay play in the election? 4. How important was the position of Secretary of State before this election? 5. How did this election affect the political relationship between Clay and Jackson and the political history of the United States? DO NOW: If you were Andrew Jackson, how would you respond to what happened in the 1824 Election? Goal: Identify the two candidates, three issues, and sole winner in the election of 1828. Goal: Define important vocabulary from notes President John Quincy Adams  Tried to increase Federal power by supporting the building of canals, roads, and other public projects.  Angered people states’ rights advocates, like Jackson, who wanted local and state governments to control the projects  As a result, a coalition, or group of like minded politicians, was formed to unseat him from the Presidency: two members of his coalition were fellow Southerners, John Calhoun and William Crawford. Jackson’s long road back  Embittered by his loss in the 1824 election, Andrew Jackson emerged determined to become President  Gaining support:  Thanks in part to John Calhoun and William Crawford, Jackson had a solid support coalition in the South  Senator Martin Van Buren of NY went around the country also to garner support for Jackson  Getting votes:  Voter turnout doubled for the election, and as a result, Jackson scored an easy victory over Adams Jackson wins and throws a party The spoils system  First action as President: removes between 9,000 and 10,000 people from government positions whom he felt were not loyal to him or his fellow Democrats  The Spoils System: Those who were fired were replaced with Jackson‟s friends, fellow Democrats, and other people who helped him win the election  Some of Jackson‟s new hires were not qualified for their positions, while most were under qualified.  As a result, Jackson mostly ignored his official cabinet, and trusted some informal advisors for advice called “The Kitchen Cabinet” Jackson’s problems 1. Nullification Crisis 2. Re-election 3. The Bank War Problem #1: Nullification I  In the months before the 1828 election, Van Buren had gained Northern support for Jackson.  Jackson won… Northerners wanted something (spoils) in return for voting for Jackson  Protection for Northern Industry: higher tariffs were passed on the price of foreign (and cheaper) manufactured goods shipped to the South  How did this affect the South?  South outraged with the “Tariff of Abominations”  Who will work to get rid of the tariff?  Answer: Problem #1: Nullification II  Calhoun decided the best course of action for South Carolina was to nullify (or not follow) tariff.  Rationale: Calhoun and other states‟ rights advocates felt that the Constitution did not give the national government did not have sovereignty over actions of the state governments  Calhoun hoped that Jackson, a fellow Southerner, would be sympathetic to the movement- why?  Jackson however, felt that if a state could decide what laws to follow, the Union would collapse  Calhoun was angered and upset over this decision, upset that a fellow Southerner would support it Problem #1: Nullification III  Jackson furious with South Carolina‟s defiance signs the „Force Bill,‟ which allowed the President to send the military to South Carolina to enforce the tariff of 1828.  Unlikely support: Clay and Webster backed Jackson  Tough spot: Calhoun and South Carolina never thought that Jackson would side against them.  What is the possible solution? Solution to Nullification  Congress went back and forth on whether or not to allow Jackson to actually send the military down south  Is there a political solution that would avoid the military?  Clay proposed a compromise  The tariff would be gradually reduced over the next ten years, SC felt like it had won… but Jackson had preserved the Union Election of 1832 ___________ vs. ___________ Problem #2: Re-election!  Jackson was divisive: either loved or hated  New enemies: – Calhoun: mad from tariff crisis blocks Jackson‟s ambassador appointments – Jackson‟s Cabinet: rarely used during Jackson‟s first term and eventually fired in 1832  Retaliation: Calhoun‟s name taken off the VP ballot  Election of 1832: Jackson easily defeated Henry Clay  Tough Second Term: Jackson‟s enemies (JQA, Clay, Calhoun, and Webster) were set to make his second term difficult Election of 1832 Review Questions 1. Define and provide an example of the following: coalition, Spoils System, “Kitchen Cabinet,” nullification, tariff, and “Force Bill” 2. Who supported Jackson in 1828? How and why did these supporters change in 1832? 3. Why would a high tariff help the North, while hurting the South? 4. What role did Calhoun, Clay, and Jackson play in the Nullification Crisis? 5. Who won the election of 1832? Why would the next four years be difficult? Review Questions 1. Define and provide an example of the following: coalition, Spoils System, “Kitchen Cabinet,” nullification, tariff, and “Force Bill” 2. Who supported Jackson in 1828? How and why did these supporters change in 1832? 3. Why would a high tariff help the North, while hurting the South? 4. What role did Calhoun, Clay, and Jackson play in the Nullification Crisis? 5. Who won the election of 1832? Why would the next four years be difficult? Problem #3: Bank War I  Northerners upset with Jackson: felt he did… – not protect their interests during his first term. – too much to help the rural south and west  One of the biggest sectional issues was the Bank of the United States  Jackson‟s stance on the Bank: felt it gave the national government too much power and hurt rural farmers  Most bankers and economists agreed the bank was a stabilizing force in the economy Problem #3: Bank War II  Role of the national bank: 1. Keep state banks solvent (out of debt) 2. To ensure that all the state banks had enough specie to pay the national bank when it needed it. 3. Regulate inflation: limit bank notes and paper currencies handed out by the Bank **When the economy dipped, the National bank lowered the amount of specie they wanted from the state banks, which avoided panics and depressions  Supporters of National Bank: mostly from cities  Opponents of National Bank: mostly from rural areas (especially the West)  Bank enemy #1: Andrew Jackson and other Western farmers because they… – had bad experiences with people who handled money – felt the Bank had too much power – generally distrusted commerce and banking – supported monopolies (usually bad) in business – did not like the fact that individual investors could profit from the government‟s dealings Problem #3: Bank War III Problem #3: Bank War IV  The Bank becomes a political issue: in the midst of an election year 1832, the bank was up for re-chartering (re-approval)  Calhoun, Clay, and other Jackson enemies saw Jackson‟s hatred of the bank as a way to defeat him in the 1832 election  Calhoun and Clay got the re-chartering of the bank through Congress without a problem  Jackson was sick in bed when Van Buren told him about it… His response was “This bank is killing me, so I am going to kill it!”  Jackson knew that if he vetoed the re-chartering, Congress could not override it, so he vetoed it  Calhoun and Clay were not surprised, but there was little they could do  The bank was not going to be gone until 1836, but immediately people pulled their money out of it, including many Senators and Congressmen (Webster was one of them)  The bank died a slow death over the next few years  Some people felt that Jackson was abusing his power in office, and referred to him as a monarch rather than a President Jackson’s legacy  One important result of this election was the formation of the Democratic Party, which still exists Mexican Cession  Area of the present-day United States that Mexico agreed to give up as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War. This territory included all of the present-day states of California, Nevada, and Utah and also parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Wilmot Proviso  August 1846- David Wilmot, Democrat from Pennsylvania introduced an amendment to a bill that Polk brought before Congress to provide funds for negotiating with Mexico  The amendment was known as the Wilmot Proviso  The proviso stated that condition of the acquisition of any territory from the Republic of Mexico… slavery shall never exist in any part of said territory.”  If the amendment passed it would have closed California and New Mexico to slavery as a requirement for their annexation, but congress did not pass the amendment  The Wilmot Proviso split both Whigs and Democrats along sectional lies and polarized Northerners and Southerners against each other. Wilmot Proviso (contd.)  It passed the House, where Northerners who supported it outnumbered the Southerners who opposed it, only to be buried in the Senate, where the two sections had an equal number of seats.  By the start of 1850, 14 of 15 northern state legislatures had instructed their states' congressmen to impose the Proviso on any territories organized in the Mexican Cession while increasing numbers of Southerners vowed to secede should Congress ever pass it into law.  Until the Treaty of Guadelupe-Hidalgo was ratified in March 1848, Whigs rallied behind a demand that no territory whatsoever be taken from Mexico as a result of the war. Political Parties Brandon and Steph Whig Party  The United States Whig Party was a political party of the United States in the 1800’s. The party was created in order to oppose the policies of Andrew Jackson.  The party was formed in the winter of 1833-1834. Formed by National Republicans such as Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams, as well as Southern States' Rights supporters such as W.P. Mangum..  The Whigs also attracted the support of Southern states' rights supporters, such as John Tyler, offended by Jackson's strong nationalistic stand against South Carolina during the nullification crisis. Whig Party Cont.  In 1839, the Whigs held their first national convention.  Harrison, who was elected president the next year.  He served only 31 days and became the first President to die in office.  He was succeeded by John Tyler, a Virginian and state' rights Whig, who vetoed most of his own party's legislation and was expelled from the Whigs in 1841.  In the 1842 elections in which the Whigs lost control of the House Whigs Cont.  The Compromise of 1850 fractured the Whigs along pro- and anti-slavery lines,  In 1854 the Kansas-Nebraska Act divided the Whigs even further.  This act brought an end to the Whigs. Free Soil Party  The Free Soil Party was a short-lived political party in the United States organized in 1848. Their main purpose was opposing the extension of slavery into the territories, as well as advocating the abolition of slavery itself  The party was formed around the Wilmot Proviso, failed legislation requiring all territory taken from Mexico in the Mexican-American war be free from slavery.  In 1848, their first party convention was in Buffalo, New York, where they nominated former President Martin Van Buren with Charles Francis Adams as Vice President. The main party leaders were Salmon P. Chase and John P. Hale. While winning no electoral votes, they received a minority of the popular vote. Free Soil Party cont.  The Compromise of 1850 also helped the party to gain supporters who feared slavery was spreading and wanted to stop it.  By 1854, most Free-Soilers joined the Republican Party because of its strength and anti-slavery sentiments. The KansasNebraska Act and the Dred Scott case also strengthened the views of abolitionists, although they were Republicans. The Creation of the Republican Party  The Republican Party, often called the GOP (Grand Old Party )  The Republican party is one of the two major political parties in the United States.  Organized in Ripon, Wisconsin on February 28, 1854, as a party opposed to the expansion of slavery into new territories  The first convention of the U.S. Republican Party was held on July 6, 1854, in Jackson, Michigan.  Many of its initial policies were inspired by the fall of the Whig Party. Many of its early members came from the Free Soil Party and American Party. Republican Party Cont.  John C. Frémont ran as the first Republican nominee for President in 1856, using the political slogan: "Free soil, free labor, free speech, free men, Frémont.”  The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 ended the domination of the weak coalition of pro-slavery southern Democrats.  Instead, a new era of Republican dominance based in the industrial north ensued.  For a brief period, Republicans assumed control of Southern politics (due especially to the former slaves receiving the vote while it was denied to many whites who had participated in the Confederacy)  Forcing drastic reforms and frequently giving former slaves positions in government.  Reconstruction came to an end with the election of Rutherford B. Hayes through the Compromise of 1877. Sectionalism  The different sections at this time were the North and the South. The West was also a section but this section (because it was new) did not practice sectionalism. Instead it was the other sections that fought to control the destiny of the west.  1. The North - primarily industrial in nature. Business and industry played major roles.  2. The South - primarily agricultural. The southern economy was primarily based upon the existence of large family farms known as plantations. The plantation economy relied on cheap labor in the form of slaves to produce tobacco and then cotton. Sectionalism cont.  Slavery - The most important difference between the north and south.  Slavery in the western territories, became the central issue.  Representation - The north and south each wanted power to pass laws that would benefit their section. This meant that the more states that became "free" or "slave" meant more votes.  With the north and south divided it caused tension in the government. This played into our topic by the many different political parties of the south and north due to the differences in their beliefs. The main difference was slavery. Fugitive Slave Act  Required citizens to assist the recovery of fugitive slaves and denied the fugitive’s right to a jury trial  The commissioners would get $5 if the slave was freed and $10 if they were sent back to their slave owner  Even previously freed slaves, if found by slave catcher, were subject to the act Henry Clay  US Senator from Kentucky who wanted to find a solution to keep the Union together  Presented the Compromise on January 29th, 1850  Combined many issues into one major piece to help the south while letting the North feel like they were getting something in return  (Picture)  The last debate before the Compromise, every speaker in Congress got a chance to speak what they felt  Henry Clay warned Congress that a failure to compromise would lead to a “furious” and “bloody” war. Picture John C. Calhoun  Calhoun was a Senator from SC who opposed the Compromise  He felt that the number one cause of the nation’s crisis was that the North had the ultimate power of controlling the government which left the South with no way to protect itself from oppression  North gained power by having greater wealth and a larger population  Calhoun favored states rights- the right to nullify acts of federal government and even to leave the Union if they wished to  South did not want to leave the Union and did not want to give up it’s liberty to save the Union  Calhoun believed that stopping slavery was morally wrong because it interfered with their liberty to own enslaved people as property  He also believed that the government should protect this liberty and felt that the North was changing the Constitution Daniel Webster  Senator from MA who reversed his opinion of the Compromise during one of his powerful speeches  He previously opposed the extension of slavery  Because he feared the existence of the Union, Webster supported Clay  Believed that in New Mexico, slavery would never be practical (like Clay)  Strong believer in that returning fugitive slaves was a constitutional duty  This outraged northern abolitionists and many of his supporters  Northerners accused Webster of putting financial situations before the matters of freedom and humanity.  On the other hand, Northern business owners supported his position because they were fearful that if the Union dissolved there would be a loss of valuable trade in the south  Therefore, using his powerful oratorical skills, Webster persuaded Congress to adopt the Compromise of 1850. Compromise of 1850  CA wanted to be a free state and this caused friction between the free and slave state balance in the Senate  Henry Clay of Kentucky wanted to solve the national problem and propose a compromise over slavery  Proposed separate laws of which 2 favored the North and 2 favored the South  1) California would be a free state (N)  2) the creation of New Mexico and Utah territories so the states could decide for themselves whether they wanted to be free or slave states.  3) slave trade would be abolished in Washington D.C.(N)  4) owning slaves would still be permitted in Washington D.C.(S)  5) gave marshals the power to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act (S)  6) gave Texas $10 million to pay off war debt to Mexico, but limiting the border to the Rio Grande Missouri Compromise  1820 – Missouri territory to be admitted to the union as a state. Should it be slave or free?  Much congressional debate and controversy over the subject  Maine also ready to be admitted as a state;  Compromise – Maine – Free, Missouri – Slave  Result – No slavery north of the 36’ 30 parallel Missouri Compromise Kansas-Nebraska  Stephen Douglas, senator from Illinois wanted to open the way for a transcontinental Railroad  To do this, he proposed to organize the area west of Iowa and Missouri as the Kansas and Nebraska territories  He had hoped to expand the nation in a way that both the North and South would accept, but instead the conflict grew stronger. Kansas -Nebraska  Both territories were north of the 36’-30 line meaning, that according to the Missouri compromise, both would have to be admitted as free states  This was not acceptable to southerners  Missouri Compromise was repealed as a result  Kansas-Nebraska act was passed in 1854 – states would vote on whether to enter the union as a free state or slave state (Popular sovereignty) Kansas-Nebraska  Immediately, pro-slavery activists and antislavery activists headed to the new territories  1855 – Kansas elected a pro-slavery legislature  Thousands of pro-slavery supporters had crossed the border into Kansas and armed themselves  These supporters became known as the Border Ruffians Election of 1856  Democrats: Nominated James Buchanan who had been out of the country and unfamiliar with the violence in Kansas  Republicans: John C Fremont - "Free soil, free labor, free speech, free men, Frémont.”  American Party (Know-Nothings): Millard Fillmore, former President Election of 1856  Democrats: Supported Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska Act  Republicans: declared the government’s right to restrict slavery in the territories and called for admission of Kansas as a free state  Buchanan wins the election and pledged that the republicans would stop “the agitation of the slavery issue”  Buchanan hoped the Supreme Court would use its powers to resolve the slavery issue Election of 1856 Case Background  Dred Scott was a slave to John Emerson, and they lived in Missouri, a slave state.  According to Scott he was legally free because Emerson took him to live north of the 36°30` line where slavery was outlawed by the Missouri Compromise of 1920.  After 2 trials, Scott’s residence in a free state, didn’t make him a free man. Then Scott sued Emerson’s brother, Sanford and brought it to a federal court. Sanford’s defense countered that Scott was not allowed to sue because he was not a citizen of the United States.  In the end, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery and the 14th Amendment overturned Taney’s decision. Majority Opinion  There were three major issues that Chief Justice Taney had to decide – Whether or not Scott was considered a citizen  The court found that he was not, because the Constitution recognizes slavery, and even though it has “all men are created equal” in it, it was clearly written that people of African race were not intended to be included. Since he was not considered a citizen, he was not granted any of the rights or privileges, such as the right to sue. – Whether or not the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional  The court found that it was unconstitutional, because slaves were considered property, and property is protected under the 5th Amendment. An act of Congress that would deprive a citizen of his protected property, simply because he brought that property into another territory of the United States cannot be dignified by any act of law Majority Opinion – Whether or not Scott became a free man when he went into Illinois  They felt it was not under their jurisdiction to decide, so they left it up to the Missouri gov’t. Since they found that the Compromise was unconstitutional, crossing into a free state no longer had the effect that Scott had wanted and his defense not longer had a case. Dissenting Opinion  Justice McLean claims that by simply being born in the United States, everyone is given the basic, natural rights, protected under the Constitution.  He also goes on to say that if a slave runs away from his master, he must be returned, but if he goes to a free state with his master, it cannot be said that the slave left his master Sectionalism  This case dealt with both the Missouri and Illinois state governments, and their separate constitutions. The court had to determine which state had jurisdiction over this case and could decide on Scott’s freedom. The Missouri and Illinois state governments have different views on the issue of slavery and how slaves should be dealt with. Missouri, representing the south, feels that slavery is necessary for its economy, and Illinois, representing the north, feels that slavery is cruel and unjust. This controversial issue divided the entire nation. Stephen Douglas     Senator from Illinois Democrat Opposed to slavery Was a lawyer, helped develop railroads in Chicago  Supported the union army during the Civil War Abraham Lincoln     Born February 12, 1809 in Hardin, Kentucky Republican Opposed slavery Lincoln actively opposed the practice on moral grounds  Captain in the Black Hawk War  Lawyer  Was elected twice for presidency Debate  The debate was based on who was going to be the next Senator. What to do with the western territories, and their views on slavery.  Douglas won the debate and became the Senator, but at the same time Lincoln gained a place in the national spotlight that would later help him become president. Future Douglas offered his services to President Lincoln after the outbreak of the Civil War. He then toured border states to arose enthusiasm for Union cause. Who was John Brown?   John Brown was born into a deeply religious family around 1800 in Torrington Connecticut. His father was strongly against slavery, and when he was five he moved to a district in Ohio that was known greatly for is opposition of slavery. During his life, John moved all across the country with his very large family, which included 20 children. He worked as a farmer, a merchant, a tanner, and a land speculator, he was never successful, in his forties he filed for bankruptcy.   How did John contribute to his anti-slavery cause?  Even with his lack of money, John financed the publication of David Walker’s Appeal, and Henry Highland’s “Call to Rebellion”  He gave land to fugitive slaves  He and his wife agreed to raise young black children as their own.  He also participated in the Underground Railroad  In 1851 he helped establish the League of Gileadites, a organization that protected escaped slaves from slaves capturers. Brown’s Action  In 1847 Fredrick Douglass met Brown for the first time, and it was then that Brown outlined a plan for Douglass to lead to war to free slaves.  Brown moved to a black community in North Ebla, New York, to lead the black landowners in example of how to live life on their own.  Brown did not emerge as a main character of antislavery until 1855 when he went into Kentucky Territory with his five sons and became the leader of anti-slavery gurellias  He joined other anti-slavery towns in attacks, and went to a pro-slavery town and killed five of the settlers that lived there. Brown’s Action  On October 16th, 1859, Brown and 21 other men raided the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry. Brown was wounded and quickly captured two days after the attack.  He was moved to Charleston, Virginia and was on trial, and was convicted of Treason.  Before hearing his sentence Brown was allowed to make a statement to the court.  “I believe to have interfered as I have done, . . . in behalf of His despised poor, was not wrong, but right. Now, if it be deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and mingle my blood further with the blood of my children, and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments, I submit: so let it be done." The Public’s Reaction  In the beginning the Northerners were shocked with Brown’s Actions.  Eventually though some Northerners were speaking favorably of Brown’s abolitionist ways.  Henry David Thoreau stated that, "No man in America has ever stood up so persistently and effectively for the dignity of human nature. . . ." Brown was hung December 2nd, 1859. Sectionalism  In this case, Sectionalism comes in to play with the fact that you have one side that is against slavery, and one side that is for it.  Ultimately that caused the fighting and the rebellion of John Brown. Election of 1860  In April 1860, Democratic party met in Charleston, SC to nominate its candidate for president  South argued that the party should support protection of slavery in the territories  North wanted popular sovereignty  Delegates from eight southern states left the convention and met to nominate their own candidate Four Parties, Four Candidates  Southern Democrats nominated John C. Breckinridge- wanted to expand slavery in the territories  Northern Democrats nominated Stephen Douglas- supported popular sovereignty  Republican party met in Chicago and nominated Abraham Lincoln- moderate views on slavery but against its spread Four Parties, Four Candidates  Moderate southerners met in Baltimore to form their own party along with politicians from the Border States  Border States include Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri  They formed the Constitutional Union Party  They nominated John Bell- moderate slaveholder Election of 1860     No longer any national parties In the south: Bell vs. Breckinridge In the north: Lincoln vs. Douglas Lincoln won every free state except NJ (split with Douglas)  Breckinridge won NC, AR, DE, MD and the states of the Lower South (TX, LA, MS, AL, FL, GA, and SC)  Bell won 3 border states: TN, KY, VA  Douglas won MI Election of 1860  Lincoln won without a single electoral vote in the south  While he won only 39% of the popular vote, Lincoln won 180 electoral votes the majority needed to win Secession  Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or political entity. Usually there is a strong issue difference that drives the withdrawal.  The Idea of Secession in The United States Came About In 1860 When South Carolina Became The First State To Secede From The Union. States That Seceded       Mississippi-1861 Florida- Jan. 10th 1861 Alabama-Jan 11th 1861 Georgia-Jan 19th 1861 Louisiana Texas-1861  Kansas was Admitted to the Union in 1861 as Louisiana was seceding.  Created Confederate States of America Jefferson Davis  Jefferson Davis was born on June 3, 1808 in Christian County, Kentucky  His father was a colonist from Wales, and his father and most of his uncles were revolutionary war heros.  He graduated from West Point in 1828  He resigned from his military service in 1835  He eventually became president of the United States Confederacy  He died On December 5, 1889