Can the Civil War Be Prevented? Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln – Background

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Can the Civil War Be Prevented? Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln – Background Can the Civil War be prevented? Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln – Background Born in Kentucky; moved to Indiana then Illinois as a boy Didn’t want to farm; went into business Elected to state legislature in 1834 (Whig) Became a lawyer in 1837 Married Mary Todd in 1842 Campaigned for Harrison in 1840; Clay in 1844 Elected to the House of Representatives in 1846 Abraham Lincoln – Stance on Slavery Opposed it Didn’t see blacks as equal Wanted to Outlaw spread to new territories Outlaw in Washington D.C. send slaves back to Africa Against radical actions/tactics of abolitionists Abraham Lincoln – Other issues 1846 – Opposed Mexican War as unconstitutional (lost re-election) 1854 – Opposed Kansas-Nebraska Act (expand slavery) 1856 – Helped form Republican Party in Illinois 1858 – Challenged Senator Stephen A. Douglas for Senate “Lincoln-Douglas Debates” Didn’t feel blacks were equal, but had right to freedom "A house divided against itself cannot stand.“ Abraham Lincoln – Other issues Criticized Douglas’ support of Buchanan Trying to spread slavery Kansas-Nebraska Act, Dred Scott case, Lecompton Constitution Douglas wins the election John Brown – makes situation worse Pottawattamie massacre in “Bleeding Kansas” Planned to arm slaves for revolt 1859: raid on federal military arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia) John Brown’s Raid Buchanan sends Colonel Robert E. Lee to put down raid Brown captured Democrats blame it on Republicans John Brown’s Raid Brown tried and convicted Hanged December 2, 1859 “I John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with Blood." madman in South; martyr in North 1860 Election Douglas wants Democratic nomination North and South split North – Popular Sovereignty South – protect slavery 1860 Election – Democratic convention Convention in Charleston, S.C. Buchanan not renominated (no confidence) North and South couldn’t agree South walks out Reconvene in Baltimore Douglas nominated South walks out again 1860 Election – Southern Democrats Southern Democrats have own convention in Baltimore nominated John C. Breckinridge – Kentucky (Buchanan’s V.P.) 1860 Election – Republicans Met in Chicago Favorites: William Seward (NY) and Salmon Chase (OH) Both somewhat radical 1860 Election – Republicans Lincoln becomes compromise, moderate candidate Republican platform Free soil in new territories Slavery allowed where it exists States cannot secede Economic development (old Whig idea) 1860 Election – Constitutional Party John Bell (Tennessee) Old Southern Whigs Goal was to keep Union together Black Republicanism Honest Abe the Rail Splitter Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin What does this cartoon say? 1860 Election 1860 Election – Reactions South Convinced Lincoln would end slavery Fire-eaters Radicals pushing secession Unionists Moderates trying to keep union intact South Carolina secedes: December 20, 1860 1860 Election – Reactions South December to February: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana secede Form Confederate States of America Capital: Montgomery, Alabama Constitution modeled on Articles of Confederation Jefferson Davis President 1860 Election – Reactions Upper South Less eager to leave Hoping for federal protection of slavery 1860 Election – Reactions Buchanan Secession was illegal Tried to reinforce Fort Sumter (Charleston harbor) with merchant ship Star of the West Won’t use force Decides it’s Lincoln’s problem The Star of the West 1860 Election – Reactions John Crittenden (Senator from Kentucky) Protect slavery where it is (could never be changed) Missouri Compromise line extends to California border No slavery in North Slavery in South North must return fugitive slaves Slavery never to be abolished in Washington D.C. No federal interference with Interstate Slave Trade Congressional Republicans reject it Can the Civil War be prevented?.
Recommended publications
  • The War Officially Begins by Robert Jenkins, July 7, 2020 Blueandgrayeducation.Org
    The War Officially Begins By Robert Jenkins, July 7, 2020 blueandgrayeducation.org Bombardment of Fort Sumter | Currier & Ives On Wednesday, April 10, 1861, Confederate Gen. Pierre Gustave Toutant (P.G.T.) Beauregard, a French Creole from New Orleans, Louisiana, who was in command of the provisional Confederate forces at Charleston, South Carolina, demanded the surrender of the Union garrison of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. The Federal Commander, Maj. Robert Anderson, had taught artillery tactics at West Point where the French Creole was one of his favorite pupils. Anderson, who was born at a place called “Soldier’s Retreat, Kentucky,” refused. The crisis in Charleston Harbor began on December 26, 1860, when Major Anderson moved his small force of 80 men out of the other forts surrounding the harbor to Fort Sumter, which was located at the mouth of the harbor and surrounded by water. Anderson made his move in response to the action of the South Carolina Legislature to become the first state to secede from the Union on December 20, but his refusal to voluntarily surrender the fort and his defiant act of flying the Stars and Stripes over the harbor infuriated the Confederates, who felt that Anderson should peacefully vacate Charleston and board a Federal ship for the North. Maj. Robert Anderson | National Archives Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard | National Archives Prior to his departure from office, U.S. President James Buchanan had tried to reinforce and resupply Anderson using the unarmed merchant ship, Star of the West, but this failed when the ship was fired upon by shore batteries on January 9, 1861.
    [Show full text]
  • The Skirmisher
    THE SKIRMISHER CIVIL WAR TRUST THE STORM AFTER THE CALM: 1861 VOLUME 5 THINGS FALL APART The new year of 1861 opened with secession weighing heavily on the American mind. Citing abuses of constitutional law, plans for the abolition of slavery, and a rigged 1860 presidential election, the state of South Carolina had dissolved its bonds with the Union less than two weeks before. Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana left by the end of January, seizing a number of Federal arsenals as they went. Northerners were agog at the rapid turn of events. Abraham Lincoln refused to surrender Federal forts in Confederate territory, but their garrisons would starve without fresh provisions. The new president, only 60 days into his first term, sent the steamer Star of the West to resupply Fort Sumter in the Charleston, South Carolina harbor. Charleston’s cannons opened fire on the ship, turning it away at the mouth of the harbor. The brief salvo showed the depth of feeling in the Rebel states. Texas left the Union, even though Texas governor Sam Houston refused to take the secession oath, telling his citizens South Carolina seceded from the Union with that “you may, after a sacrifice of countless millions of treasures and hundreds of thousands great fanfare. (Library of precious lives, as a bare possibility, win Southern independence…but I doubt it.” of Congress) In February, the newly-named Confederate States of America held its first constitutional convention. The Confederate States Army took shape, and quickly forbade any further resupplies of Federal forts. The Fort Sumter garrison was very low on food.
    [Show full text]
  • GUSTAVUS V . FOX and the CIVIL WAR by DUANE VANDENBUSCHE 1959 MASTER of ARTS
    GUSTAVUS v_. FOX AND THE CIVIL WAR By DUANE VANDENBUSCHE j ~achelor of Science Northern Michigan College Marquette, Michigan 1959 Submitted to the faculty of the Graduate School of .the Oklahoma State Univ~rsity in partial fulfillment of the requirements - for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS - Aug),Ul t, 1~~0 STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY JAN 3 1961 GUSTAVUS V. FOX AND THE CIVIL WAR Thesis Approved: _, ii 458198 PREFACE This study concentrates on the .activities of Gustavus V. Fox, Union Assistant Secretary of the Navy during the Civil War. The. investi- gation considers the role that Fox played in shaping the plans and pol- icies of the Union Navy during that conflict. The obvious fact emerges that_Fox wa; the official of foremost i~po-rt~nce in the Navy Department 'in planning all the major naval opel:'ations undertaken.by that branch of the service d~ring the Civil War. For aid on _this paper I gratefully acknowledge the following: Mr. Alton Juhlin, · Head of the Special Services Department of the University Library, for able help in acquiring needed materials for my study; Dr. Theodore L. Agnew, _wh<J critically read an·d willing assisted ·at all times; . Dr. Norbert R. Mahnken, who brought clarity and style to my subject; Dr. Homer· L. Knight, Head of the Department of History, who generously ad- vhed me in my work and encouraged ·this research effort; and Dr. John J. Beer, who taught me that there i~ more to writing than·putting woras on paper. Finally, I deeply appreciate the assistance of Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Library Company of Philadelphia Mca 5792.F CIVIL WAR LEADERS
    Library Company of Philadelphia McA 5792.F CIVIL WAR LEADERS EPHEMERA COLLECTION 1860‐1865 1.88 linear feet, 2 boxes Series I. Small Ephemera, 1860‐1865 Series II. Oversize Material, 1860s March 2006 McA MSS 004 2 Descriptive Summary Repository Library Company of Philadelphia 1314 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107‐5698 Call Number McA 5792.F Creator McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822‐1896. Title Civil War Leaders Ephemera Collection Inclusive Dates 1860‐1865 Quantity 1.88 linear feet (2 boxes) Language of Materials Materials are in English. Abstract The Civil War Leaders Ephemera Collection holds ephemera and visual materials related to a group of prominent American politicians and military heroes active in the middle of the nineteenth century: Robert Anderson, William G. Brownlow, Jefferson Davis, Abraham Lincoln, George B. McClellan, and Winfield Scott. Administrative Information Restrictions to Access The collection is open to researchers. Acquisition Information Gift of John A. McAllister; forms part of the McAllister Collection. Processing Information The Civil War Leaders Ephemera Collection was formerly housed in four folio albums that had been created after the McAllister Collection arrived at the Library Company. The material was removed from the albums, arranged, and described in 2006, under grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the William Penn Foundation. The collection was processed by Sandra Markham. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this finding aid do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Preferred Citation This collection should be cited as: [indicate specific item or series here], Civil War Leaders Ephemera Collection (McA 5792.F), McAllister Collection, The Library Company of Philadelphia.
    [Show full text]
  • Eighth Grade Social Studies
    Eighth Grade Social Studies Activity 2 knoxschools.org/kcsathome 8th Grade Social Studies *There will be a short video lesson of a Knox County teacher to accompany this task available on the KCS YouTube Channel and KCS TV. Grade: 8th Topic: Civil War Leaders Goal(s): Identify the roles and significant contributions of Civil War leaders. Standards: 8.62 & 8.63 (in part) The Better Leader Task Directions: Using your background knowledge, information from the videoed lesson, the attached biographies, and from the Battlefields website, complete the chart and questions below. Write the three characteristics of a leader that you think are the most important. 1. 2. 3. Abraham Lincoln Jefferson Davis Ulysses S. Grant Robert E. Lee Union or Confederate? How did his leadership role change throughout the course of the war? How did he become a “national” leader? What was his major accomplishment(s) of the Civil War? What kind of impact did they have on their side/country? How could the war have been different if he didn’t exist? Now that you have dug deeper into the leadership of the four most familiar leaders of the Civil War, consider each man’s leadership during the war. Which leader do you think best meets the characteristics of a good leader and explain why? United States President Abraham Lincoln Biography from the American Battlefield Trust Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth President of the United States, was born near Hodgenville, Kentucky on February 12, 1809. His family moved to Indiana when he was seven and he grew up on the edge of the frontier.
    [Show full text]
  • To Live and Die in Dixie: Robert E. Lee and Confederate Nationalism Jacob A
    Western Kentucky University TopSCHOLAR® Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Honors College at WKU Projects 2010 To Live and Die in Dixie: Robert E. Lee and Confederate Nationalism Jacob A. Glover Western Kentucky University Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/stu_hon_theses Part of the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Glover, Jacob A., "To Live and Die in Dixie: Robert E. Lee and Confederate Nationalism" (2010). Honors College Capstone Experience/ Thesis Projects. Paper 267. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/stu_hon_theses/267 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by TopSCHOLAR®. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors College Capstone Experience/ Thesis Projects by an authorized administrator of TopSCHOLAR®. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Copyright by Jacob A. Glover 2010 ABSTRACT Robert E. Lee is undeniably one of the most revered figures in American history, and yet despite the adoration awarded to the man over the years, surprisingly little scholarly research has dedicated itself to an inquiry into his nationalistic leanings during the four most important years of his life—the Civil War. In fact, Lee was a dedicated Confederate nationalist during his time in service to the Confederacy, and he remained so for the rest of his life, even after his surrender at Appomattox and the taking of an oath to regain his United States citizenship. Lee identified strongly with a Southern view of antebellum events, and his time in the Confederate army hardened him to the notion that the only practical reason for waging the Civil War was the establishment of an independent Southern nation.
    [Show full text]
  • T's Astonishing Just How Small Fort Sumter, S.C., Is. Five Minutes at A
    Some interiors and gun emplacements of the Fort Sumter National Monument, Charleston, S.C., have been restored by the National Park Service to depict their Civil War state, but the overall look of the fort is far different today. t’s astonishing just how small Fort Sumter, S.C., is. ings are gone. Any brickwork not bashed to smithereens things tighter. Dwindling hope of reinforcement or res - pers, and news of it was disseminated worldwide by Five minutes at a saunter will take most who walk when Union forces returned to reclaim the fort in 1865 cue made things even worse. telegraph taps. It was the story of the day almost every it across its breadth, from the entrance gate to the was downed by later upgrades. Anderson’s garrison Gone are the vestiges of how the soldiers endured, day and became the public focal point in a high-stakes far gun line. burned most of the wooden structures as the artillery - but at the fort’s seaward side, Confederate state flags test of wills—national and personal. Great political and A dark gray blockhouse impedes those who stroll men ripped them apart one by one for fuel to survive— now fly atop a ring of flagstaffs around a taller central strategic questions came to be embodied by the struggle there today. It encased the command-and-control the cook shack consumed last in the desperation to flagstaff bearing the U.S. colors. Memorializing the over Sumter. center during World War II. Fort Sumter was an opera - hang on. losses on both sides, its design symbolizes restored alle - Newspapers, magazines and, uniquely, battlefield tional part of the Charleston Harbor defenses from its At the end of Anderson’s occupation of the fort, the giance under one flag.
    [Show full text]
  • NUCMC Catalog Record
    NUCMC Catalog Record Creator: Milton, John, 1807‐1865 Title: John Milton letter book and correspondence Date Created: 1861‐1863 Extent: 1.75 cubic ft. (5 document boxes) Location: Florida Historical Society (Cocoa, Fla.) (MSS 92‐1) Arrangement of Materials: Box 1 contains 12 folders including copies of correspondence about the provenance of the collection and original letter book (up to page 456 ). Box 2 contains original letter book (p. 457 to 720), various letters including several from Stephen R. Mallory, and loose items by Governor Milton inserted in book. Box 3 holds 13 folders (p. 1‐648), containing photocopies of the letter book. Box 4 contains 13 folders with photocopies of letter book (p. 649‐720), miscellaneous letters as well as photocopies of the other John Milton letter book in the Florida State Archives (p. 1‐69). In addition there are typed transcripts of our letter book (p. 1‐100; p. 600‐698). There also is a letter‐by‐letter synopsis of the entire letter book. Box 5 contains 7 folders including original correspondence about the donation and its provenance and assorted duplicates of photocopies found in previous boxes. Biographical Data: Governor of Florida; as governor he developed a very active state militia and stressed Florida's ability to serve as an important source of food and salt for the Confederate forces; collapse of the Southern cause was followed by his death, April 1,1865 by a self‐inflected gunshot wound at his family home Sylvania, near Marianna, Fla. Notes: The repository also has typed transcripts and photocopies of letterbook and most correspondence for public use because original letterbook is too fragile to be served.
    [Show full text]
  • Decision at Fort Sumter
    -·-~• .}:}· ~- ·-.:: • r. • • i DECISION AT FORT SUMTER Prologue In 1846 Congressman JeffeLson Davis of Mississippi presented to the House of Representatives a resolution calling for the replace- ment of Federal troops in all coastal forts by state militia. The proposal died in committee and shortly thereafter Davis resigned from Congress to lead the red-shirted First Mississippi Rifles to war and (~~-ll glory in Mexico. Now it was the morning of April 10, 1861, and Davis was President of the newly proclaimed Confederate States of America. As he met with his cabinet in a Montgomery, Alabama hotel room he had good reason to regret the failure of that resolution of fifteen years ago. For had it passed, he would not have had to make the decision he was about to make: Order Brigadier General P. G. T. Beauregard, commander of Confederate forces at Charleston, South Carolina to demand the surrender of the Federal garrison on Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor. But before Davis made this decision, other men had made other decisions -- decisions which formed a trail leading to that Montgomery hotel room on the morning of April 10, 1861. The War Department'~cision In a sense the first of those decisions went back to 1829 when the War Department dumped tons of granite rubble brougi1t from New England on a c.andspit at the mouth of Charleston harbor. On the foundation so formed a fort named after the South Carolina r - 2 - Revolutionary War hero, Thomas Sumter, was built. However it was built very slowly, as Congress appropriated the needed money in driblets.
    [Show full text]
  • Unit 7-Civil War and Reconstruction
    Unit 7-Civil War and Reconstruction 1861-1876 Unit 7 Vocabulary • Sectionalism – Concern for regional needs and interests. • Secede – To withdraw, including the withdrawal of states from the Union. • Blockade – Blocking off an area to keep supplies from getting in or out. • Emancipation – The act of giving someone freedom • Reconstruction – The act of rebuilding; Generally refers to the rebuilding of the Union following the Civil War. • Martial Law – The imposition of laws by a military authority, general in defeated territories. • Sharecropper – A tenant farmer who receives a portion of the crop. • Popular Sovereignty – Independent power given to the people. • The Democrats were the dominant political party, and had Political very little competition from the Parties Whig party. -Texans would vote for southern democrats until the 1980’s! • Sam Houston, though he never joined the party, supported the Know-Nothing party which opposed immigration to the United States. Know-Nothing party flag Republican Party • 1854 Northerners created the Republican Party to stop the expansion of slavery. Southerners saw the Republican party as a threat and talk of secession increased. (The act of a state withdrawing from the Union) Abolitionist movement • Beginning in the 1750s, there was a widespread movement after the American Revolution that believed slavery was a social evil and should eventually be abolished. • After 1830, a religious movement led by William Lloyd Garrison declared slavery to be a personal sin and demanded the owners repent immediately and start the process of emancipation. (Granting Freedom to slaves) An Abolitionist is someone who wanted to abolish slavery William Lloyd Garrison Slavery in the South • In 1793 with the invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney, the south saw an explosive growth in the cotton industry and this greatly increased demand for slave labor in the South.
    [Show full text]
  • MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2018 By
    MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2018 By: Representative Clark To: Rules HOUSE BILL NO. 317 1 AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 3-3-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 2 DESIGNATE JUNE 19 AS "JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAY"; TO SPECIFICALLY 3 PROVIDE THAT JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAY SHALL NOT BE A LEGAL HOLIDAY, 4 BUT SHALL BE A DAY OF COMMEMORATION AT NO EXPENSE TO THE STATE; TO 5 CLARIFY WHEN A LEGAL HOLIDAY WILL BE CELEBRATED WHEN THE HOLIDAY 6 FALLS ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 7 WHEREAS, the date of June 19 is known as "Juneteenth," and it 8 is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of 9 slavery in the United States; and 10 WHEREAS, the commemoration of June 19 as Juneteenth 11 specifically refers to the fact that, even though President 12 Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, the 13 joyous news of freedom from slavery did not reach certain 14 Americans in Galveston, Texas, until June 19, 1865; and 15 WHEREAS, Juneteenth commemorates freedom from slavery in 16 America, emphasizes education and achievement, and is a day for 17 reflection and rejoicing in the African-American experience; and 18 WHEREAS, the celebration of Juneteenth is inclusive of all 19 races, ethnicities, religions and nationalities, in that citizens 20 across our country join hands in acknowledging a period in our H. B. No. 317 *HR26/R401* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2 18/HR26/R401 PAGE 1 (ENK\KW) 21 history that has influenced our society — a great society that 22 advances the ideals of liberty and justice for all; NOW, 23 THEREFORE, 24 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 25 SECTION 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center Exhibit Text
    Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center Liberty Square Charleston, SC Exhibit Text February 2002 What brought the Nation to civil war at Fort Sumter? When the Civil War finally exploded in Charleston Harbor, it was the result of a half-century of growing sectionalism. Escalating crises over property rights, human rights, states rights and constitutional rights divided the country as it expanded westward. Underlying all the economic, social and political rhetoric was the volatile question of slavery. Because its economic life had long depended on enslaved labor, South Carolina was the first state to secede when this way of life was threatened. Confederate forces fired the first shot in South Carolina. The federal government responded with force. Decades of compromise were over. The very nature of the Union was at stake. 2 • Colonial Roots of the Conflict, p.3 • Ambiguities of the Constitution, p.6 • Antebellum United States, p.11 • Charleston In 1860, p.16 • South Carolina Declares Its Independence, p.19 • Fort Sumter -Countdown to Conflict, p.24 • Major Anderson's Garrison Flag, p.28 • Fort Sumter Today, p.29 Colonial Roots of the Conflict Regional differences began early Every freeman of Carolina shall have absolute power and authority over his negro slaves. Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina, 21 July 1669 Carolina looks more like a negro country than like a country settled by white people. Samuel Dysli, Swiss newcomer, 1737 Charles Town, the principal one in this province, is a polite, agreeable place. The people live very Gentile and very much in the English taste. Eliza Lucas (Pinckney), 1740 This town makes a most beautiful appearance as you come up to it..
    [Show full text]