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A Divided Nation
This was a very difficult time for the nation.The problems they faced were not new they began in 1619 when the first slave ship arrived in Virginia.By the time President Lincon took office the issue of sllaver had slip the nation and people were preparing for war. Between 1820 and 1860 Americans tried to create several compromises on the issue of slaver but ever compromise created new problems and greater divisions. -
The Missouri Compromise
Rather than risk the breakup of the Union, congress finally agreed to a compromise craged b Henry Clay.The Missouri Compromise admitted Missouri to the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state.This kept the balance between the number of free and slave states in the union.Also an imaginary line was drawn through the Louisiana Territory at 36'60,creating a boundary between free and slave states.This event led to future war.Northerners wanted slavery abolished southerners wanted more slaves -
Compromise of 1850
Congress adopted a plan created by Henry clay. It admitted California to the Union as a free state and New Mexico and Utah would be organized as territories open to slavery. It ended the slave trade in Washington DC.Slave owners could keep their slaves but could no longer buy them in the capital. lastly called for a strong fugative slave law.This led to war because Northerners did not want to enforce the fugative law and Southerners felt it should do more. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
Stephan A. Douglas's bill created two new territiories Kansas and Nebraska. It also gor rid of the Missouri Compromise, leaving it up to the settlers to decide if they wanted slavery in the two territories. This led to war because Northerners were haunted by nightbares of slavery marching across the plains. Doouglas said the location of the territories was not suited to slave labor. Northerners were upset. This caused bloodshed in Kansas -
Dred Scott Case
Chief Justice Roger Taney began reviewing the facts of Dred Scott's case.Mr. Scott was a slave who had previously traveled with his owner to Wisconsin where slavery was banned. Upon his return to Missouri Scott went t court to win his freedom. Taney wanted to use this case to end slavery once and for all. The court decided that since he was not a citizen nor could he ever become one he could not sue for his freedom.They also said he was wrong and his stay in Wisconsim did not make him a free man -
Dred Scott Case part two
This led to war because Northerners were again rattled and upset. This case hastened the beginning of the Civil War. Many Northerners were enraged by the court's ruling. The New York times Tribune called the descion a false and wicked udgement. -
Election of 1860
In 1858 Republicans in Illinois nominated Abraham Lincon to run for senate.Lincon's opponent in the Senate race was Stephan Douglas. When Lincon challenged him to debate the slavery isssue Douglas Agreed.Lincon lost the election but the debates helped him become a nation figure. While Republicans supported Lincon the Democrats were divided between John C. Breckinridge and Stephan Douglas. With his opposition divided three ways he was victorious. -
The election of 1860 Part two
The 1860 Presidential race showed just how divided the nation had become. This led to war because southerners feared congress would try to abolish slavery and that would mean the loss of liberty, property, home, and country. -
Fort Sumter
The opening shots of the civil war were fired at Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. This was a thirty three hour bombardment. It was a bloodless opening to the bloodiest war in American History. This did not lead to war becuuse it was the beginning of the war.
