Dissension Over Slavery Leads to War

M25 Lecture #7
Dissension Over Slavery Leads to War
Krister Swanson
Moorpark College

Growing Distinctiveness

By 1820 slavery is making the south increasingly distinctive
Fed by growth of Cotton Kingdom (AL & MS)
Slave Empire grows in deep south – slave labor shifts to cotton production
Black majority in deep south
White supremacy fueled by need to maintain superiority in face of large black influence
Fragile existence for whites makes them defensive – leads to growth of defense for slavery (slaves better off, black inferiority, all great societies had slaves, etc.)

The Plantation Economy

Whites unify around race
Only ¼ of whites hold slaves, most of those hold less than 5 slaves
Big planters dominate southern economy, provide lifeblood
Cotton key national export as well, making slavery a tricky national issue
South plantation based while North increasingly diversifies
Immigrants go north to avoid competition with slaves
Rich planters continue to make political decisions for their benefit & ignore improvements that would allow diversification

The Big House

Plantation Masters & the practice of paternalism (better treatment of slaves as economic assets)
Plantation Mistresses – paragons of southern virtue, managerial duties in their own right
Miscegenation and drug use common evidence of misery

Slaves and the Quarter

The Plain Folk

Bitter Fruits of War

Huge division over the role of slavery in the west
1848: Wilmot Proviso (barred slavery in all land acquired from Mexico) Preserve the west for free labor with free soil (many free soilers anti-black)
defeated by Southern senators – Wilmot hoped to reduce their power
Idea of popular sovereignty on slavery – vagaries of timing give both sides hope
Slavery huge issue in Election of 1848 – Free Soilers (grand Northern Party of Freedom) split from Whigs because Taylor owns slaves – Whig Taylor gets elected

Sectional Balance Undone

Taylor surprises by favoring free soil
Compromise of 1850: CA becomes a free state (throws balance of senate to North) & the Fugitive Slave Act (underground RR, North aiding slaves)
Comp keeps momentary peace – not a long term solution
Fugitive slave law very controversial – much resistance in North
Uncle Tom’s Cabin depicts slavery in a way that fuels the abolitionist cause (slaves as people) feeds sectional fire
The Kansas-Nebraska Act allows for popular sovereignty on slavery in these territories (in violation of the MO Compromise) in exchange for northern RR route
Realignment of Party System
K-N Act shatters old system (2 parties with bi-sectional support), brings in one party based heavily in the North
Whigs (wealthy elite, abolitionists, anti-Jacksonians) unable to please north & south
Democrats split by pop. sov.

The New Parties

Know-Nothings nativists build support among those who fear changes from immigration (Germany & Ireland), capture many state legs
Republicans (free soil, free labor, dignity of labor) trying to pick up all the disaffected pieces
Republicans argue the slave power was trying to expand slavery and subvert liberty
The Election of 1856: Know Nothings split over K-N Act, Republicans go with Fremont
Dems run Buchanan & paint Reps as abolitionist extremists
Buchanan wins but Reps make it close, setting stage for 1860

Freedom Under Siege

“Bleeding Kansas” becomes national focus: guerrilla warfare fighting between pro & anti slavery factions
The Dred Scott Decision – slaves are still property after owner dies & travel in free territories (no rights)
Outrage over decision strengthens Republican party

Enter Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln strongly opposed slavery on a number of grounds, can’t stand pop. sov. & the K-N Act (fresh land for expansion of slavery)
Racially moderate – end slavery & allow blacks to leave (insurmountable prejudice)
Slavery would either be killed or take over

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Lincoln challenged the premier democrat in Nation for IL senate seat in 1858
Douglas tries to break southern connections by rejecting Lecompton constitution
Lincoln charges Douglas with pushing expansion of slavery
Douglas plays racial angle against Lincoln
Douglas wins because of a Democrat majority in the Illinois Leg, but debate frames issue of slavery

The Union Collapses

Each side comes to fear aggression of the other
1859: John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry, Brown becomes a martyr
Democratic party splits over a call for a platform protecting slavery
Northern Dems nominate Douglas, Radical Southern Dems nominate Breckinridge, Southern Moderates nominate Bell
Republicans seek to unify the North (homesteads, trans RR, tariffs)
Lincoln’s relative moderation makes him appealing
He defeats Douglas in the North & carries the race as Breckinridge & Bell are left to contest the South
Free states had majority of electoral votes
Fire eaters fuel secession talk

Secession Winter

South realizes its vulnerability that the President can be elected without an electoral vote from the South
Many believe Lincoln won’t go to war
SC secedes in 12/1860, six other states in lower south follow
Lincoln takes office, conciliatory about slavery but not about maintaining the Union, puts ball solidly in the South’s court