AP US History Unit 4: Antebellum and the Road to the Civil War

What was the makeup of the southern plantations

It was a sort of aristocracy, with planters attempting to model themselves after European feudal society: Southern Slavocracy:

Who benefited from the cotton industry of the south

• The American nation itself: Made up half of the exports, which led to capital growth, strengthening the American economy

• Northern manufacturers: They would buy cotton and sell their finished goods

• Britain: Relied on it for their textile industry

What is the relationship between women on and their slaves

They developed connections with their slaves but still treated them as subordinate

What were some of the problems with slavery

• Excessive cultivation of cotton led to land destruction, causing people to move north and west

• The monopolistic nature of the plantation system drove many smaller farmers west and south as they sold their land to larger plantations

• The plantation system was expensive as slaves cost a lot of money to purchase and maintain, and if something were to go wrong, it could lead to economic devastation

• The south became dependent on king cotton and turned it into a one-crop economy

• The southern economy could not keep up with the northern industrial economy

Who were the smaller slave owners, landless whites, and mountain whites

Smaller slave owners: They were often small farmers who toiled in the cotton fields with their slaves

Landless whites: Had no land and often found themselves more isolated than slaves however they were the most ardent supporters of slavery because they believed that if they could purchase slaves, they would be able to enter the prestigious slavocracy. They also found comfort in the idea of their “racial superiority.”

Mountain Whites: Farmers who lived in the valleys of the appalchians mountains which made them less supportive of slavery than their counterparts

What was the free black population of the south like

Emancipated by their white farmers, there were over 500,000 freed slaves. However, were always at threat of being brought back into the slave trade

What was the attitude to emancipated blacks in the north

They were despised in the north and were often barred from schools, voting, and even states, the main reason being they were seen as competition for jobs

What was the result of the end of the end of the international slave trade

• Gave rise to the domestic slave trade as the cotton economy demanded more and more slaves, which were then sold “down the river” from soil-depleted Virginia

• Female slaves became tasked with providing children

Why were excessive punishments for slaves uncommon

While punishments are dealt out to slaves the excessive punishments were uncommon because it decreased the productivity of the plantations

How was slave culture and eventually African-American culture able to develop on large plantations

• Families were less vulnerable to the family splitting up compared to smaller plantations

• Naming Children for grandparents

• Avoided marriage of first cousins

• Heavily evangelized by the Second Great Awakening but they combined traditional African practices

What was the black belt

Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana - the new south that made up the majority of the new cotton kingdom- most slaves lived here and more and more were sucked from the old south

How did slaves resist slavery in day to day ways

• Sabotaging machinery

• Slowing work down - but gave rise to the myth of black laziness

• Poisoned their master’s food

• Ran away to the north

How did slaves fight for their freedom

• 1800 - a slave called Gabriel led an insurrection but was crushed in Virginia

• 1822 - A slave called Denmark Vesey led a ill fated rebellion in south carolina

• 1831 - Nat Turner led a rebellion that killed 60 Virginians, leading to revenge

• 1839 - A Spanish ship was taken over by a the very slaves abroad but crashed into long island leading to their imprisonment

What was the result of slave revolts, southern perception of increased northern pressure against slavery, and the nullification crisis

It not only increased the horrific treatment of enslaved people, but southerners also began to dig themselves into a deeper pro-slavery hole as they ignored all previous concerns over its inhumane practice and tried to justify it biblically and through the idea that it benefited the slaves, therefore civilizing them.

What was the American Colonisation Society (1817)

It was an abolitionist group that focused on carving out a region in Africa to send emancipated enslaved people

Why did emancipated slaves and enslaved people not wish to return to Africa?

By 1860 the majority of African Americans in America had developed their own unique cultural identity which lessened the desire to move to a foreign place

Why did the abolitionist movement gain prominence

The Second Great Awakening, which spawned a series of reformist movements, coupled with the anti-slavery acts of Britain, had a large impact on Americans

Who were some key abolitionists

• Theodore Dwight Weld

• Arthur and Lewis Tappom

• Lyman Beecher

• Harriet Beeler Stowe

• Catherine Beeocur

• Henry Ward Beeocur

Who was William Lloyd Garrison

An abolitionist who founded the anti-slavery newspaper The Liberator. He also called for the norths secession from the south

What was the American Anti-Slavery Society

An anti-slavery group that was influenced by the evangelicalism of the Second Great Awakening

Who were some key black abolitionists

• David Walker - wrote “Appeal to the coloured citizens of the world” (1839) - called for an end to slavery through violent means

• Sojourner Truth - fought for women’s rights and emancipation

• Martin Delany - advocated for the recolonisation of Africa

• Frederick Douglass - Wrote a narrative about his escape from slavery and was a strong advocate for the end of slavery

How did Southerners attempt to remove the threat abolitionists posed to them

• The gag resolution (1836): A bill that targeted the ability of abolitionists to petition for the end of the institution

• Forcing the federal government to force the post office to destroy abolitionist writings and cartoons sent to the south

Why were northerners opposed to the abolitionist

• The Union and the Constitution were seen as the livelihood of the nation, and slavery seemed to threaten it

• Northerners had a stake in the textile mills which relied on the southern cotton

• Mobs targeted extreme abolitionists

What was the main reason for northerners supporting the abolitionist movement

Most Northerners opposed the spread of slavery into new territories, seeing it as a threat to free labor, political balance, and their national interests, rather than seeking immediate nationwide abolition. However, sentiment would begin to shift and many northerners came to support the abolitionist movement

How did the Whigs lose power following the election of 1840

Initially William Henry Harrison had been elected the Whig president but real power laid with Henry Clay and Daniel Webster. However, following Harrison’s death only a year into office, his vice president John Tyler would take the presidency and oppose the policies of the whigs (his own party).

What bills did John Tyler veto in his presidency and what was the result

He would veto the tariff bill of 1842 before signing off on a third version and would also veto the redistribution of revenue from sales of land out west. In reaction he was expelled from the Whig party

What were the reasons for anti-British resentment during this period

• Resentment from previous anglo-American wars

• British travellers were critical of the new republic and viewed it as a rubbish

• Magazines, authors, and travel books were overly critical of America

• American debtors owed huge quantities of money to british creditors following the panic of 1837

What were some reasons for Anglo-American tensions during this period

• A short rebellion in Canada was supported by Americans and in 1837 a ship carrying weapons to support this rebellion was shot down by the British, which killed an American, and when a Canadian named Mcheod was arrested for the death, he was put on trial for death, meaning war would be imminent with Britain

• In 1841 130 enslaved people from Virginia were granted asylum in the British Bahamas

• Aroostook War (1842): Following British desires to build a road that connected Quebec to Halifax, conflicts broke out in the disputed region where the road was to be built between the local militia, the conflict would eventually end with both nations ceding territory

Why did the Lone Star Republic have to secure the support of foreign nations

To stave of Mexico’s attempts to retake and undermine their power

Why was Britain so interested in the Texan Republic

• It was a place where they could sell their textiles and other goods without having to deal with American tariffs and a place to buy cheap cotton from

• British abolitionists were also interested in Texas as a place to spread their message of abolition and eventually spread it through the south of the U.S

How did foreign intrigue regarding Texas impact the election of 1844

America was worried about the possibility of having a strong European neighbour on their doorstep, therefore the two political parties (Whigs and Democrats) each took their stances regarding the annexation of Texas. Polk and the Democrats supported the annexation of Texas while Henry Clay and the Whigs were against annexation

What was the outcome of the election of 1844 and what was the result for Texas

James K. Polk and the Democrats would narrowly defeat Henry Clay and the Whigs. Therefore, John Tyler would take this as a sign that annexation of Texas was the way forward and after calling a joint resolution (to avoid the 2/3 majority needed in both houses to secure annexation) Mexico was officially annexed in 1845

Why did Henry Clay lose the election of 1844 and how was James K. Polk able to capitalise on it and win the election

Because he tried to gain support from the north and south, and in doing so he struggled to make a defined stance therefore on election day he struggled to cultivate voters as he was viewed as too on the fence and had alienated some of his traditional voters. Opposed to this was Polk who supported the expansionist sentiment (Texas and Oregon) this clearly defined stance as well as captivating the national mood, Polk was able to win the election.

What was the competition for Oregon between American and Britain

They each claimed the region of Oregon based off exploration and Britain were ardent in retaining the Columbia river due to its importance for the fur trade. Therefore because the dispute couldn’t be solved it was jointly occupied by Britain and America. However, when Oregon fever took hold, the small number of missionaries in the Oregon were strengthened by an influx of pioneers coming along the Oregon Trail with eventually 5,000 settlers coming to Oregon south of the Colombia river

What was Manifest Destiny

Americans began to believe that God had given them a mission to spread across the North American continent and spread their democratic institutions to the “thankful” unenlightened others who lived in North America.

How did Polk captivate the mood of Manifest Destiny to win the election of 1844

Polk embraced expansionist sentiment by pledging to annex Texas and secure Oregon, tapping into Americans’ belief in Manifest Destiny and their desire to spread national power, which won him decisive votes.

Who were the liberal party and what was their significance to the election of 1844

They were a third party that emerged during this election which were anti-slavery, anti-taxes. They took votes away from Clay, arguably losing him the election

What was Polk’s Four Point Plan

• Lower the tariff of 1842

• Restoration of the treasury which had been destroyed by the Whigs in 1841

• Acquisition of California

• Ending the Oregon Dispute

What was the Walker Tariff of 1846

It lowered the tariff of 1842 from 32% to 25%

What was the resolution to the Oregon Dispute

Both sides, British and America, were willing to compromise. Polk and the southern democrats weren’t willing to pursue the entirety of the disputed occupied territory (54 50 parallel). On the British side, the unpopularity of the Hudson Bay Company, the Columbia River being “furred out”, and the lack of necessity for fur drove British calls for compromise.

What was the reaction to Polks decision to compromise with Britain

Northern Democrats and many expansionists were outraged that Polk didn’t pursue the expansionist polices that he had done with Texas. This left many in the north feeling that Polk was focused on expanding the slave holding power of the south, as if he expanded further north, it would serve no use to the south.

Why was California desired by politicians and expansionists

It was seen as the gateway into the pacific market and ports like San Francisco bay were seen as crucial to increasing the maritime power of the United States

What was the ethnic make-up of California on the eve of the Mexican-American war

It was majority made-up of Mexicans and Native Americans with only a small proportion of Americans

What were the points of friction between Mexico and the U.S

• U.S had claims against Mexico for 3 million dollars due to damages to American property and while Mexico assured it would pay back these damages they would later default on their debts - Indemnity Claims

• After America annexed Texas, Mexico withdrew their diplomat to the U.S

• The border between Texas and Mexico was in conflict as the expansionist Texans wanted the border to be the Rio Grande while the Mexicans claimed it to be the Nueces river. Polk aggravated this point of tension as he felt obligated to expand Texas’ claims

Why did America try to purchase California from Mexico

Following rumours that Britain was attempting to buy California, America rushed to buy it for 25 million dollars, Mexico would reject this offer.

Why did Polk start the war against Mexico

Polk desired California, the rejection of the purchase of it, the long wait for the revolt led by John C. Fremont, and fears regarding Britain purchasing the region led to Polk's manipulation of the war to occur.

What were spot resolutions

They were resolutions that demanded information to the precise point at which American blood on American soil was spilled. Meant to undermine the justification for war

Explain the Mexican-American War

Start: January 13, 1846 Polk ordered 4,000 men to advance across the Nueces to the Rio Grande (no mans land) in the hopes of provoking war with Mexico, while this initially failed and Polk attempted to draw up claims of war on indemnity claims, Zachary Taylor would then be attacked by Mexican soldiers.(provoked by his entry into No mans land) The nation was then swept up in a patriotic fervour and war was declared.

Campaigns in the Mexican-American War:

• Stephen W. Kearny: Led a detachment that captured Santa Fe

• Zachary Taylor: Led the main thrust and fought to the rio Grande, eventually reaching Buena Vista and would defeat Santa Anna

• Winfield Scott: Severely handicapped in his supplies, men, and support but battled all the way to Mexico City

End: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848):

• Secured American ownership of Texas and all lands up to Oregon

• America paid 15 million dollars

• Assumed the claims of its citizens against Mexico for 3.2 million dollars

What was the California Bear Revolt

It started off separate from the Mexico-American War, but would eventually merge with it. The campaign was led by John C. Fremont who under the cover of a botanist expedition was sent to rally American settlers to revolt against Mexico in California in the hopes of another Texas, this would undermine Mexican rule in California, paving the way for it to be easily conquered in the Mexican-American War

Why did Polk want to end the war with Mexico quickkly

• Anti-Slavery agitators were growing more and more vocal against the war in Mexico,l and these Whigs were threatening to pull funding for the war

• Pro-slavery agitators were calling for the annexation of the entirety of Mexico to expand the institution of slavery and fulfil expansionist beliefs.

• They needed to secure peace with a stable Mexican government

What were the pros of the Mexican-American war

• America’s land was increased by a third

• Provided practice for military generals as the military academy at West Point proved itself for providing good generals

• The American Army gained International prestige and was recognised as a force to be reckoned with

What were the cons of the Mexican-American war

• The nations of Latin America were much more fearful of America and were viewed with contempt and distrust

• The issue of slavery came to prominence again as abolitionists viewed this war as southerners attempting to spread slavocracy, further fuelled by the influx of southern volunteers to fight in the war

• Increased sectional divisions

What was the Wilmot Provisio

A proposed amendment passed twice in the House and rejected in the Senate that outlined that slavery should not exist in any of the land acquired from Mexico - individual state legislators would then eventually pass this

Describe the election of 1848

The Democrats appointed General Lewis Cass

The Whigs would nominate Zachary Taylor

Platform:

Cass believed that the issue should be solved through popular sovereignty

The Whigs did not put forth a defined platform and utilised their homespun virtues

Outcome: Taylor and the Whigs would win the election by ignoring the issue of slavery as it was seen as to divisive of an issue to toutch

Who were the free soil party

A third party that emerged during the election of 1848, which was distrustful of both the Whigs and Democrats. They were also ardent anti-slavers and the expansion of slavery.

Who were the different interest groups that made up the Free soil Party

• Northern Industrialists who wanted a lower tariff

• Northern Democrats who were angered by Polk not securing all of Oregon while securing all of Texas, they viewed it as a sign of southern interests taking priority

• Northerners who didn’t want the expansion of slavery because white farmers would be pushed off their land and would be unable to buy cheap land as slave plantations would have taken it all up, using slaves instead of paid white work - “free soil, free speech, free labour, and free men”

How did the discovery of gold in California lead to its desire to admittance into the union

With the gold rush gripping California in 1848, lawlessness ensued as the American government wasn’t able to secure the state. Taylor then advised California to enact an adequate state government to stop crime, which then led to them drafting a constitution in 1849; however, this constitution outlawed slavery. California would then apply for admittance into the union

What was the southern reaction following California’s application for statehood, and what other worries did they have regarding growing northern power

It was met with serious worry from southern officials as they feared it would not only upset the balance between free and slave states in the union, but would set a precedent for recently acquired Mexican territory, that it would all be free states, further upsetting the political balance.

• Southerners worried about the desire for abolition in D.C, which represented ever-increasing sentiment for northern influence

• Southerners also found grievances regarding the state of runaway slaves. The underground railroad was a constant thorn in the side of plantation owners and with increased runaway slaves, enslavers wanted a stronger fugitive slave clause - may have also been about maintaining the honour of the southern planters

As Californias admittance into the union became more and more contested what were the stances of the immortal trio

Henry Clay: He argued in favour of compromise, and both sides needed to acquiesce in certain areas; however he stated that the North needed to accept a stronger fugitive slave clause

John C Calhoun: He argued that both sides had to make concessions but was worried about the lack of provisions for the protection of southern rights and the rights of the minority

Daniel Webster: He would issue his 7th March speech, which, while inspiring conciliation among the north and the south, strengthened the south. In his speech, he stated that slavery should be allowed to exist and the South is correct in feeling grieved at the lack of a strong fugitive slave clause. This would forever inhibit Webster’s attempt as the presidency as he seemed to betray the abolitionist cause

What was William Sewards view on compromise and in general the majority of young northerners view on compromise

He opposed slavery and any compromise that would allow the institution to continue to exist. He said it was their Christian duty to obey God's moral laws and abide by a higher law than the Constitution. This would eventually lose him support for the presidency

How was compromise prevented and then achieved over the issue of California

President Zachary Taylor inhibited almost any chance at compromise as he was influenced by men such as Seward and he wanted to stamp out a militia force that had been at stand off with federal forces. However, following Taylor’s death in 1850 and the accession of Vice President Millard Fillmore to the presidency, compromise became possible

Who were the southern “fire-eaters” and what was their meeting at Nashville about?

Southern Secessionists who supported secession and opposed compromise. They would hold a meeting in Nashville, Tennessee to discuss secession but following efforts from Clay and Webster at compromise, the effort was defeated.

What was the Compromise of 1850

South:

• Slavery in New Mexico and Utah was to be decided through popular vote

• Texas was granted 10 million dollars in compensation for the territory it had to give up to remain a slave state

• A stronger fugitive slave act was introduced

North:

• California is admitted as a free state

• Texas cedes land to New Mexico

• Abolishment of the slave trade in D.C (not slavery)

Why was the South worse off following the Compromise of 1850

• The admission of California as a free state upset the balance between free and slave states - southerners needed to restore the balance in the Senate

• New Mexico and Utah would decide by popular vote on the issue of slavery - this favoured the free soilers who opposed slavery

• The fugitive slave act (1850): Northerners didn’t uphold the act

What was the fugitive slave act

• The fugitive slave act (1850): While allowing slave catchers to enter the North, it led to immense backlash from Northerners. The ability of slave catchers to come into the North and violate liberties held closely by Northerners was viewed as abhorrent. Furthermore, the federal commissioner who oversaw whether the slave captured was free or a slave would receive 5 dollars if they voted in favour of free and 10 dollars if they voted in favour of a slave. This led to resentment of corruption in the north

What was the reaction to the fugitive slave act (1850)

• It rallied many moderates to the abolition cause

• The underground railroad increased in productivity

• Northern mobs rallied to project rescued slaves

• Massachusetts made it a penal offense for state officials to aid slave catchers - these were personal liberty laws

What was the southern reaction to the northerners taking action against the fugitive slave act

They were outraged and viewed northerners as liars and unconstitutional as they weren’t upholding the law

Why was the Compromise of 1850 so important for later developments

Because while it was divisive it bought time for the union and the north was now able to rally more effectively around the case of Union.

Explain the election of 1852

The Democrats nominated Frank Pierce

The Whigs would nominate Winfield Scott: He was a military general

While Pierce was relatively unknown, the Whigs could not put up an effective resistance as they were split. While the northern Whigs were okay with Scott being the nominee, they hated his stance which supported the fugitive slave act, while the southern Whigs didn’t like Scott but supported his platform, which supported the fugitive slave act.

What would the election of 1852 signal the end of and what would emerge from the death of it

Following their defeat in the election of 1852, the Whigs would dissolve due to the divisive nature of the compromise of 1850 and the fugitive slave act. However, they were able to keep the union intact. Yet, the death of the Whigs represented the death of national parties and the rise of sectional parties which threatened to polarize the nation

Why did southerners want America to expand to the south

Following the compromise of 1850, southerners attempted to restore balance between free and slave states to ensure their rights as the minority

How did American expansionist ambitions in the mid-19th century manifest in Central America and Cuba, and what controversies arose from these efforts

• Concerns over the British seizure of San Juan del Norte on the Mosquito coast threatened to hand the vital trade route that could connect the Atlantic to the Pacific. In reaction, America and New Granada came to the agreement that in return for American rights to transit across the isthmus region, America would provide protection and neutrality of the region. America would then build a railroad across this region, fuelling economic imperialism

• Clayton-Bulwer treaty - ensured neither Britain or America would fortify or seek exclusive control over any future Isthmian waterway

• William Walker (slavocrat) seized control of Nicaragua and legalised slavery but would be toppled and executed

• Polk would offer to purchase Cuba for 100 million dollars but was rejected

• Southerners attempted to seize cuba through filibustering adventures but were repelled in reaction to these forays against them, Spain would seize an American ship (The Black Warrior) - 1854

• Ostrend Manifesto (1854): Pierce instructed three american foreign ministers to draft legislation on how to take Cuba from Spain, they would conclude that they would offer 120 million dollars to Spain or they would take it by force. However, the plan was exposed and due to backlash from the north abandoned

Why and how did American expansionism translate to Asia?

Following Britains victory in the Opium War (1844) it had gained a series of concessions which had empowered it in regards to commercial trade and markets. Boston traders in turn felt threatened by this development and petitioned President Tyler to secure Bostons trade. Tyler in turn would send Caleb Cushing to negotiate with the Chinese.

• Treaty of Wangshia (1844): Following negotiations Cushing was able to secure certain rights and commercial privileges which allowed it trading rights, and allowed American sailors to be tried before American jury’s. The Chinese implemented this policy as a way to offset British influence

In 1852 President Fillmore would send Commodore Matthew Perry to “open up” japan from its 200 year isolation. Following his arrival in 1853 he requested free trade with Japan and said he would return in a year to accept their terms.

• Treaty of kanagawa (1854): The following year Perry would return and would and with the aid of his weapons would come to an agreement with the Japanese government which provided America with coaling rights, trading rights, and established relations

Why was their competition over the expansion of a railroad out west into the newly acquired territories from Mexico?

There was competition over whether a railroad in the newly conquered territories would go through the south or the north because whoever controlled the route would have wealth, population, and influence.

Why were the south so desperate for a railroad to go through them

Because it would grant them the monopoly over the transportation of goods out west, therefore linking the new states to the southern economy and in turn protecting the peculiar institution

What was the Gasden Purchase of 1853

This purchase secured more land from Santa Anna and was granted to New Mexico. This newly acquired territory allowed southern planters to finance the railroad through the south.

How did the north attempt to prevent the railroad going through the south

Northern States tried to oppose this by sanctioning the organization of Nebraska then propsing the railroad run through there but was defeated by southerners who didn’t want to aid northerners

How did Stephen A. Douglas attempt to break the gridlock over the westward expansion of a railroad

Douglas proposed a Chicago–California railroad and won Southern support by splitting the Nebraska Territory into Kansas and Nebraska, allowing slavery to be decided by popular sovereignty. This threatened earlier compromises, passed with Southern backing, but provoked Northern outrage.

What was the Kansas-Nebraska act and its impact

The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) split the Nebraska Territory into Kansas and Nebraska, allowing slavery by popular sovereignty. Its impacts included:

• Repeal of the Missouri Compromise, angering Northerners.

• Northern refusal to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act.

• Growth of abolitionism.

• Southern outrage at free-soil efforts in Kansas.

• Democratic Party split.

• Emergence of the Republican Party as a coalition against slavery.

How did Sectional Parties emerge out of the Kansas-Nebraska act

The Republicans (anti-slavery) were in the north and the democrats (pro-slavery) were in the south. This increased polarization spelled doom for the union.

What was the impact of Uncle Toms Cabin

Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe (1852), it published the true horrors of slavery to a northern audience. Influenced by the evangelical teachings of the Second Great Awakening, its stance against slavery inspired many to take up the abolitionist cause

What was the impact of “The Impending crisis of the South”

Written by Hinton R. Helper his book introduced the idea that slavey was damaging to non-slaveholding whites of the south

What was the general impact of these abolitionist books

They furthered anti-slavery in the north and increased commitment to slavery in the south as these books faced serious backlash from the south who would ban them.

How did the free soil party attempt to sway Kansas to a free state

A small group of Free-Soilers headed to Kansas to sway it to a free state

Who were the New England Emigrant Aid Company

A anti-slavery organisation sent to Kansas

What was the southern reaction to all these abolitionist groups flooding into Kanas

They were infuriated because they thought by mutual understanding that Kansas would go slave and Nebraska would go free. Therefore, when the election came in Kansas in 1855 to decide if the new state would go free or not, slave zealots rushed in to secure Kansas as a slave state

What was the result of the election of 1855 as to whether Kansas would be a slave state

The pro-slavery side would win and would set up a legislature recognising the legality of slavery; however, abolitionists who refused to recognise the fraudulent victory of the pro-slavery side set up a rival legislature in reaction

What was Bleeding Kanas

Following the establishment of the rival legislatures in Kansas a civil war of sorts would break out in Kansas, sparked when a pro-slavery mob burned part of Lawrence and in reaction John Brown (a anti-slavery zealot) would murder a group of pro slavery men. These events would then develop into a full scale civil war which would eventually be absorbed into the greater civil war.

What was the Lecompton Constitution (1857)

Kansas had enough people to apply for statehood; however proslavery forces divided the Lecompton constitution by making people vote on whether the constitution was pro or anti slavery and if they voted no then there would be protection for slave owners. The majority of free soilers would defeat the bill from passing, but represented the bad blood between pro and anti slavers in Kansas.

How did the Lecompton Constitution lead to the split of the Democrats

The Northern Democrats, led by Stephen A. Douglas, were outraged by the Southern Democrats’ attempts, led by James Buchannen, to twist the concept of popular sovereignty; therefore, the Democrats would split in two.

What was the canning of Charles Sumner

Following Charles Sumner delivering a scathing speech condemning slave holding members of the senate, Sumner (a republican) was beat by cane by congressmen Preston S. Brooks from South Carolina

Explain the election of 1856

The Republicans: Only two years old, they nominated John C. Fremont in the presidency because he was free of the ridicule of bleeding Kansas, which had damaged the reputation of many possible nominations

The Democrats: They put forth James Buchannen due to him being free from bleeding Kansas

The Know Nothing Party: Nominated Millard Fillmore

Stances:

• Republican: Against the expansion of slavery

• Democrat: In favour of popular sovereignty to decide whether slavery should be allowed

• Know Nothing: An anti-foreign party formed due to the large number of Irish and German immigrants entering the nation - led by the protestant elite

Result: Buchanen would win the election of 1856 due to concerns from Fremont whether if he was the right man for the job as well about his Catholic faith

What was the Dred Scott V Stamford Case (1857)

Dred Scott, a slave, had been taken by his master to Illinois, a free state, Scott then sued for his freedom. However, the supreme court ruled that Scott was a slave so could not sue for his freedom in a federal court. Yet, Justice Taney went a step further by espousing that because a slave was private property they could be taken to any state or territory and remain a slave. The court used the Fifth Amendment to support its case by stating Congress could not deprive people of private property without due process. They, in turn, added that the Missouri Compromise (already overruled) was never constitutional because Congress had no power to ban slavery in any territory.

What was the significance of the Dred Scott V Stamford Case (1857)

This was a bombshell as it asserted congress had no rights to abolish slavery in free states or the nation as a whole, therefore empowering the slave states.

What was the impact of the Dredd Scott V Stamford Case

• Republicans, free soilers, abolitionists, champions of popular sovereignty were outraged

• Northern and Southern Democrats were increasingly polarised

• Northerners held it as a opinion and many didn’t recognise it because the south had a majority on the supreme court

• Southerners were elated at the fact that slavery had been justified constitutionally however were annoyed that northerners elected to ignore the ruling

What were the reasons for the panic of 1857

• The Gold Rush in California caused inflation to the currency

• Grain demands which had been high due to the crimean war dropped substantially leading to a surplus of grain and no markets

• Speculation over land and railroads hurt economic well-being

What was the result of the panic of 1857

• Five thousand businesses closed

• Unemployment soared

• Tensions between the south and the north increased as the cotton kingdom was able to stave off the worst of the economic depression

• Farmers should receive land for free because acquiring it and growing it is difficult in itself

What was the Homestead acts (1857)

Farmers should have access up to 160 acres of free farmland because the risk of going out there was the expenditure

Why were the Homestead Acts defeated (1857)

• Eastern industrialists who were worried about losing their cheap labour were against the bill

• Southerners opposed it because it would see free soilers fill up the land quickly and lead to further political imbalance

• Buchanan vetoed the bill

How did the tariff of 1857 worsen the impact of the panic of 1857

Following a surplus in the national treasury, the democrats lowered the tariff to 20% however, this spelled disaster when the panic hit, as northern industries were hit hard