sectional conflict and failure of compromise (period 5)

where did the majority of immigrants come from leading up to the civil war? what did they have in common?

ireland and germany; many were catholic

where did the irish settle?

mostly east coast cities as part of unskilled labor force working in factories

where did the german settle?

mostly midwest s farmers or small business professionals

american party (“know-nothing” party)

nativist political party that emerged in the 1840s to prevent immigrants from becoming citizens or voting

uncle tom’s cabin

written by harriet beecher stowe in 1852 in retaliation to the 1850 fugitive slave act

underground railroad

organized secret escape routes for enslaved people

harriet tubman

the most famous of the underground railroad “conductors”; helped free over 70 people

how did the economies of the north and south contrast leading up to the civil war?

north: expanding manufacturing economy relied on free labor

south: depended on slave labor

free-soil party

formed before 1848 election and was rooted in the desire to stop the expansion of slavery; goal was to ban slavery in the territories so white farmers would not need to compete with large slave-based plantations

how did southerners defend slavery?

\-blacks were intellectually and biologically inferior

\-slavery was a positive good and that slaves were better cared for than industrial workers in the north (john c. calhoun said this)

\-southern economy needed slavery and america needed the south’s economy

\-slavery was protected by the constitution

why did attempts to resolve the issue of slavery in the 1850s fail?

they all resulted in conflict

kansas-nebraska act (1854)

\-divided the nebraska territory into kansas and nebraska territories

\-caused the repeal of the part of the missouri compromise that excluded slavery north of 36°30’

\-stated that the issue of slavery in the regions would be determined by the people (popular sovereignty)

who supported the kansas nebraska act (1854)?

all the south and some of the northern democrats

how did the kansas-nebraska act affect political parties?

it destroyed the whig party and drove many northern democrats from the democratic party

bleeding kansas (1856)

violence between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups that moved to kansas after the kansas-nebraska act; resulted in over 200 deaths

john brown

radical abolitonist that led his sons and others to brutally kill 5 pro-slavery settlers during the bleeding kansas fights

what did charles sumner do in congress during may 1856? H

he delivered a speech titled “the crime against kansas” demanding that kansas be admitted to the union as a free state; he also insulted senator ansfre butler of south carolina

why did preston brooks beat sumner?

in defense of andrew butler (his uncle), brooks beat sumner

what was the aftermath of the caning of charles sumner?

sumner: couldn’t return to congress for 4 years due to injuries; seen as a hero in the north

brooks: seen as a hero in the south; was re-elected even after being disapproved of by the house

dred scott v. sandford (1857)

controversial court ruling that declared black people were not citizens and that they were property; nullified the missouri compromise and effectively opened all territories to slavery (great victory for southerners)

why did dred scott believe he was free?

he was enslaved in missiouri, and then taken to illinois and wisconsin by his owner where slavery was prohibited; the owner died and then he returned to missiouri, where he was wrongfully enslaved again

third two-party system in america

formed after the fall of the whigs and the 1854 midterm election where republicans won more seats in house of reps.; sert up america as republicans vs. democrats