Apush Chpt. 12 Essentials

The debate over states' rights intensified, leading to increased tensions between the North and South. As Southern states began to secede from the Union, they formed the Confederacy, asserting their belief in the right to govern themselves independently.

• Timeframe: Discussion starts around 1860, six years prior to the U.S. Civil War.

• Political Landscape: The Democratic Party was divided between Northern Democrats (anti-slavery) and Southern Democrats (pro-slavery).

• Territorial Expansion: The conflict over slavery influenced the movement of populations into new territories, leading to violent confrontations, notably in Kansas, creating a significant political divide known as "Bleeding Kansas."

• Wilmot Proviso (1846)*: Proposed legislation aimed to prohibit the expansion of slavery into territories acquired from Mexico; it heightened tensions between free and slave states but ultimately failed in Congress.
  

The Missouri Compromise and Dred Scott Case

• Missouri Compromise (1820): Attempted to balance slave and free states, but ultimately failed to address underlying tensions.

• Dred Scott Decision (1857): Declared African Americans were not citizens and that slaves were property, reinforcing the legal protections for slavery under the Constitution.

• Impact: Increased sectional tensions and suggested that slavery could expand into new territories, undermining previous compromises.

Political Fragmentation

• Impact of Supreme Court Rulings: Roger Taney's assertion that the federal government could not regulate slavery escalated conflicts between the North and South.

• Growing Southern Paranoia: Southern states began to perceive Northern interference as a direct threat to their way of life, breeding resentment and further division.

  Free Soil Movement

• The Free Soil movement emerged in the late 1840s as a political response to the contentious issue of slavery's expansion into newly acquired territories following the Mexican-American War.

  • Objectives: The Free Soilers aimed to prevent the extension of slavery into the western territories, advocating for free land and opportunities for white settlers.

  • Key Phrase: "Free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men" encapsulated their ideology promoting a vision of the West as a land of opportunity, free from the institution of slavery.

  • Formation: The movement led to the establishment of the Free Soil Party in 1848, which attracted former Democrats, Whigs, and abolitionists who opposed the expansion of slavery.

  • Legacy: Although the Free Soil Party never won a presidential election, it laid the groundwork for the later formation of the Republican Party and influenced the national conversation on slavery and civil rights.

Abraham Lincoln's Rise

• Lincoln's Early Career: Initially held moderate views on slavery but evolved into a strong anti-slavery position.

• Self-Education: Describes Lincoln as a self-taught individual who grew and changed his views throughout his life.

• Opposition to Slavery: Lincoln's famous quote, "A house divided against itself cannot stand," encapsulates the existential crisis surrounding slavery in the U.S.

The Republican Party and Political Movements

• Formation of the Republican Party: Many former members of the Whig Party, Free Soilers, and anti-slavery activists united to oppose the spread of slavery.

• Challenges to Democratic Leadership: Lincoln directly confronted Stephen Douglas on the issue of popular sovereignty, questioning the viability of compromises made regarding slavery.

John Brown's Raid

• John Brown's Actions (1859): His raid was perceived by many in the South as an attempt by the North to incite a slave rebellion.

• Southern Reaction: The raid intensified fears of Northern aggression and increased Southern resolve to maintain the institution of slavery.

Conclusion: The Path to Civil War

• Election Outcomes: Lincoln won the presidency in 1860, which many Southern states viewed with alarm, fearing his administration would further threaten slavery.

• Increased Tensions: The election results contributed to the fragmentation of the nation, setting the stage for the Civil War.

Compromise of 1850: A series of legislative measures aimed at easing tensions between free and slave states following the Mexican-American War. Key components include:

• California Admission: California was admitted as a free state.

• New Mexico and Utah: These territories were organized with the principle of popular sovereignty, allowing residents to decide on slavery.

• Fugitive Slave Act: Enforced stricter laws for the capture and return of escaped slaves, angering abolitionists in the North.

• Slave Trade in D.C.: The slave trade (but not slavery itself) was abolished in Washington D.C. Impact: While the Compromise temporarily eased sectional tensions, it ultimately failed to provide a lasting solution to the debate over slavery.

Popular Sovereignty: A political doctrine that stated that the residents of a territory should have the right to decide whether or not to allow slavery within their borders. This principle was a key component in debates over newly acquired territories in the years leading up to the Civil War, particularly influenced by the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854.

• Summary: Advocated that the people living in a territory could determine the legality of slavery, reflecting a democratic approach to governance.

• Implications: Led to significant conflict and violence in areas like Kansas, referred to as "Bleeding Kansas," as pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions clashed over the issue.

The Know Nothings: A political party in the 1850s that emerged in response to the increasing wave of immigrants, particularly Irish and German Catholics.

• Foundation: Originated as a secret society and later became a formal political party.

• Beliefs: Advocated for nativist policies, emphasizing the rights of native-born Americans and promoting restrictions against immigration.

• Political Influence: Gained significant popularity in the mid-1850s, winning several elections at local and state levels but eventually declined as the issue of slavery took precedence in national politics.

• Legacy: Their rise reflects the fears and tensions of the period regarding immigration and cultural change in America.

Nativism: A political and social movement that advocates for the interests of native-born or established inhabitants over those of immigrants. Key features include:

• Anti-Immigrant Sentiment: Nativists often express concerns that immigrants threaten the cultural, economic, and political interests of the native population.

• Political Representation: Movements such as the Know Nothings in the 1850s exemplified nativist ideology, pushing for policies that restricted immigration and promoted the rights of native-born Americans.

• Cultural Fears: Nativism is often driven by fears of cultural dilution and competition for jobs, leading to social tensions and political action against immigrant communities.

• Legacy: Nativism has recurred in various forms throughout American history, influencing policies and public opinion on immigration.

Dred Scott Decision (1857): A landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that had profound implications for the status of slavery and civil rights in America.

• Background: Dred Scott was an enslaved African American who sued for his freedom on the grounds that he had lived in free territories with his owner.

• Supreme Court Ruling: The Court ruled that African Americans were not citizens and therefore had no right to sue in federal court. Additionally, the ruling stated that slaves were considered property and that the federal government had no authority to regulate slavery in the territories.

• Impact: This decision reinforced the legal protections for slavery under the Constitution, increased sectional tensions, and suggested that slavery could expand into new territories. It effectively nullified previous compromises aimed at restricting the spread of slavery.

Election of 1860: A critical election that contributed to the onset of the Civil War. Key points include:

• Candidates: The main candidates were Abraham Lincoln (Republican), Stephen Douglas (Northern Democrat), John C. Breckinridge (Southern Democrat), and John Bell (Constitutional Union).

• Lincoln's Victory: Lincoln won the presidency without carrying a single Southern state, emphasizing the sectional divide in the nation.

• Southern Reaction: Many Southern states viewed Lincoln's election with alarm, fearing his administration would further threaten the institution of slavery.

• Consequences: Lincoln's election contributed to the fragmentation of the nation, leading to the secession of several Southern states and the eventual emergence of the Confederacy, setting the stage for the Civil War.