Political Crisis of the 1850s

Key Historical Context - Political Crisis of the 1850s

Compromise of 1850

  • Previous legislation aimed to settle disputes, but quickly lost effectiveness.

Election of 1852

  • Candidates: Franklin P. Pierce (Democrat) vs. Winfield Scott (Whig).   - Whigs had a history of identifying war heroes as candidates.

  • Result: Pierce wins, signaling a decline of the Whig Party with only four states carried by Scott.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

  • Purpose: Organized newly acquired territories in the Louisiana Purchase.

  • Issues surrounding railroads to California driving the need for organization.

  • Stephen Douglas advocates for the railroad starting in Chicago, requiring organization of territories to ensure law and order.   - Southern purchase (Gadsden Purchase) intended for routing railroads.

South's Response and Political Maneuvering

  • Douglas argues for the Kansas-Nebraska Act, including the concept of popular sovereignty allowing residents to vote on the legality of slavery in the new territories.

  • Southern support gained as the Act could potentially strengthen their political power with new slave states, while the North viewed this as a violation of the Missouri Compromise, establishing fury in the North.

Reaction and Political Consequences

  • North's anger at perceived Southern influence, leading to the slave power conspiracy theory asserting that the South held undue influence over national politics and morality.

  • Result: Further fracturing of political parties, particularly the Whig Party which eventually ceases to exist due to sectional loyalty overpowering party loyalty.

Emergence of New Parties

  • Know Nothing Party: Focus on anti-immigrant (nativism) sentiment, attempting to restrict immigration and limit land ownership.

  • Republican Party: Founded on preventing the spread of slavery into new territories; a broad coalition including some abolitionists, diverging from moderate stances of earlier parties.

Focus on Kansas

  • The race for settlers in Kansas begins, with organizations aiding Northern migrants to ensure a majority vote for anti-slavery policies.

  • The first territorial legislature results in pro-slavery governance amidst allegations of fraudulent voting practices involving “border ruffians.”

Violence and Escalation - Bleeding Kansas

  • Events escalate with the sack of Lawrence, where pro-slavery forces attack an anti-slavery town.

  • Radical abolitionist John Brown retaliates with the Potawatomi massacre, indicating the severe violence caused by sectional conflict in Kansas.

Congressional Violence

  • Heightened tensions result in violent confrontations in Congress, exemplified by Charles Sumner's speech and subsequent beating by Preston Brooks, highlighting emotional fervor surrounding slavery.

1856 Presidential Election and Consequences

  • Democratic Victory led by James Buchanan, with Republicans performing surprisingly well. This lays foundational tension for the looming 1860 election.

Dred Scott Decision (1857)

  • Scott's case ruled against by the Supreme Court, deeming him a slave and no legal standing, also finding the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.

  • This emboldens Republicans' stance against Southern influence and reinforces Northern grievances.

Continuing Violence and Tensions

  • Following the delay for Kansas to be admitted as a state, Douglas faces a tricky political situation balancing Northern dissent against Southern expectations. His voting against allowing Kansas as a slave state indicates a fracturing of loyalties.

  • Economic unrest contributes to polarization leading up to the historical election of 1860.

John Brown's Raid

  • Brown attempts to start a slave uprising with a failed raid on Harpers Ferry, leading to his execution.

  • Northern public outcry contrasts with Southern horror at his actions, solidifying divides between regions.

Conclusion and Emerging Sentiment

  • Rising anxiety in the South about Northern radicalization and the establishment of the Republican Party, alongside John Brown's raid marking the turn toward imminent conflict.

  • Southern fire-eaters advocate for secession, predicting a massive shift in the political landscape as the nation approaches the 1860 election.