History of the USA, 1820–1941 Notes
Key questions:- How was the issue of slavery addressed between 1820 and 1850?
Content:- Political system (practical application of the US Constitution) and the balance of sectional interests in 1820
Details: The Missouri Compromise (1820) attempted to balance the number of free and slave states. The Senate was equally divided between free and slave states, granting each a critical check on legislation. This balance was crucial for maintaining political stability and preventing either section from dominating the federal government.
Impact of territorial expansion: westward expansion and absorption of Texas
Details: The annexation of Texas (1845) added vast territory suitable for cotton cultivation, inflaming tensions over the expansion of slavery. Texas entered the Union as a slave state, upsetting the balance in the Senate and provoking strong opposition from anti-slavery advocates.
Impact of population growth and movement
Details: Rapid population growth in both the North and South led to increased political competition. The North's larger population gave it greater representation in the House of Representatives, while the South relied on maintaining equal representation in the Senate to protect its interests.
Attempts at compromise including the Missouri Compromise (1820) and the Compromise of 1850
Details: The Compromise of 1850 sought to resolve disputes over the expansion of slavery into newly acquired territories from the Mexican-American War. It included provisions such as the admission of California as a free state, the organization of Utah and New Mexico with popular sovereignty, the abolition of the slave trade in Washington, D.C., and the Fugitive Slave Act, which further intensified sectional tensions.
How and why did sectional divisions widen between 1850 and 1856?- Problems arising from the implementation of the Compromise of 1850 and the application of the Fugitive Slave Act
Details: The Fugitive Slave Act (1850) required citizens to assist in the capture and return of runaway slaves, sparking outrage in the North. It led to increased resistance, with many Northerners forming vigilance committees and refusing to cooperate with slave catchers. The Act deepened the divide between the North and South, undermining the spirit of compromise.
The issue of Kansas and its impact
Details: The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) allowed residents of Kansas and Nebraska to decide on the issue of slavery through popular sovereignty, effectively repealing the Missouri Compromise. This led to violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers in Kansas, known as "Bleeding Kansas," further escalating sectional tensions.
Changes in the party-political system: rapid decline of the Whig Party and the rise of the Republican Party
Details: The Whig Party, which had been a major force in American politics, collapsed due to internal divisions over slavery. The Republican Party emerged as a strong anti-slavery party, drawing support from former Whigs, Free-Soilers, and abolitionists. This realignment of political forces reflected the growing divide over slavery.
Significance of States’ Rights
Details: Southern states increasingly emphasized the doctrine of States' Rights, arguing that the federal government had no authority to interfere with the institution of slavery. They claimed that each state had the right to decide whether to allow slavery and that the federal government should protect this right. This assertion of States' Rights became a central justification for secession.
Why did the Republicans win the 1860 presidential election?- Growing strength of abolitionism, e.g. John Brown
Details: John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry (1859) intensified sectional passions. While condemned by many in the North, he was hailed as a martyr by some abolitionists, further angering the South. The raid heightened fears of slave insurrections and deepened the divide between the North and South.
Emerging notion of ‘slave power’, e.g. Dred Scott
Details: The Dred Scott Supreme Court decision (1857) denied citizenship to slaves and declared that Congress had no power to prohibit slavery in the territories. This ruling reinforced the idea of a "slave power" conspiracy, in which slaveholders allegedly controlled the federal government and sought to expand slavery throughout the nation.
Increasing confrontation within and between the North and the South
Details: Events such as the Brooks-Sumner Affair (1856), in which a Southern congressman attacked a Northern senator on the Senate floor, symbolized the breakdown of civil discourse and the growing animosity between the North and South. These confrontations reflected deeper ideological and cultural differences.
The Lincoln–Douglas Debates (1858)
Details: The Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858) in Illinois between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas brought the issue of slavery to the forefront of national attention. Lincoln argued against the expansion of slavery, while Douglas advocated for popular sovereignty. Although Douglas won the election, Lincoln gained national prominence and solidified his position as a leading voice against slavery.
The election campaign of 1860 and the divisions of the Democratic Party
Details: The Democratic Party split along sectional lines in 1860, with Northern Democrats nominating Stephen Douglas and Southern Democrats nominating John Breckinridge. This division weakened the Democratic Party and paved the way for Abraham Lincoln's victory. Lincoln's election triggered the secession of Southern states, leading to the outbreak of the Civil War.
Why did the Civil War begin in April 1861?- Reactions to the 1860 presidential election results
Details: Southern states viewed Abraham Lincoln's election as a threat to their way of life and the institution of slavery. They believed that Lincoln would use his power to undermine slavery and infringe upon their rights. This fear led to the secession of seven Deep South states before Lincoln even took office.
Secession of the seven Deep South States
Details: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas seceded from the Union between December 1860 and February 1861. They formed the Confederate States of America and elected Jefferson Davis as their president. These states believed that secession was their only option to protect their rights and preserve their way of life.
The Battle of Fort Sumter and its impacts
Details: The Battle of Fort Sumter (April 12, 1861) marked the beginning of the Civil War. Confederate forces fired on the Union-held Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, prompting President Lincoln to call for volunteers to suppress the rebellion. This act of aggression united the North and galvanized support for war.
The aims of Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis
Details: Abraham Lincoln's primary goal at the beginning of the war was to preserve the Union. He initially sought to prevent the expansion of slavery rather than abolish it completely. Jefferson Davis, on the other hand, aimed to establish the Confederate States of America as an independent nation, based on the principles of States' Rights and the protection of slavery.