Civil-War_Ch3_info

=**The 1850s and a Worsening Crisis Background Information**=

**Blundering Generation:**
The leaders in the 1850s who failed to get a compromise to prevent war would be known as the "Blundering Generation." This group includes the presidencies of Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan. This group would also include the plans of Senator Stephen Douglas. Franklin Pierce (D) defeated Winfield Scott (W) in the election of 1852 for president. Pierce felt the reason for any crisis was that Northerners attacked the constitutional rights of Southerners. This view was known as a "doughface" view, which is one of a Northerner who takes a pro-Southern viewpoint. Stephen Douglas worsened the problems even more when he made plans to organize the Kansas and Nebraska territories. He wanted to build a railroad to go through his home state of Illinois. Therefore, Douglas proposed a bill to organize the territory without reference to slavery (meaning it would be subject to popular sovereignty). This upset the North since the Kansas and Nebraska territories were already exempt from slavery since both territories were north of the Missouri Compromise line.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act caused 3 major events. Slavery was reintroduced into federal politics. In addition, the act set off the "race to Kansas," which consisted of people from the South going to Kansas to vote for slavery while Northerners went in order to vote it to be a free state. Kansas's territorial governor Andrew Reeder announced that they would ahve a vote for a Congressional delegate. The North accused the South of sending "Border Ruffians," people from Missouri who were going into Kansas to vote pro-slavery. The Free Soilers held a convention in Topeka and drafted a free state constitution, which was sent to D.C. However, President Pierce refused to recognize it. In response, Senator Charles Sumner made //The Crime Against Kansas Speech//. It was an abolitionist speech on the immorality of slavery. In the speech, Sumner ridiculed Senator Butler of South Carolina. A relative of Butler and a representative in the House Preston Brooks came into the Senate and attacked Sumner, beating him with a cane. Blood was shed in Kansas when abolitionist John Brown led a group to Pattowatomie Creek where his group killed pro-slavery citizens. These events became known as "Bleeding Kansas." The third impact of the Kansas-Nebraska Act was that a new political party emerged. This new party, the Republican Party, formed with the goal of ending slavery. This new party wanted a new economic policy that would "put slavery onto the path towards ultimate extrinction." Northern Democrats wanted to maintain the status quo. Southern Democrats took the position of States' Rights. The Whigs focused on cotton profits and wouldn't take a stand on slavery. Whigs who were against slavery switched over to the Republican Party.

The Ostend Manifesto was a statement written and issued by 3 U.S. foreign ministers. James Buchanan (ambassador to Britain), John Mason (France), and Pierre Soule (Spain) felt that the U.S. should purchase Cuba from Spain or even take Cuba if Spain refuses to sell. There were many slaves in Cuba since it was the focal point of the slave trade. The ambassadors saw opportunities. The North had factories and mills to process Cuban cash crops (coffee and sugar cane). However, the North took this as an attempt to keep slavery.

Americans were hoping for the turmoil and slavery issue to be resolved in the election of 1856. The Democrat nominee was James Buchanan. He had popularity as one who was heavily involved in politics. The new Republican Party put up there first candidate: John C. Fremont. His slogan was "Free men, free speech, free soil, Fremont." He had popularity from being a soldier and explorer. A third party, the American Party (nicknamed the "Know-Nothing" Party) that pushed anti-immigration as a slogan put up Millard Fillmore, who had popularity as a former president. Buchanan won but only got 45% of the popular vote. This means that more people voted against Buchanan than for him. Republicans saw they could win the presidency by winning only the free states. The party would need to do more local party building to get the American Party votes.

The Dred Scott Case was a major Supreme Court case that would impact the Buchanan Administration from the start. In //Scott v. Sanford// the Supreme Court reached a decision on the same day of Buchanan's inauguration. Dred Scott was owned by John Emerson in Missouri. The Army transferred Emerson to Illinois and then the northern territories of the Louisiana Purchase. Sanford later became Scott's owner. Many abolitionists felt that Scott should not have been put back into slavery. Chief Justice Roger Taney said Scott couldn't sue since blacks were not citizens. Incoming President Buchanan urged the Court to render a more Constitutional decision. Buchanan announced his support to the decision no matter what the Court decided in his inaugural address (he didn't know what that decision was). The Supreme Court had arrived at a 7-2 decision ruling that (1) no legislation ever said that blacks were citizens and that (2) the Constitution gives no rights to Congress to control property, and (3) Congress must protect property. All Republicans and even Democrats were outraged. buchanan's endorsement of the Dred Scott Decision ruined his administration from the start.

The 1858 Illinois Senate debates would show what was to come in terms of debating the slavery issue. The race for the U.S. Senate seat from Illinois was between Stephen Douglas (D) and Abraham Lincoln (R). To get votes Douglas claimed to have different views than Buchanan. The Lincoln-Douglas debates became famous and drew large crowds. Douglas ended up winning the seat, but the debates showed what was to come in terms of debating over slavery.

In 1859, John Brown led a raid at a federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry, VA. Brown's group of 21 took over the arsenal in hopes of creating a slave uprising. U.S. soldiers came in and put down this revolt and Brown was hanged having died a martyr for the anti-slavery cause. Still, no one thought in terms of a war and both sides of the issue were still looking for a compromise.

**The Secession Crisis:**
Going into 1860, the presidential election was seen as the most important election to date. The Democrat Party couldn't come up with a candidate in Charleston, SC. In Chicago, the Republicans went with Abraham Lincoln with Hannibal Hamlin as a running-mate. The party's platform was well known...end slavery. Another third party emerged, the Constitutional Union Party, nominated John bell with Edward Everett as his running-mate. This party wanted to maintain the union and would challenge in the border states. Senator Stephen Douglas wanted to one day be president, but going into 1860 he couldn't accept the Alabama Platform wince he would lose northern votes. After not getting a candidate in Charleston, the Democrat Party reconvened in Baltimore in June of 1860. Douglas got the Democrat Party nomination with H.V. Johnson as his running-mate (who was a supporter of the Alabama Platform). Douglas's position was to uphold popular sovereignty. However, there would be a Southern walkout of the convention. Southern Democrats met in Richmond and nominated John C. Breckenridge with Joseph Lane as his running-mate. They would run on a States' Rights platform.

Abraham Lincoln won the election by winning only the free states. The Southern states held meetings to determine how to react to an anti-slave Republican having been elected president. South Carolina held a convention December 20, 1860 and voted to secede from the Union. They cancelled their ratification of the Constitution and withdrew from the United States. Between January and February of 1861, six more states seceded: Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. Lincoln wasn't even in office yet...Buchanan was still president (Lincoln takes office in March of 1861). Dealing with secession, the Senate put together the Committee of 13 and later 20 House members came and formed the Committee of 33. Some suggestions included holding new elections and trying to convince Electors (who officially vote for president in the Electoral College) to not vote for Lincoln. John Crittenden made a final effort suggesting to extend the Missouri Compromise line to the Pacific.

**Confederate States of America:**
In a Confederal system, there is a very weak central government with independent states that forms a "league of friendship." Slavery was protected by the Confederate constitution and was mandatory for a new state to be admitted to the Confederacy. A provisional government was set up. The President was Jefferson Davis and Vice President was Alexander Stephens.

Buchanan was still in office when the first seven states seceded. In his opinion, he said no state could lawfully leave the Union, but also territories cannot be forced into statehood. He felt that if it was possible to coerce a territory to become a state, then it was up to Congress (which has the war making powers). Buchanan felt he had no constitutional authority to stop secession. In Lincoln's opinion, he said there was no such thing as secession and therefore no states seceded. He said that those who took over federal facilities in the South were criminals, or rebels, who needed to be punished. Lincoln believed that the president was Chief Executive and therefore was responsible for enforcing the law. Lincoln traveled to D.C. under the protection of the army. Advisors told Lincoln that Union supporters in the South would bring the South back and many thought it would all blow over.

The South was confident that their "King Cotton" diplomacy would help them. This was the Southern belief that the world needed Southern cotton and therefore the South could use cotton to get foreign recognition and foreign aid. If foreign nations regard the Confederacy as an accomplished nation, they could receive trade rights and aid. Britain was the most important foreign power. Charles Francis Adams was the U.S. Foreign Minister to Britain who negotiated with Lord Russell and Prime Minister Palmerston. Victoria was the Queen of England during the Civil War. Adams told the British of Lincoln's thoughts that no such thing as secession took place therefore the Confederacy didn't exist.

The Civil War would break out in April of 1861. Federal troops were held up in Fort Sumter in South Carolina. Lincoln (in office for a month) wanted to resupply the fort. Southern troops fired on Fort Sumter when Northern resupply ships came on April 12, 1861. As a result four more states seceded from the Union: Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The North and South was now engaged in a civil war.

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