ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT ■ 1820s: Abolitionist movement to free African Americans from slavery arose ■ Leader was a white radical named William Lloyd Garrison ■ Abolitionist called for immediate emancipation of all slaves FREDERICK DOUGLASS: AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADER ■ Freed slave, Frederick Douglass escaped from bondage and became an eloquent abolitionist (critic of slavery) leader ■ He began an anti-slavery newspaper called, Northstar – named after the star that guided runaway slaves to freedom THE SOUTH BEFORE THE WAR ■ Rural plantation economy ■ Relied on slave labor ■ Southerners feared the loss of slavery would mean loss of culture ■ The main crops—cotton, tobacco, sugar, and rice—required the work of Family working the cotton many people to be field on a Plantation harvested, especially on large plantations. THE NORTH BEFORE THE WAR ■ The North had a more diverse economy ■ Industry flourished ■ The North openly opposed slavery in the South and the new territories ■ The North was more urbanized than the South BOSTON HARBOR THE FREE-SOILERS ■ Another party that emerged in the mid-19th century was the Free-Soilers ■ They were northerners who opposed slavery in the territories ■ Free-Soilers objections to slavery were based on economics not moral objection to slavery ■ They believed slavery drove down wages for white workers “Soil” UNDERGROUND RAILROAD ■ Escape from slavery was dangerous and meant traveling on foot at night ■ As time went on, African Americans and white abolitionists developed a secret network of people who would hide fugitive slaves ■ ”Conductors” would hide runaways in tunnels and even kitchen cupboards HARRIET TUBMAN ■ One of the most famous conductors was Harriet Tubman ■ Tubman escaped slavery and vowed to help others do the same ■ She made 19 trips back to South and freed over 300 slaves (Including her own HARRIET TUBMAN 1820-1913 parents) COMPROMISE OF 1850 ■ Southerners threatened secession over issue ■ Henry Clay again worked a Compromise ■ For the North: California would be admitted as free state ■ For the South: A more effective fugitive slave law ■ Residents of New Mexico & Utah would vote themselves-”popular sovereignty”
CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW ■ Under the law, runaway slaves were not entitled to a trial by jury ■ Anyone helping a slave escape was jailed for 6 months and fined $1,000 ■ Northerners were upset by the harshness of the new law and often helped hide fugitive slaves
A HARSH FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW
FURTHER INCREASED TENSIONS UNCLE TOM’S CABIN ■ In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe Instant best published her seller sold 500,000 by influential novel, 1857 Uncle Tom’s Cabin ■ The book stressed the moral evil of slavery ■ Abolitionist protests increased Author Harriet Beecher Stowe TENSION BUILDS IN KANSAS ■ After Stephen Douglas worked to pass the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, Kansas would vote to decide on vs. whether slavery would be legal or outlawed ■ This contradicted the 36’ 30’ of the Missouri Compromise BLEEDING KANSAS ■ The race for Kansas was on. Both supporters and opponents attempted to populate Kansas to win the vote over slavery ■ As the election neared, a group of pro-slavery “border ruffians” from Missouri attempted to cross into Kansas ■ Violence erupted – Bleeding Kansas is the legacy Finally, after years of fighting, Kansas is admitted as a free state in 1861 REPUBLICANS EMERGE AS LEADING PARTY ■ In 1854, opponents of slavery in the territories formed a new political party, the Republican Party ■ As the party grew it took on Free-Soilers, some anti-slavery Democrats and Whigs, and Know-Nothings Republicans won all but 3 presidential elections from 1861-1933 THE DRED SCOTT DECISION ■ A major Supreme Court decision occurred when slave Dred Scott was taken by his owner to free states Illinois & Wisconsin ■ Scott argued that that made him a free man ■ Finally in 1857, the Court ruled against Dred Scott citing the Constitution’s protection of property ■ The decision increased tensions over slavery DRED SCOTT LOST HIS CHANCE AT FREEDOM LINCOLN – DOUGLAS DEBATES ■ The 1858 race for U.S. Senate in Illinois was hotly contested between Republican Lincoln and Democratic Douglas ■ One of the most celebrated debates in history ensued as the topic was slavery in the territories ■ Douglas favored popular sovereignty while Lincoln wanted a Constitutional Amendment “THE LITTLE GIANT” VS. “HONEST ABE” HARPER’S FERRY ■ While politicians debated the slavery issue, John Brown plotted a major slave revolt ■ On October 16, 1859, he led a band of 21 men, black and ARSENAL white, into Harpers Ferry, Virginia ■ He hoped to seize a large federal arsenal, but troops put down the rebellion ■ Brown was tried and executed BROWN 1860 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ■ Republicans nominated Abe Lincoln while the Democrats split ■ Lincoln won the 1860 election with less than half the popular vote and no Southern electoral votes ■ The Southern states were not happy LINCOLN MEMORIAL 1860 ELECTION RESULTS
