Sparks That Lead to War

Trouble in Kansas

• Stephen Douglas (sen. Illinois) wants to build railroad from Chicago to Pacific ocean

• He proposes 2 new states above 30’ line

• Wants Kansas and Nebraska to be decided slavery by popular sovereignty so south will vote for RR

• Kansas-Nebraska Act undoes the Missouri Comp.

• Area decided by voters=pro and anti slavery people rush to Kansas

• Two govs form in Kansas• Border Ruffians from

Missouri vote illegally• Gangs attack each other

all over state• Proslavery people burn

Antislavery capital of Lawrence, KS

• John Brown, thinks God sent him to end slavery, and his followers attack Proslavery people at Pottawatomie Creek

• Charles Sumner attacks slavery and proslavery senators in a speech in Congress

• Preston Brooks beats Sumner with a cane on the Senate floor

Dred Scott• Slave bought in

Mississippi, moved with his master to Illinois then Wisconsin

• He says he should be free –lived on free land, sues for his freedom and case goes to Supreme Court

• Court decides that slaves are property and cannot sue, said slavery cannot be outlawed anywhere

• Southerners thrilled, Northerners outraged

Lincoln and Douglas• Important election for Senate

in Illinois• Stephen Douglas–

experienced, short, stocky, decide slavery by pop. sov.

• Abraham Lincoln– less experience, tall and thin, great speaker, slavery shouldn’t be allowed to spread

• Series of debates, Douglas wins but Lincoln gets national attention

Harpers Ferry

• John Brown leads free men and slaves in an attack on arsenal at Harpers Ferry, VA

• Brown wanted to start a slave revolt, doesn’t work• Brown and others captured and hung by Robert E.

Lee• Brown is a martyr to northerners, seen a dangerous

psycho to southerners

1860 Election• Democrats split

N. Demos: Douglas S. Demos: John Breckenridge

• Republican: Abe Lincoln

• Constitutional Union Party: John Bell

• Lincoln wins electoral vote, but gets less than 40% of popular vote

• Lincoln wasn’t even on ballot in most southern states

• North out votes South, South feels they have no voice in gov.

The South Secedes

• Lincoln and Repubs don’t want to end slavery in south

• South Carolina secedes, or breaks away from the US anyway

• John Crittenden proposes a last compromise: slavery not touched south of 36 degrees

• Repubs don’t go for it, Texas, Louisiana, Miss., Alabama, Georgia, and Florida also secede

• Confederate States of America is formed with Jefferson Davis as president

• Lincoln not pres yet, Buchannan says states can’t leave but does nothing to stop them