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Sectionalism
Sectionalism emerges in the United States, replacing the idea of nationalism
Regions develop differing opinions
Each region believed that their own section, or region, of the country is more important than the whole nation -
Louisiana Purchase
President Jefferson was alarmed at the French presence in the Louisiana Territory - felt it would force the US into an alliance with Britain
-Sent James Monroe to negotiate with Napoleon Bonaparte (French general) to purchase New Orleans
Napoleon agreed to sell the entire Louisiana Territory to the United States for $15 million dollars
Effects:
Doubled the size of the United States
Economic turning point for the US -
Missouri Compromise
The extension of slavery into new territories divides the North and South - conflict over state’s rights
Northern economy based on manufacturing
Southern economy based on slavery - “cotton kingdom”
Needed a balance of slave and free states to maintain the sectional balance
Maine admitted as a free state
Missouri admitted as a slave state
Remaining Louisiana Territory split into - one part for slaveholders, one part for free settlers - 36°30’ line -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Virginia
-Led by a slave - Nat Turner - rebellion was a failure
- 1831 - Caused the south to strengthen slave codes (laws restricting activities and conduct of slaves) -
Period: to
Wilmot Proviso
Pennsylvania Congressman David Wilmot came up with a proviso, or condition
1846 - Proposed banning slavery from any land purchased from Mexico
Upset the Southern states
Not approved -
Mexican Cession
Result of Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, ended Mexican War
1848 - Mexico gave up New Mexico and California territories to the United States in exchange for payment -
Compromise of 1850
With the acquisition of the Mexican territory, the extension of slavery once again becomes an issue
Henry Clay offers a compromise to maintain balance between the free and slave states
California admitted as a free state
Unorganized territories declared free
Utah and New Mexico territories were to decide the issue of slavery through popular sovereignty
People in these areas could decide on the issue of slavery for themselves -
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Harriett Beecher Stowe
Fictional book that showed the horrors and evil side of slavery to the public
Motivated abolitionists -
Underground Railroad
Network of people who helped slaves escape to the northern US and Canada
Led by escaped slave Harriett Tubman
Hero of the abolitionist movement
Secretly returned to the south 19 times in order to lead other slaves to freedom -
Period: to
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Allowed free and previously unorganized territories of Kansas and Nebraska to vote on the issue of slavery - popular sovereignty
-Repealed the Missouri Compromise
-Settlers began to move into the area at a rapid pace
-Became known as “Bleeding Kansas”
*Conflict between pro slavery settlers and abolitionist settlers
*A lot of blood shed -
Dread Scott Case
Dred Scott taken into free territory for 4 years
-His owner died and Scott sued for his freedom
-Supreme Court ruled he could not sue because he was a slave and not a citizen
-Struck down the Missouri Compromise
-Can not declare slaves free from their owners without due process of law
Violation of 5th Amendment -
Lincoln Douglas Debates
Abraham Lincoln (R) v. Stephen Douglas (D) for US Senate in Illinois
Public debates
Lincoln opposed slavery
Douglas believed slavery could not be implemented without laws to govern it -
Freeport Doctrine
Stephen Douglas
-During the debates with Lincoln, Lincoln asked Douglas to choose between the Kansas-Nebraska Act (popular sovereignty) OR the Dred Scott case
Douglas issued the Freeport Doctrine:
If a territory does not pass slave laws, no slavery can exist -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown was an abolitionist – hated slavery
-Attacked federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry
-Attempted to seize weapons to arm slaves for an uprising
-Attempt failed
-Brown was hanged
Southern resentment of the abolitionist movement intensified -
Election of 1860
Lincoln
-Lincoln wins election with no southern electoral votes
Pledges to stop the spread of slavery but to not interfere in the south