Slavery, Sectionalism, and Civil War
Explain slavery expansion, abolitionism, compromises, secession, military conflict, emancipation, and wartime politics.
A lesson of AP United States History, in Periods 4-5: 1800-1877, about 10 minutes.
Slavery, Sectionalism, and the Coming of the Civil War
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to trace the chain of events that led to secession and Civil War, evaluate the roles of slavery, sectionalism, and political failure, and analyze how the war transformed American society.
The 1850s: A Decade of Crisis
The Compromise of 1850 bought only four years of relative peace. The decade that followed saw one crisis after another, each deepening the sectional divide.
Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)
Senator Stephen Douglas wanted a transcontinental railroad through Chicago — requiring organizing the Kansas-Nebraska territory. To win Southern support, he included a provision repealing the Missouri Compromise (which had prohibited slavery north of 36°30').
Popular sovereignty: Kansas and Nebraska residents would vote on slavery.
Consequences:
- Outraged Northern Whigs and Democrats who had expected the Missouri Compromise to be permanent
- Led to the formation of the Republican Party (1854) — antislavery coalition of former Whigs, Free Soilers, and anti-Nebraska Democrats
- "Bleeding Kansas:" pro-slavery and antislavery settlers flooded Kansas; armed conflict killed dozens
- Pottawatomie Massacre (1856): John Brown killed 5 pro-slavery settlers with swords
- Sack of Lawrence: pro-slavery forces burned free-soil town
- Kansas submitted multiple competing constitutions; admitted as free state (1861) — too late to matter
Dred Scott Decision (1857)
Scott v. Sanford: enslaved man Dred Scott sued for his freedom, arguing he had lived in free states/territories.
Chief Justice Taney's ruling:
- Black people (free or enslaved) were NOT citizens and had no standing to sue in federal court
- Congress had no power to prohibit slavery in the territories — the Missouri Compromise had always been unconstitutional
- Property (including enslaved people) could not be taken from masters without due process
Political impact:
- Destroyed popular sovereignty — if Congress can't regulate slavery in territories, neither can territorial legislatures
- Eliminated the moderate position; only abolitionism or full acceptance of slavery remained
- Lincoln and Republicans argued the decision showed a "Slave Power" conspiracy to spread slavery nationally
Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858)
Illinois Senate race: Abraham Lincoln (Republican) vs. Stephen Douglas (Democrat) — seven debates.