Changes

The Republican Party was founded in 1854 in a reaction and opposition to the concept of “popular sovereignty” pushed into law by Douglas in the Kansas-Nebraska Act.  “Popular sovereignty” meant that each new territory should make its own decision, by popular vote, whether to allow slavery.  The new Republican Party took its name from Jefferson’s Republican Party, because like Jefferson the new Republican Party opposed slavery in the new territories.  The Party brought in Whigs and members of the small “Free Soil Party,” which had been based on the Wilmot Proviso (which passed the House but not the Senate).  The Wilmot Proviso stated that none of the territory acquired from Mexico should be opened to slavery.

The Republican Party was founded in 1854 in a reaction and opposition to the concept of “popular sovereignty” pushed into law by Douglas in the Kansas-Nebraska Act.  “Popular sovereignty” meant that each new territory should make its own decision, by popular vote, whether to allow slavery.  The new Republican Party took its name from Jefferson’s Republican Party, because like Jefferson the new Republican Party opposed slavery in the new territories.  The Party brought in Whigs and members of the small “Free Soil Party,” which had been based on the Wilmot Proviso (which passed the House but not the Senate).  The Wilmot Proviso stated that none of the territory acquired from Mexico should be opened to slavery.

Almost immediately after enactment of popular sovereignty in the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854), it is put to the test in 1855 in Kansas.  Civil war in Kansas broke out between free and slave forces.  In early 1856, pro-slavery forces burned down the “Free State Hotel” and destroyed the offices and presses of antislavery newspapers.  One man was killed.  In retaliation, the fanatical white John Brown took four of his sons and two others and went to Pottawatomie in Kansas and executed 5 proslavery colonists.

Almost immediately after enactment of popular sovereignty in the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854), it was put to the test in 1855 in Kansas.  Civil war in Kansas broke out between free and slave forces.  In early 1856, pro-slavery forces burned down the “Free State Hotel” and destroyed the offices and presses of antislavery newspapers.  A man was killed.  In retaliation, the fanatical white John Brown took four of his sons and two others and went to Pottawatomie in Kansas and executed 5 pro-slavery colonists.

In the “Crime against Kansas” speech, abolitionists senator from Massachusetts Charles Sumner described the slave oligarchy and insulted and humiliated the absent and elderly Senator Andrew Butler of South Carolina.  In retaliation, Butler’s nephew, Preston Butler, who was a congressman, went into Sumner’s chambers and beat him senseless with a cane.  It took Sumner many years to recover.  Preston Butler immediately resigned but was such a hero to the South that he was unanimously reelected by his district.

In the “Crime against Kansas” speech, abolitionists senator from Massachusetts Charles Sumner described the slave oligarchy and insulted and humiliated the absent and elderly Senator Andrew Butler of South Carolina.  In retaliation, Butler’s nephew, Preston Butler, who was a congressman, went into Sumner’s chambers and beat him senseless with a cane.  It took Sumner many years to recover.  Preston Butler immediately resigned but was such a hero to the South that he was unanimously reelected by his district.

In 1857, the new Democratic President Buchanan deferred to popular sovereignty, and tried to get Kansas admitted as a slave state.  The “Dred Scott” decision was the Supreme Court’s attempt to resolve it:  the Court held that African-Americans have no rights in the United States.  This was an outrageous, shocking decision.  Northerners accused Buchanan of agreeing secretly with Supreme Court Justices to render a decision in favor of the South.

In 1857, the new Democratic President Buchanan deferred to popular sovereignty, and tried to get Kansas admitted as a slave state.  The “Dred Scott” decision was the Supreme Court’s attempt to resolve it:  the Court held that African-Americans have no rights in the United States.  This was an outrageous, shocking decision.  Northerners accused Buchanan of agreeing secretly with Supreme Court Justices to render a decision in favor of the South.

In 1858, Lincoln said in a speech before the Republican state convention:  “a house divided against itself cannot stand,” quoting the Bible.  He copied the application of this concept to slavery from many others who had used it previously.

In 1858, Lincoln said in a speech before the Republican state convention:  “a house divided against itself cannot stand,” quoting the Bible.  He copied the application of this concept to slavery from many others who had used it previously.

Lincoln became the “Rail Candidate” for president in 1860 because he opposed slavery in the territories but accepted it (as the Constitution did) in the South.  He “rode the rail” of that principle right to the White House.  As a former attorney for the railroads, the image stuck to him.

Lincoln became the “Rail Candidate” for president in 1860 because he opposed slavery in the territories but accepted it (as the Constitution did) in the South.  He “rode the rail” of that principle right to the White House.  As a former attorney for the railroads, the image stuck to him.

Why did the South think it could win the Civil War?

Why did the South think it could win the Civil War?

South had a feeling of invincibility from its tremendous economy, which was based on high prices for “King Cotton” and other crops, such as tobacco and sugar cane.  The South also felt that the North lacked a will to fight and, if it did, Britain and France would recognize and help the South due to their dependence on its exports like cotton, tobacco, rice and sugar cane.  The South also had strategic advantages:  controlled the mouth of the Mississippi and need only defend rather than conquer.  The South considered its men in much better condition to fighting.  The South had better generals, and would have done far better had its generals like Stonewall Jackson not died in battle.

 

The South had a feeling of invincibility from its tremendous economy, which was based on high prices for “King Cotton” and other crops, such as tobacco and sugar cane.  The South also felt that the North lacked a will to fight and, if it did, Britain and France would recognize and help the South due to their dependence on its exports like cotton, tobacco, rice and sugar cane.  The South also had strategic advantages:  controlled the mouth of the Mississippi and need only defend rather than conquer.  The South considered its men in much better condition to fighting.  The South had better generals, and would have done far better had its generals like Stonewall Jackson not died in battle.

But the North benefited from railroad system, heavy immigration and a much more balanced economy.  Opposition to immigration in the 1850s had arisen in the North through the American (Know-Nothing) Party, but the greater numbers from the immigration ended up helping the North in the War.  The North also had control of the United States Navy, which proved to be useful.

But the North benefited from railroad system, heavy immigration and a much more balanced economy.  Opposition to immigration in the 1850s had arisen in the North through the American (Know-Nothing) Party, but the greater numbers from the immigration ended up helping the North in the War.  The North also had control of the United States Navy, which proved to be useful.