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At the same time, Abraham Lincoln was rising as a Whig in Illinois.  While Douglas won virtually every election he was in, Lincoln ''lost'' virtually every election he entered.  But he kept trying, again and again.  Unlike Douglas, Lincoln opposed the Mexican War because the Whigs saw it as a way for the South to gain more slave territory.  Lincoln disputed the claim that Mexicans had shed American blood on American soil, and introduced the "Spot Resolutions" in Congress disputing where the bloodshed occurred.

At the same time, Abraham Lincoln was rising as a Whig in Illinois.  While Douglas won virtually every election he was in, Lincoln ''lost'' virtually every election he entered.  But he kept trying, again and again.  Unlike Douglas, Lincoln opposed the Mexican War because the Whigs saw it as a way for the South to gain more slave territory.  Lincoln disputed the claim that Mexicans had shed American blood on American soil, and introduced the "Spot Resolutions" in Congress disputing where the bloodshed occurred.

On economic issues, Lincoln sought national unity (remember, he represented railroads).  Douglas did not care much for economic issues, but also wanted to keep the nation together.

On economic issues, Lincoln sought national unity (remember, he represented railroads, which make more money from a united nation than a divided one).  Douglas did not care much for economic issues, but also wanted to keep the nation together.

Consider for yourself which person, Lincoln or Douglas, was likely to be more sympathetic to slavery?  Is either going to be entirely pro-slave or abolitionist?  No, both were in the middle on the slavery issue, neither entirely for nor against slavery.

Consider for yourself which person, Lincoln or Douglas, was likely to be more sympathetic to slavery?  Is either going to be entirely pro-slave or abolitionist?  No, both were in the middle on the slavery issue, neither entirely for nor against slavery.

==The Debate over Slavery==

==The Debate over Slavery==

The debate over slavery was a prolonged battle with many people involved.

The debate over slavery was a prolonged battle involving writers and judges as well as politicians.

In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'', a novel that criticizes slavery by painting a very unfavorable picture of life as a slave.  The book had an enormous impact on public sentiment and the Civil War.  Harriet Beecher Stowe was the white daughter of a prominent New England congregational minister.  When Abraham Lincoln later met her in 1862, he described her as "the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war!"<ref name="Uncle Tom">http://www.africanaonline.com/slavery_toms_cabin.htm</ref>  Then southerners criticized (and banned) the book by claiming it was horribly exaggerated; today the book is criticized for its racist stereotypes about African Americans.<ref name="Uncle Tom"/>  But no one doubts its huge impact on America, and Europe.  It may have been the best-selling book of the entire 19th century, other than the Bible.<ref name="Uncle Tom"/>

In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'', a novel that criticizes slavery by painting a very unfavorable picture of life as a slave.  The book had an enormous impact on public sentiment and the Civil War.  Harriet Beecher Stowe was the white daughter of a prominent New England congregational minister.  When Abraham Lincoln later met her in 1862, he described her as "the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war!"<ref name="Uncle Tom">http://www.africanaonline.com/slavery_toms_cabin.htm</ref>  Then southerners criticized (and banned) the book by claiming it was horribly exaggerated; today the book is criticized for its racist stereotypes about African Americans.<ref name="Uncle Tom"/>  But no one doubts its huge impact on America, and Europe.  It may have been the best-selling book of the entire 19th century, other than the Bible.<ref name="Uncle Tom"/>

''Dred Scott v. Sanford'' was a Supreme Court decision in 1857, and (along with ''Roe v. Wade'' a century later) the most notorious Supreme Court case in history.  The ''Dred Scott'' decision ruled that blacks have no rights and cannot sue, and are not even real citizens.  It also established that Congress cannot grant freedom to slaves, because slaves are the "property" of slave owners.  With this decision, the Court sought to put an end to the questions about slavery, but the exact opposite occurred.  The ''Dred Scott'' ruling greatly heightened conflict and outrage about slavery.  Historians speculate that President James Buchanan secretly played a role in the pro-slavery outcome by communicating with Justices on the Supreme Court.

''Dred Scott v. Sanford'' was a Supreme Court decision in 1857, and (along with ''Roe v. Wade'' a century later) the most notorious Supreme Court case in history.  The ''Dred Scott'' decision ruled that blacks have no rights and cannot sue, and are not even real citizens.  It also established that Congress cannot grant freedom to slaves, because slaves are the "property" of slave owners.  With this decision, the Court sought to put an end to the questions about slavery, but the exact opposite occurred.  The ''Dred Scott'' ruling greatly heightened conflict and outrage about slavery.  Historians speculate that President James Buchanan secretly played a role in the pro-slavery outcome by communicating with Justices on the Supreme Court.

The ''Dred Scott'' decision played a part in the Lincoln-Douglas debates.  At the debate in Freeport, Illinois, Lincoln asked Douglas if a territory could exclude slavery under the decision.  Douglas said that a territory could exclude slavery if it created laws that made it impossible to enforce slavery.  This was consistent with his idea of "popular sovereignty", but this "Freeport Doctrine" caused the South to turn against Douglas because it meant that slaves could be freed from slave owners if a majority voted that way.

The ''Dred Scott'' decision played a part in the Lincoln-Douglas debates.  At the debate in Freeport, Illinois, Lincoln asked Douglas if a territory could exclude slavery under the decision.  Douglas said that a territory could exclude slavery if it created laws that made it impossible to enforce slavery.  This was consistent with his idea of "popular sovereignty," but '''''Douglas' "Freeport Doctrine" caused the South to turn against Douglas because it meant that slaves could be freed from slave owners if a majority voted that way'''''.

Others resorted to violent means to end the disagreement over slavery.  In 1859, John Brown<ref>John Brown had previously killed 5 men in Kansas, as explained in our section on "Bleeding Kansas."</ref> led a raid on Harper's Ferry.  Brown hoped that his actions would spark a slave rebellion in Virginia.  But Brown was caught and tried and hanged.  At all times he remained defiant, refusing attempts to characterize him as insane.

Others resorted to violent means to end the disagreement over slavery.  In 1859, John Brown<ref>John Brown had previously killed 5 men in Kansas, as explained in our section on "Bleeding Kansas."</ref> led a raid on Harper's Ferry.  Brown hoped that his actions would spark a slave rebellion in Virginia.  But Brown was caught and tried and hanged.  At all times he remained defiant, refusing attempts to characterize him as insane.

In 1857, the new Democratic President Buchanan deferred to popular sovereignty, and tried to get Kansas admitted as a slave state.  He hoped the ''Dred Scott'' decision would help, because it held that African-Americans have no rights in the United States anyway.  Northerners accused him of agreeing secretly with Supreme Court Justices to render a decision in favor of the South.  Buchanan was not up to solving the difficult challenge that faced him, and his approach was all wrong.

In 1857, the new Democratic President Buchanan deferred to popular sovereignty, and tried to get Kansas admitted as a slave state.  He hoped the ''Dred Scott'' decision would help, because it held that African-Americans have no rights in the United States anyway.  Northerners accused him of agreeing secretly with Supreme Court Justices to render a decision in favor of the South.  Buchanan was not up to solving the difficult challenge that faced him, and his approach was all wrong.

The Panic of 1857 caused financial panic throughout the United States when the New York City branch of Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Co. failed. It caused a sudden recession in the economy, but recovery came quickly afterward.   

The Panic of 1857 caused financial panic throughout the United States when the New York City branch of Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Co. failed. That caused a sudden recession in the economy, but recovery came quickly afterward.   

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's words were prophetic.  But Douglas, perhaps an even smoother debater, elicited a chuckle from another crowd when he said he would speak without claiming to have special authority from God.

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's words were prophetic.  But Douglas, a wittier speaker, elicited a chuckle from another crowd when he said he would speak without claiming to have special authority from God.

Meanwhile, two new states were added to the Union while Buchanan served as president: Minnesota was admitted in 1858, and Oregon was admitted in 1859.

Meanwhile, two new states were added to the Union while Buchanan served as president: Minnesota was admitted in 1858, and Oregon was admitted in 1859.

The first transatlantic cable/telegraph joining the United States to Britain was laid across the ocean floor in 1858, but high voltage damaged it.  In 1866, a better cable was completed and lasted for some time.

The first transatlantic cable/telegraph joining the United States to Britain was laid across the ocean floor in 1858, but high voltage damaged it.  In 1866, a better cable was completed and it transmitted many messages between the nations.

==The Election of 1860==

==The Election of 1860==

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 wealthy railroads (which depended on keeping the Union together), 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 wealthy railroads (which depended on keeping the Union together), the image stuck to him.  Recall that in 1856 Lincoln had switched from the Whig Party to the Republican Party.

In 1856, Lincoln had switched from Whig to Republican, and this may have helped him when he won the election of 1860.

Douglas lost the support of both the North and South due to his "Freeport Doctrine," described above.  After the Supreme Court ruled in the ''Dred Scott'' decision that a slave is property who cannot be taken away from the slave owner, Lincoln asked Douglas, "Can the people of a United States Territory, in any lawful way, against the wish of any citizen of the United States, exclude slavery from its limits prior to the formation of a State Constitution?"  In his answer, Douglas adopted a position in the middle between Lincoln's view that slavery should not be allowed in territories and the Supreme Court's view that slavery must be protected everywhere as pure property.  Douglas said that the people in each territory can decide whether to allow slavery, and if they prohibited it then as a practical matter the slave owner could not keep a slave there.  This angered the South, which became afraid that a popular vote could deprive them of their slaves (each slave was worth $30,000 in today's money, and slave owners often had many slaves).  Douglas's position also cost him votes in the North.  By trying to take a middle position, Douglas lost support on both sides and could win only one "border" state, Missouri (which bordered the North and the South), in the presidential election of 1860.  Lincoln coasted to victory in the presidential election.

But within 5 years of the election of 1860, both Lincoln and Douglas had passed away.  The task of rebuilding the nation would fall on others.

 

Within 5 years of the election of 1860, both Lincoln and Douglas had passed away.  The task of rebuilding the nation would fall on others.

==The North and South: Strengths and Weaknesses==

==The North and South: Strengths and Weaknesses==

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:  it controlled the mouth of the Mississippi and needed only to defend rather than conquer.  The South considered its men, who spent more time outdoors, to be in much better condition to fight.  The South had better generals, and would have done far better had its generals like Stonewall Jackson not died during the Civil War.

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:  it controlled the mouth of the Mississippi and needed only to defend rather than conquer.  The South considered its men, who spent more time outdoors, to be in much better condition to fight.  The South had better generals, and would have done far better had its generals like Stonewall Jackson not died during the Civil War.

But the North benefited from the railroad system, heavy immigration and a much more balanced economy.  German and Irish immigrants came in large numbers before and during the 1850s, and in the 1850 census, 10% of the male population over 23 was foreign born, mostly from Germany and particularly Ireland.  The "Know-Nothing" or American Party arose as anti-immigration, anti-Catholic organization (most of the Irish were Catholics), given its name because its members would pretend not to "Know Nothing" when asked about their views.<ref>In 1855 the Know-Nothing Party successfully elected its candidate for mayor of Chicago, who then banned immigrants from city jobs.  The Know-Nothing Party was most successful statewide in Ohio, before disappearing everywhere before 1860.</ref>  The greater numbers from immigration ended up helping the North in the war, as large numbers of immigrants fought for the North against the South.  Overall, the population of the North was 22 million compared with only 9 million in the South, 3.5 million of whom were slaves whom the South were reluctant to arm.  The North also had control of the United States Navy, which proved to be useful in the war.   

But the North benefited from the railroad system, heavy immigration and a much more balanced economy.  German and Irish immigrants came in large numbers before and during the 1850s, and in the 1850 census, 10% of the male population over 23 was foreign born, mostly from Ireland and Germany.  In response, the "Know-Nothing" or American Party arose as anti-immigration, anti-Catholic organization (most of the Irish were Catholics), given its name because its members would pretend not to "Know Nothing" when asked about their views.<ref>In 1855 the Know-Nothing Party successfully elected its candidate for mayor of Chicago, who then banned immigrants from city jobs.  The Know-Nothing Party was most successful statewide in Ohio, before disappearing everywhere before 1860.</ref>  Most of the immigrants ended up helping the North in the war, as large numbers of immigrants fought for the North against the South.  Overall, the population of the North was 22 million compared with only 9 million in the South, 3.5 million of whom were slaves whom the South were reluctant to arm.  The North also had control of the United States Navy, which proved to be useful in the war.   

Finally, the North was successful in keeping border slave states -- Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri and the to-be-formed West Virginia -- from joining the Confederacy to fight against the North.  Abraham Lincoln said about Kentucky, "Kentucky gone, we can not hold Missouri, nor as I think, Maryland. These all against us, and the job on our hands is too large for us. We would as well consent to separation at once, including the surrender of this capitol."<ref>http://www.mrlincolnandfreedom.org/inside.asp?ID=31&subjectID=3</ref>  Had those border states sided with the South, as it expected, the outcome may have been different.

Finally, the North was politically successful in keeping border slave states -- Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri and the to-be-formed West Virginia -- from joining the Confederacy to fight against the North.  Abraham Lincoln said about Kentucky, "Kentucky gone, we can not hold Missouri, nor as I think, Maryland. These all against us, and the job on our hands is too large for us. We would as well consent to separation at once, including the surrender of this capitol."<ref>http://www.mrlincolnandfreedom.org/inside.asp?ID=31&subjectID=3</ref>  Had those border states sided with the South, as it expected, the outcome may have been different.

'''Debate: Do you think the South could have won the Civil War, or at least fought off the North enough to secede?'''

'''Debate: Do you think the South could have won the Civil War, or at least fought off the North enough to secede?'''

== Antebellum (pre-Civil War) State Admissions ==

== Antebellum (pre-Civil War) State Admissions ==

[[Image:US1860.jpg|right]]

[[Image:US1860.jpg]]

1-11.    Colonies ratifying the Constitution before George Washington became president

<br>1-11.    Colonies ratifying the Constitution before George Washington became president

<br>12. North Carolina: November 21, 1789

<br>12. North Carolina: November 21, 1789

<br>13. Rhode Island: May 29, 1790

<br>13. Rhode Island: May 29, 1790