Changes

We will have a midterm exam in this course in '''two weeks''', covering all the material through this Lecture (through Reconstruction, which means through 1876).  The distribution of questions will be similar to the distribution on the CLEP exam, so do not spend too much time on an area that will not have many questions.

We will have a midterm exam in this course in '''two weeks''', covering all the material through this Lecture (through Reconstruction, which means through 1876).  The distribution of questions will be similar to the distribution on the CLEP exam, so do not spend too much time on an area that will not have many questions.

== Review ==

== Review ==

In the 1850s, the [[Whig Party]] collapsed with the antislavery wing forming the Republican Party in the North, and the wealthy southern Whigs joining the Democratic Party in the South.  There have always been geographic strengths and weaknesses in political parties:  in areas of the country where one party is strong, the opposing party is weak.  Recall that the Federalist Party in 1800 was strong in Massachusetts, while the Democratic-Republican Party was strong in Virginia.  Jackson's Democratic Party was strong in the West (Tennessee) and South, while the Whig Part was strong in the northeast.

In the 1850s, the [[Whig Party]] collapsed.  Its antislavery wing became the Republican Party in the North, and the wealthy southern Whigs joined the Democratic Party in the South.  There have always been geographic strengths and weaknesses in political parties:  in areas of the country where one party is strong, the opposing party is weak.  Recall that the Federalist Party in 1800 was strong in Massachusetts, while the Democratic-Republican Party was strong in Virginia.  Jackson's Democratic Party was strong in the West (Tennessee) and South, while the Whig Party was strong in the northeast.

In the late 1850s, the Republicans were strong in the North, and Democrats were strong in the South (the opposite is true today).  But the Republican Party was young and had not fully developed, and there were still many northern Democrats, which gave the Democrats the upper hand in elections in the 1850s.  The Democratic Party presidential candidates won both in 1852 (Franklin Pierce) and in 1856 (James Buchanan).  Both Pierce and Buchanan were Democrats and pro-slavery.

In the late 1850s, the Republicans were strong in the North, and Democrats were strong in the South (the opposite is true today).  At that time the Republican Party was young and had not fully developed, and there were still many northern Democrats, which gave the Democrats the upper hand in elections.  The Democratic Party presidential candidates won both in 1852 (Franklin Pierce) and in 1856 (James Buchanan).  Both Pierce and Buchanan were Democrats and pro-slavery.

For the presidential election of 1860, the Republican Party platform supported the Wilmot Proviso and rejected slavery in the territories, and thus rejected Stephen Douglas's approach of "popular sovereignty." However, the Republican Party platform attempted to broaden its appeal by backing state rights, which was also supported by southern states that were predominantly Democratic. Abraham Lincoln, the Republican nominee for president, had switched from the Whig Party to the Republican Party in 1856, and in 1860 campaigned for president by advocating saving the Union (keeping the North and South together in one country).

For the presidential election of 1860, the Republican Party platform supported the Wilmot Proviso and rejected slavery in the territories, and thereby rejected Stephen Douglas's approach of "popular sovereignty."  Abraham Lincoln, the Republican nominee for president, had switched from the Whig Party to the Republican Party in 1856, and in 1860 campaigned for president by advocating saving the Union (keeping the North and South together in one country).

== Secession ==

== Secession ==

In 1860, the South threatened to secede (break away) from the United States if the Republican Abraham Lincoln were elected president.  Lincoln and many of his supporters considered that to be election rhetoric or bluffing by the South to try to influence the election.  After all, the South had threatened to secede before (as South Carolina did during the Jackson Administration), and never did actually leave.  Lincoln did not expect the South to secede now.

In 1860, the South threatened to secede (break away) from the United States if the Republican Abraham Lincoln were elected president.  Lincoln and many of his supporters considered that to be election rhetoric or bluffing by the South to try to influence the election.  After all, the South had threatened to secede before (as South Carolina did during the Jackson Administration), and never did actually leave.  Lincoln did not expect the South to secede after he won.

The Republican Party was antislavery with respect to the (western) territories and many in the Republican Party also wanted slavery abolished even in existing states (though that was not the official position of the Party).  Several southern states, particularly South Carolina, considered opposition to slavery to be opposition to South Carolina itself, which depended heavily on slavery.  Many in the South felt so strongly about slavery that they wanted to break away if and when a Republican became president.  Note that the South also had fundamental differences with the North on other issues, such as the tariff and the significance of state's rights.

The Republican Party was antislavery with respect to the (western) territories and many in the Republican Party also wanted slavery abolished even in existing states (though that was not the official position of the Party).  Several southern states, particularly South Carolina, considered opposition to slavery to be opposition to South Carolina itself, which depended heavily on slavery.  Many in the South felt so strongly about slavery that they wanted to break away if and when a Republican became president.  Note that the South also had fundamental differences with the North on other issues, such as the tariff and the significance of state's rights.

South Carolina moved quickly.  The first convention met in Charleston, South Carolina on December 20, and ''unanimously'' passed the first ordinance of secession:

South Carolina moved quickly.  The first convention met in Charleston, South Carolina on December 20, and ''unanimously'' passed the first ordinance of secession:

:We, the people of the State of South Carolina in convention assembled, do declare and ordain ... that the Union now subsisting between South Carolina and other States, under the name of 'the United States of America,' is hereby dissolved."

{{cquote|We, the people of the State of South Carolina in convention assembled, do declare and ordain ... that the Union now subsisting between South Carolina and other States, under the name of 'the United States of America,' is hereby dissolved.}}

With that, South Carolina declared herself a new and independent country, and her residents celebrated with parties, fireworks, and revelry in the streets.

With that, South Carolina declared herself a new and independent country, and her residents celebrated with parties, fireworks, and revelry in the streets.

By the end of January 1861 six other southern states imitated South Carolina and declared their independence from the United States, all prior to the inauguration of Lincoln as the new President.  They were Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.  A diarist in the South, Mary Boykin Chesnut, summed up the feeling of many southerners: "We are divorced, North and South, because we have hated each other so."<ref>http://civilwar.bluegrass.net/secessioncrisis/601220.html</ref>  

By the end of January 1861, six other southern states imitated South Carolina and declared their independence from the United States, all prior to the inauguration of Lincoln as the new President.  They were Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.  A diarist in the South, Mary Boykin Chesnut, summed up the feeling of many southerners: "We are divorced, North and South, because we have hated each other so."<ref>http://civilwar.bluegrass.net/secessioncrisis/601220.html</ref>  

After that, there was some calm as the nation awaited Lincoln's Inaugural Address, which is the speech a president gives to the nation on the day he is sworn it.  Fearful for his own life, Lincoln rode the train from Illinois to D.C. wearing a disguise.  In his Inaugural Address, Lincoln tried to preserve the Union by appeasing the southern states:  "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so."<ref name="Inaugural Address">http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres31.html</ref>  Lincoln was not yet a prayerful man (he would soon become one), and his speech contained only a passing reference to God.  He concluded by both begging and warning the South: "The Government will not assail you. You can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the Government, while I shall have the most solemn one to 'preserve, protect, and defend it.'  I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. ..."<ref name="Inaugural Address"/>

After that, there was some calm as the nation awaited Lincoln's Inaugural Address, which is the speech a president gives to the nation on the day he is sworn it.  Fearful for his own life, Lincoln rode the train from Illinois to D.C. wearing a disguise.  In his Inaugural Address, Lincoln tried to preserve the Union by appeasing the southern states:  "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so."<ref name="Inaugural Address">http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres31.html</ref>  Lincoln was not yet a prayerful man (he would soon become one), and his speech contained only a passing reference to God.  He concluded by both begging and warning the South: "The Government will not assail you. You can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the Government, while I shall have the most solemn one to 'preserve, protect, and defend it.'  I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. ..."<ref name="Inaugural Address"/>