Changes

By the end of his administration, Pierce could claim "a peaceful condition of things in Kansas." But, the Democrats refused to renominate him, turning to the less controversial Buchanan. Pierce returned to New Hampshire, leaving his successor to face the rising fury of the sectional whirlwind. He died in 1869.

By the end of his administration, Pierce could claim "a peaceful condition of things in Kansas." But, the Democrats refused to renominate him, turning to the less controversial Buchanan. Pierce returned to New Hampshire, leaving his successor to face the rising fury of the sectional whirlwind. He died in 1869.

==Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln, and Irreconcilable Differences==

==Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln: Irreconcilably Different==

But real leaders were arising outside of the presidency:  Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln.  Douglas was the Jacksonian Democrat, while Lincoln was initially the anti-Jackson Whig.  Everything between President Jackson (1836) and the Civil War (1861) can be understood through the eyes of Douglas and Lincoln.  Both were from Illinois, a state that was ideologically in the middle between the North and the South.   

But real leaders were arising outside of the presidency:  Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln.  Douglas was the Jacksonian Democrat, while Lincoln was initially the anti-Jackson Whig.  Everything between President Jackson (1836) and the Civil War (1861) can be understood through the eyes of Douglas and Lincoln.  Both were from Illinois, a state that was ideologically in the middle between the North and the South.   

Illinois was a key state because it was just across the Mississippi river from Missouri, which was a slave state under the Missouri Compromise of 1820.   

Illinois was a key state because it was just across the Mississippi river from Missouri, which was a slave state under the Missouri Compromise of 1820.  There was a good deal of violence there leading up to the Civil War.

Elijah Lovejoy was a pastor in St. Louis, and in 1837, he started a newspaper called the ''St. Louis Observer'' which published articles against slavery.  The opposition to his paper was so great that he had to move to Alton, Illinois.  There, he kept publishing articles against slavery.

Elijah Lovejoy was a pastor in St. Louis, and in 1837, he started a newspaper called the ''St. Louis Observer'' which published articles against slavery.  The opposition to his paper was so great that he had to move to Alton, Illinois.  There, he kept publishing articles against slavery.

But the opposition didn't cease, and Lovejoy's printing press was thrown into the river three times! The Ohio Anti-Slavery Society gave him a new printing press, and local slave owners decided to destroy it.  A mob came over from St. Louis and Lovejoy was killed trying to protect his press.  This violence shocked the North.

But the opposition didn't cease, and Lovejoy's printing press was thrown into the river three times. The Ohio Anti-Slavery Society gave him a new printing press, and local slave owners decided to destroy it.  A mob came over from St. Louis and Lovejoy was killed trying to protect his press.  This violence shocked the North.

Lincoln and Douglas were opposites in every possible way.  Lincoln was very tall, while Douglas was very short.  Lincoln had lots of dark hair, Douglas had thinning gray hair.  Lincoln was initially a Whig, Douglas was a Democrat.  Lincoln was a wealthy attorney for the powerful Railroads.  Douglas was a government attorney for the State.  Both were extremely ambitious, constantly running for public office.  Both were smarter than most in politics, and both were good public speakers (unlike, for example, Jefferson, who avoided public speaking).  Truth be told, Douglas was really the better speaker:  more compelling in style, and funnier.

Lincoln and Douglas were opposites in every possible way.  Lincoln was very tall, while Douglas was very short.  Lincoln had lots of dark hair, Douglas had thinning gray hair.  Lincoln was initially a Whig, Douglas was a Democrat.  Lincoln was a wealthy attorney for the powerful Railroads.  Douglas was a government attorney for the State.  Both were extremely ambitious, constantly running for public office.  Both were smarter than most in politics, and both were good public speakers (unlike, for example, Jefferson, who avoided public speaking).  Truth be told, Douglas was really the better speaker:  more compelling in style, and funnier.

Both Lincoln and Douglas looked for ways to avoid the coming Civil War.  Many Americans, beginning with Jefferson, started to worry about how slavery was ripping the country apart.  Jefferson used to wake up in a cold sweat with a nightmare of where the United States was headed.

Both Lincoln and Douglas looked for ways to avoid the coming Civil War.  Many Americans, beginning with Jefferson, started to worry about how slavery was ripping the country apart.  Jefferson used to wake up in a cold sweat with a nightmare of where the United States was headed.

Dred Scott v. Sanford "1857: blacks have no rights and cannot sue, and Congress cannot free slaves (""property"") from slaveowners"

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

Lincoln-Douglas Debates 1858: debates over future of U.S. during the Senate race in Illinois which Douglas won by vote of legislature

In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'', a novel which criticizes slavery by painting a realistic picture of life as a slave. The book had an enormous impact on public sentiment and the Civil War.

"Freeport Doctrine (Freeport, IL)" "1858: Lincoln asks Douglas if, after Dred Scott case, a territory can exclude slavery before becoming state; Douglas answered ""yes"", consistent with his ""popular sovereignty,"" caused South to turn against Douglas"

''Dred Scott v. Sanford'' was a Supreme Court case in 1857, which ruled that blacks have no rights and cannot sue.  It also established that Congress cannot free slaves ("property") from slaveowners.  Through this decision, the court sought to put an end to the questions about slavery, but the exact opposite occured.  The ''Dred Scott'' case greatly heightened conflict and outrage about slavery.

John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry 1859: attempted to spark slave rebellion in VA; feds caught and tried and executed him

 

Others resorted to violent means to end the disagreement over slavery.  In 1859, John Brown <ref>(who previously killed 5 men in Kansas, see "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.

==Pre-Civil War Division==

==Pre-Civil War Division==