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John Brown’s Raid at Harpers Ferry (1859)
Event and Motivation: John Brown aimed to initiate a slave uprising by seizing the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. His plan included arming enslaved people with weapons from the arsenal.
Outcome and Reaction: Captured by federal troops led by Robert E. Lee, Brown was tried, convicted, and hanged. The raid intensified national tensions, with Southern whites viewing it as proof of Northern aggression aimed at inciting slave revolts, while some Northerners saw Brown as a martyr for abolition.
Election of 1860
Political Fragmentation: The Democratic Party split over slavery,
with Northern Democrats nominating Stephen Douglas and Southern
Democrats choosing John C. Breckinridge, further polarizing the nation. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Union Party formed, nominating John
Bell as a compromise candidate focusing on preserving the Union.Lincoln’s Election: Abraham Lincoln, nominated by the Republicans, won the presidency without carrying a single Southern state, emphasizing a platform that included the non-expansion of slavery, economic development for the North, and infrastructure improvements. His election, perceived as a direct threat to Southern interests and lifestyle, dramatically heightened sectional tensions.
Impact: Lincoln's victory, achieved with less than 40% of the popular vote but a majority of electoral votes, showing the deep divisions within the country and signaled to Southern states that they no longer had influence over the presidency, contributing to the secession crisis.
Secession of the Deep South
Motivation and Action: The election of Lincoln, perceived as a threat to slavery, triggered the secession of South Carolina in December 1860, quickly followed by six more states from the Deep South. These states formed the Confederate States of America, primarily to protect and preserve slavery.
Southern Justification: Secessionists equated their actions to the 1776 Revolution, asserting their right to dissolve political bonds with the Union which they believed no longer protected their interests.
Crittenden Compromise
Proposal for Peace: In an effort to avert secession and conflict, Senator John Crittenden proposed amendments to constitutionally protect slavery below the Missouri Compromise line (36°30′ latitude).
Republican Rejection: Lincoln and the Republicans rejected the compromise, prioritizing their platform against the expansion of slavery, which contributed further to sectional tensions.
Fort Sumter and Secession of the Upper South
Immediate Cause: The Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861, following Lincoln's attempt to resupply it, marked the outbreak of the Civil War. This action prompted four more states from the Upper South to secede.
Strategic Importance: The secession of additional Southern states after the attack on Fort Sumter significantly bolstered the Confederate strength and marked a definitive split in the nation.
Keeping the Border States in the Union
Strategic and Political Necessity: Lincoln's administration worked diligently to keep border states like Maryland, Missouri, and Kentucky in the Union due to their strategic locations and significant population.
Methods and Impact: Through a combination of political maneuvering and limited military action, including the imposition of martial law in Maryland, these states were prevented from joining the Confederacy, which was crucial for maintaining a stronger Union position during the war.
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