Build Up To Civil War

Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)
1. Differing Opinions: The reviews of *Uncle Tom’s Cabin* reflect contrasting views. "A
Carolinian" criticizes the book as exaggerated and blasphemous, aiming to incite hatred toward
slavery with what they consider to be fabricated tales. In contrast, *The Liberator* praises the
book’s emotional impact and its powerful illustration of the hardships faced by enslaved people,
particularly through the character of Uncle Tom, generating sympathy and reverence.
2. Authors' Backgrounds: "A Carolinian" likely represents a pro-slavery Southern perspective,

while *The Liberator*, associated with abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, reflects a Northern
abolitionist stance.
3. Popularity Indicator: The widespread attention and critical responses from both Northern and
Southern publications indicate the popularity of *Uncle Tom’s Cabin*, as it spurred strong
reactions and discussions nationwide.
4. Stowe vs. Eastman on Slavery: Stowe’s *Uncle Tom’s Cabin* portrays slavery as a cruel and
inhumane institution, whereas Eastman’s *Aunt Phillis’s Cabin* presents it as a positive,
paternalistic system, reflecting pro-slavery sentiment by depicting enslaved individuals as
content under kind masters.
Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

1. State Development: The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed the territories of Kansas and
Nebraska to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty, reversing the Missouri
Compromise’s prohibition of slavery in those areas.
2. Southern Argument: The Mississippian editorial argues that Southern states have the
constitutional right to bring their "property," including enslaved people, into new territories, and
that the Kansas-Nebraska Act supports this right.
3. South’s View of the North: The South views the North as monopolizing territories and
attempting to exclude Southern interests, which they claim undermines their rights.
4. South’s Request: The South’s only request is equal opportunity to settle in new territories with
their property, without Northern interference.
5. North’s View: The *New York Tribune* editorial sees the Kansas-Nebraska Act as a betrayal
of the Missouri Compromise, fearing it would allow pro-slavery interests to expand into new
territories.
6. Slavery’s Likely Expansion: The *Tribune* suggests that pro-slavery judges and officials
would make it easy for slavery to be instituted in Kansas, considering the influence of Southern
interests.
7. View of the South: The *Tribune* criticizes the South, claiming that when slavery is involved,
the South prioritizes self-interest over justice and honor.
8. Act’s Author: Senator Stephen A. Douglas authored the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
Bleeding Kansas (1856)

1. Beecher’s Bibles: "Beecher’s Bibles" were Sharps rifles sent to Kansas by abolitionist Henry
Ward Beecher to arm anti-slavery settlers, inspired by the anti-slavery sentiments stirred by
*Uncle Tom’s Cabin*.
2. Migrant Influx: Many Northerners and Southerners migrated to Kansas to influence whether it
would be a free or slave state.
3. Voting Corruption: Pro-slavery forces, especially from Missouri, illegally crossed into Kansas
to cast fraudulent votes, leading to a skewed pro-slavery result.
4. Pottawatomie Creek Incident: Radical abolitionist John Brown and his followers killed five
pro-slavery men at Pottawatomie Creek in retaliation for pro-slavery attacks.
5. Meaning of "Bleeding Kansas": The term refers to the violent confrontations in Kansas
between pro- and anti-slavery forces, leading to significant bloodshed over the issue of slavery.
6. Bleeding Sumner & Preston Brooks: "Bleeding Sumner" refers to the brutal attack on Senator
Charles Sumner by Congressman Preston Brooks, who struck Sumner with a cane after an
anti-slavery speech.
Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)

1. Birthplace: Dred Scott was born in Virginia.
2. States Lived In: Scott had lived in Illinois and Wisconsin, both free territories.
3. Chief Justice: Roger B. Taney served as Chief Justice for the case.
4. Precedent: The Court ruled that enslaved people were property, not citizens, and had no
rights to sue.
5. Compromise Nullified: The ruling nullified the Missouri Compromise.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858)
1. House Divided Speech: Lincoln’s speech suggested that the nation could not endure
permanently half slave and half free.
2. Position Sought: Both candidates were running for U.S. Senate from Illinois.
3. Number of Debates: Seven debates were held.
4. Debate Format: One candidate spoke for 60 minutes, the other for 90, followed by a
30-minute rebuttal.
5. Prominent Issue: The debates focused on the expansion of slavery.
6. Freeport Doctrine: Stephen Douglas proposed the doctrine, asserting that territories could
exclude slavery by refusing laws protecting it, which weakened his support among Southern
Democrats.
7. Mainstream View on Black Equality: Most Americans, including Douglas, did not believe in full
Black equality in 1858.
Election of 1860
1. Presidential Candidates: Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Douglas, John C. Breckinridge, and John
Bell.
2. Expected Republican Nominee: William H. Seward was initially expected to secure the
Republican nomination.
3. Lincoln’s Victory: Lincoln won due to the split in Democratic votes, allowing him to win with
only 40% of the popular vote.
4. Vice President Candidate: Hannibal Hamlin was Lincoln's first vice-presidential candidate.
5. Population Comparison: The map showed that the North’s population was larger, giving
Lincoln more electoral votes.
6. Southern Reaction: Southern states saw Lincoln's election as a threat, leading to secession.
7. Lincoln’s Stance on Southern Slavery: Lincoln promised not to interfere with slavery where it
already existed.
8. Lincoln’s Ultimate Goal: Like Andrew Jackson, Lincoln sought to preserve the Union.
9. First Seceding State: South Carolina was the first state to secede.

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Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)

2. Authors' Backgrounds: "A Carolinian" likely represents a pro-slavery Southern perspective,

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

8. Act’s Author: Senator Stephen A. Douglas authored the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

Bleeding Kansas (1856)

Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)

5. Compromise Nullified: The ruling nullified the Missouri Compromise.

5. Prominent Issue: The debates focused on the expansion of slavery.

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