The Election of 1860 & the Road to Disunion: Crash Course US History #18

Summary

This Crash Course US History episode humorously explores the primary cause of the Civil War: slavery. It covers the Fugitive Slave Law, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the Dred Scott decision, which intensified sectional tensions. The video also discusses the rise of the Republican Party, the election of Abraham Lincoln, and the secession of Southern states, setting the stage for the Civil War's outbreak in 1861.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Civil War was primarily caused by slavery and disputes over its expansion into new territories.
• 🗣️ The debate over states' rights was often a cover for the real issue of slavery.
• 🚨 The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 was highly controversial as it forced citizens to aid in the capture of runaway slaves.
• 🚂 The push for transcontinental railroads and the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 led to the rise of 'popular sovereignty' and increased sectional tensions.
• 🔍 The Kansas-Nebraska Act effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise and led to violent conflicts in Kansas.
• 🏛️ The Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision declared that black people had no rights that white people were bound to respect, further polarizing the nation.
• 🔴 The formation of the Republican Party was a direct response to the perceived threat of the spread of slavery.
• 🗳️ Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860, without any support from the South, demonstrated the deep divide over slavery.
• 🏺 John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry, though a failure, became a symbol for the abolitionist cause.
• ⚔️ The attack on Fort Sumter marked the beginning of the Civil War, but the inevitability of conflict had been building for years.

Q & A

What is identified as the primary cause of the American Civil War in the script?

Slavery is identified as the primary cause of the American Civil War.

What was the controversial aspect of the Fugitive Slave Law included in the Compromise of 1850?

The controversial aspect was that any citizen was required to turn in anyone known to be a slave to authorities, which was abhorrent to many, especially in New England.

How did the Fugitive Slave Law affect people of color in the North?

It was terrifying as it allowed even free-born individuals to be sent into slavery if someone swore they were a specific slave.

What was the role of Stephen Douglas in promoting the development of railroads?

Stephen Douglas was a strong backer of railroads, particularly advocating for a transcontinental railroad, which he believed would bind the union together and benefit his home state of Illinois.

What was the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, and how did it relate to the issue of slavery?

The Kansas-Nebraska Act formalized the idea of popular sovereignty, allowing white residents of states to decide whether the state should allow slavery, effectively repealing the Missouri Compromise and leading to violence in Kansas.

How did the Kansas-Nebraska Act contribute to the formation of the Republican Party?

The Act, by potentially expanding slavery into new territories, helped to create a new coalition party, the Republicans, dedicated to stopping the extension of slavery.

What was the 'slave power' conspiracy theory mentioned in the script?

The 'slave power' conspiracy theory was the idea that a secret cabal of pro-slavery congressmen controlled the government, doing the bidding of rich plantation owners.

What was the significance of the Dred Scott decision in 1857?

The Dred Scott decision ruled that black people had no rights that the white man was bound to respect and that a slave owner could take his slaves anywhere in the U.S. and they would still be slaves, thus technically eliminating the concept of free states.

Who was John Brown and why is he significant to the events leading up to the Civil War?

John Brown was an abolitionist who led a violent raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859, hoping to start a slave revolt. His actions and subsequent execution made him a martyr for the abolitionist cause.

How did Abraham Lincoln's election contribute to the start of the Civil War?

Lincoln's election showed that slave power was over, leading several Southern states to secede from the Union and form the Confederate States of America, which ultimately led to the start of the Civil War.

What does the script suggest as the earliest possible cause for the Civil War?

The script suggests that the Civil War may have been inevitable from as early as 1619, when the first African slaves arrived in Virginia, due to the fundamental issue of not recognizing the rights of black Americans as equal to those of white Americans.