Sectionalism, States' Rights and Nullification

 Sectionalism

      In the 1800's, sectionalism spread through America like wildfire! Sectionalism is when a group or section of a nation feels more loyal to themselves than they do as a complete nation. Americans saw themselves as Southerners and Northerners. After the war of 1812, the North and the South spread further and further apart. The South believed in slavery while the North was against it. They had may differences which resulted in conflicts. The South had many plantations, slaves, and crops; while the North had a more industrial-based economy. As a result, the North had a larger population than the South.

This picture shows America being separated through sectionalism.

image from: www.socialstudieshelp.com

    States' Rights and Nullification

        State's rights are the powers that individual states possess rather than the federal government. The federal government gave a law on tariffs that South Carolina found unacceptable. As a result, they exercised their state's rights and ignored the federal law by nullifying it. President Jackson was infuriated and sent troops to South Carolina to enforce the federal law.  As a result, a war was almost sparked.   

Missouri Compromise

Missouri Compromise 

The Missouri Compromise was an effort to keep the balance of the amount of free and slave states. In 1820, Missouri was admitted as a slave state. In order to keep the balance of free and slave states, Maine was admitted as a free one. This compromise created the 36/30 line. This line stated that any state North of it was a free state, while any state South of it was a slave state. This increased sectionalism and in the nation. 

This picture depicts the 36/30 line and how states are divided today. Image from: 

http://umqc.blogspot.com/2010/12/question-578.html

This map shows the organization of the Unites States and the Missouri Compromise in 1820.
21stcenturylearning.sharepoint.com

Compromise of 1850, Fugitive Slave Act, and Georgia Platform

Compromise of 1850

The Compromise of 1850 was when California wanted to be admitted as a state. This proved to be a problem because it would disrupt the balance of slave and free states. As a result, California was admitted as a free state and Texas received $10,000,000. Slavery was also abolished in D.C.

Image portraying the Compromise of 1850 and California from: www.studythepast.com

Fugitive Slave Act

 The Fugitive Slave Act was also passed as an effort to keep the balance of slaves. This act stated that all slaves who fled from the South to the North (above the Missouri Compromise Line [36/30]), were to be returned back to the South. Slave who were also freed were often sent back deliberately (,people claimed that they were sent back by accident). Citizen were required to help return all slaves who were on the run. The fugitive slaves were also denied trials by jury. As a result of the escaping slaves, there were more federal agents to help enforce the laws. This increased the abolitionist movement. More people were trying to help free slaves.

This an example of what a typical advertisement for a slave would look like.
Credit to: antebellumamerican.weebly.com

This shows that slaves were apprehended illegally by slave catchers and whites.

from: en.wikipedia.org

Georgia Platform

The Georgia Platform accepted the Compromise as long as the North was willing to follow the rules of the Fugitive Slave Act and the Northern democrats would not try to ban the spread of slavery across states and territories. This acceptance of the Compromise temporarily stopped the spark of secession through the South.


www.docstoc.com

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Kansas-Nebraska Act

In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed. This act stated that the Kansas and Nebraskan territories could vote on whether slavery should be allowed or not. This nullified the Missouri Compromise because the Missouri Compromise stated that all states above the 36/30 line were not allowed to have slavery while all below were. This enraged the citizens of the south because the balance of the free and enslaved would be disrupted. The South was afraid that the Kansas and Nebraskan territories would vote to have no slavery.


This image depicts the Kansas and Nebraskan territories, as well as the way states are presently divided and the Missouri Compromise Line.
library.thinkquest.org


en.wikipedia.org

Dred Scott Case

Dred Scott Case

In 1857, a man named Dred Scott faced injustice. Dred Scott was a slave who lived in a free state for more than two years. His owner, John Emerson, still kept him as a slave even though he was rightfully free. Because he lived in a free state and he was enslaved, he sued for his freedom. The Supreme Court denied him the right to sue because they considered him "property" instead of a citizen. They ruled that he was not a citizen so he could not sue.
This Supreme Court decision is important because it gave southerners hope that slavery would take over again. On the other hand, this case is important because Dred Scott gave hope to other slaves to speak out.



Portrait of Dred Scott: www.pbs.org

Election of 1860

Election of 1860

In 1860, a republican man from Illinois was elected as President. This man was Abraham Lincoln. During the election period, the North had thought of him as a worthy candidate. The South on the other hand, considered him an unworthy opponent and did not place him on the ballot.  It came to the South as a staggering blow when Abraham Lincoln was elected as President to the South. The Confederacy was so disappointed with the results of the election that secession was becoming a common thought to the states of the nation. The South was overwhelmed because they thought that the Union was gaining power and that the divisions of the North and the South were not even. Shortly after Lincoln's election, South Carolina seceded. South Carolina was the first of many secession and Georgia followed shortly after on January 19, 1861.


Lincoln add campaign : civilwar.gratzpa.org

Secession in GA and Alexander Stephens’ role

Secession in GA and Alexander Stephens’ role

In 1861, at Georgia's Secession Convention, Georgia voted to secede from the Union. Unlike other states, Georgia's vote was not unanimous. South Carolina unanimously voted on their secession. Secessionists wanted to break away from the Union, while cooperationists wanted to stay with union. Alexander Stephens, the President of the Confederacy, was initially not sure about secession. He was a supporter of the Compromise of 1850, as long as the Northerners complied with the Fugitive Slave Act. He soon believed that slavery was unavoidable. After deciding his position on these arguments, Alexander Stephens became the Vice President of the Confederacy. 


This is a portrait of Alexander Stephens. Portrait from:en.wikipedia.org