Chapter 19: Drifting Toward Disunion

1854-1861

I. Race, Slavery, Politics

* Fear and anxiety

* Crisis arises with newly acquired Mexican land

* Whites in the North become familiar with African Americans and the evils of slavery

* Whigs lose ground to Know Nothings

* America looks for further expansion

* Kansas-Nebraska Act throws political parties into disarray

II. Sectional Conflict

· Conflicts divide the North and South

· Conflicts start in “Bleeding Kansas”

· Political chaos brings to rise the Republican party

· Dred Scott decision

· Slavery supports Southern economy

III. A Society in crisis

· Panic of 1857

· LeCompton Constitution splits Democratic party

· Lincoln-Douglas debates

· John Brown’s raids

IV. The First Secession

· Election of 1860

· South talks secession

· Lincoln wins

· Secession