Unit 9: John Brown, Election of 1860 & Secession

John Crittenden

A Senator from Kentucky who made a last effort to save the Union by introducing a bill to extend the Missouri Compromise line to the Pacific, and he proposed an amendment to the Constitution that would guarantee forever the right to hold slaves in states south of the compromise line.

Confederate States of America

A republic formed in February of 1861 and composed of the eleven Southern states that seceded from the United States

What was the result of John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry?

Brown captured by Colonel Robert E. Lee; Brown was convicted of treason, murder, and conspiracy. He was hung on December 2, 1859.

What was the plan that John J. Crittenden proposed to preserve the Union?

Crittenden proposed a series of constitutional amendments that he felt would satisfy the south and protect slavery, and this could avoid secession and civil war.

Jefferson Davis

President of the Confederate States of America

John Bell

Presidential candidate of the Constitutional Union Party. He drew votes away from the Democrats, helping Lincoln win.

How were Lincoln's views similar to and different from John Brown's?

Similar: slavery was wrong; Different: Lincoln did not support violence, bloodshed and treason.

Why did the South feel it was losing power after the election of 1860?

The South felt it was losing power because they were losing slave labor their economy and way of life would be destroyed.

How did the southern states respond to the election of 1860, and why?

The south asked for a special convention to consider a secede from the Union.

Why did southerners who support the secession believe the action was constitutional?

They believe that since the states voluntarily joined, they can voluntarily leave.

Constitutional Union Party

a political party formed in 1860 by a group of northerners and southerners who supported the Union, its laws, and the Constitution

John C. Breckinridge

pro-slavery candidate nominated by southern Democrats for the 1860 presidential election

Who were the candidates in the election of 1860 and what party did each represent?

Lincoln (Republican); Douglas (N. Democratic); Breckinridge (S. Democratic); Bell (Constitutional Union)

Harper's Ferry

Location of federal arsenal that John Brown raided to get guns to arm slaves

In his inaugural address, what view did Lincoln express regarding the secession?

If states wanted to secede they can, but he opposed it. He was going to keep all the government property in the seceding states.

John Brown's Raid

In 1859, the militant abolitionist John Brown seized the U.S. arsenal at Harper's Ferry. He planned to end slavery by massacring slave owners and freeing their slaves. He was captured and executed.