John Brown and the Election of 1860

ASU HST 200 (Historical Themes) Troubled Times: the Tumultuous 1850s John Brown and the Election of 1860 (Key Notes and Summary) Key Notes - Late 1850s: Emotions over slavery led to sectional instability in the United States. - The "Troubled Times" era, characterized by events that widened the divide between the North and the South. - John Brown was a well-known individual who led the Harpers Ferry attack in 1859 and employed harsh tactics to combat slavery. - Brown's acts heightened hostilities and solidified his status as an abolitionism martyr. - Slavery dominated American politics in the 1850s, and the Republican Party resisted its expansion into the West. Abraham Lincoln summed out the Republican position against "Slave Power" during talks in 1858. - The Republican Party grew in strength and influence in the North before to the 1860 election. - In 1858, the Republicans acquired a majority in the House of Representatives, demonstrating their growing influence. Republicans' rise, according to Southern politicians, would endanger slavery and exacerbate tensions between the North and South. - Opinions among Southern elites varied: "Fire-Eaters" favored secession in order to preserve slavery, while moderates favored a cautious approach. Among moderates, Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis supported maintaining slavery within the bounds of the Constitution. - As the 1860 presidential election drew nearer, tensions increased, with Southern secessionists becoming even more enraged following Lincoln's candidacy and victory. - South Carolina's secession in December 1860 marked the start of the Civil War. - The turbulent 1850s changed American history by laying the groundwork for the Civil War. Summary The controversial slavery issue in the late 1850s contributed to increased sectional instability in the United States, which resulted in a period commonly known as the "Troubled Times." John Brown became well-known for his advocacy of drastic means to combat slavery, such his attack on Harpers Ferry in 1859. In the meantime, the Republican Party gained popularity in the North by fiercely opposing the spread of slavery. The party's attitude was emphasized by Abraham Lincoln's opposition to slavery during the 1858 debates with Senator Stephen Douglas, which alarmed the South. Tensions were heightened by divisions in the South between "Fire-Eaters," who supported secession, and moderates like Jefferson Davis. Following South Carolina's lead, the South seceded after Lincoln's election in 1860, sparking the Civil War. This struggle was shaped by the turbulent 1850s, which altered the course of American history. John Brown and the Election of 1860 Notes The United States was experiencing sectional instability in the late 1850s as emotions over the slavery debate reached an all-time high. Many times called the "Troubled Times," this era was marked by a sequence of incidents that deepened differences between the North and the South. John Brown emerged as a notable personality during this turbulent time. Abolitionist Brown gained notoriety for using extreme measures to combat slavery. He organized an assault on the government armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in 1859 with the goal of inciting a slave uprising. Brown's actions increased tensions between the North and the South and cemented his reputation as a martyr for the abolitionist cause, even though his raid eventually proved fruitless and he was apprehended and put to death. Slavery was the dominant topic in 1850s American politics. The Republican Party, which had grown to be a significant political power in the North, was adamantly opposed to the spread of slavery into the western regions. Renowned Republican leader Abraham Lincoln summarised the party's stance in their well-known 1858 discussions with Senator Stephen Douglas. Lincoln demanded the containment of slavery, claiming that a group known as the "Slave Power" was trying to spread the practice across the country. Many Northerners identified with the Republican Party's anti-slavery position, and the party acquired a great deal of political momentum in the run-up to the 1860 presidential election. Republicans gained a majority in the House of Representatives in 1858, indicating their increasing power in American politics. Republicans' ascent to power raised fears among Southern officials that the institution of slavery would be threatened, which in turn exacerbated tensions between the North and the South. Southern elites had differing opinions about how to respond to the Republican Party's ascent. There were extreme Southerners known as "Fire-Eaters," who publicly supported breaking away from the Union. These people thought that in order to save their way of life and the institution of slavery, the Southern states need to secede from the Union. Fears of public disturbance were heightened by the Fire-Eaters' rhetoric, which also added to the nation's mounting feeling of urgency. However, there were also more moderate voices in the South, such Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis. These people advocated for a more cautious approach to tackling the issue of slavery and acknowledged the risks associated with independence. Even though they were ardent supporters of the system, they thought that slavery could be upheld within the parameters of the Constitution. Tensions escalated as the country got closer to the 1860 presidential election. Southern secessionists were more incensed after Abraham Lincoln was nominated by the Republican Party and went on to win the election. The Civil War began when South Carolina became the first state to leave the Union in December 1860. The turbulent 1850s created the conditions for the war that would eventually change the direction of American history.