The Crittenden Compromise: A Prelude to the Civil War
The Crittenden Compromise, proposed by Senator John J. Crittenden of Kentucky in December 1860, was an attempt to avert the secession of Southern states and preserve the Union. However, the compromise ultimately failed to prevent the outbreak of the American Civil War. In this article, we will explore how the Crittenden Compromise led to the Civil War.
The Background
The election of Abraham Lincoln as the 16th President of the United States in November 1860 was a significant event that sparked widespread debate and tension across the country. Lincoln’s victory was seen as a threat by many Southern states, who believed that he would abolish slavery and undermine their economic and social systems. The Southern states, particularly those with strong slave-based economies, began to secede from the Union, starting with South Carolina on December 20, 1860.
The Crittenden Compromise
In an effort to prevent further secession and preserve the Union, Senator Crittenden proposed a compromise that would address the concerns of both the North and the South. The compromise consisted of three main components:
- The Fugitive Slave Act: This provision would have strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which required Northerners to assist in the capture and return of escaped slaves.
- The Corwin Amendment: This amendment would have prohibited Congress from abolishing slavery without the consent of the affected states.
- The Border States: The compromise would have extended the protections of the Missouri Compromise to the Border States (Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri), which had allowed slavery in certain areas.
The Failure of the Crittenden Compromise
The Crittenden Compromise was met with resistance from both sides. The North saw the compromise as a betrayal of the principles of freedom and equality, while the South viewed it as insufficient to address their concerns about slavery and states’ rights. On January 16, 1861, the Virginia Convention rejected the compromise, and the state seceded from the Union.
The Secession of the Border States
The failure of the Crittenden Compromise led to the secession of several Border States, including Kentucky, Missouri, and Maryland. These states had been crucial to the Union, as they provided a buffer between the North and the South. The secession of these states weakened the Union’s ability to respond to the secession of the Southern states.
The Fort Sumter Crisis
The Crittenden Compromise also contributed to the Fort Sumter crisis, which marked the beginning of the Civil War. In April 1861, Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard bombarded Fort Sumter, a Union-held fort in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The Union garrison surrendered, and the fort was occupied by Confederate forces. This event sparked outrage in the North and led to the calling of 75,000 volunteers to suppress the rebellion.
The Lincoln Administration’s Response
President Lincoln responded to the crisis by calling for 75,000 volunteers to suppress the rebellion. He also issued a proclamation calling for the Union to be preserved and warned that any state that attempted to secede would be considered in rebellion. The Lincoln administration’s response was met with resistance from the seceding states, which saw it as an attack on their sovereignty.
The Outbreak of the Civil War
The Crittenden Compromise ultimately failed to prevent the outbreak of the Civil War. The secession of the Southern states, the failure of the compromise, and the Fort Sumter crisis created a situation in which war became inevitable. On April 12, 1861, the first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter, marking the beginning of a conflict that would last for four years and claim the lives of over 620,000 Americans.
Conclusion
The Crittenden Compromise was an attempt to avert the secession of Southern states and preserve the Union. However, the compromise ultimately failed to prevent the outbreak of the Civil War. The failure of the compromise was due to the deep-seated divisions between the North and the South, which had been building for decades. The compromise’s inability to address the concerns of both sides led to the secession of the Southern states, the failure of the Border States, and the outbreak of the Civil War.
Timeline of Events
- November 1860: Abraham Lincoln is elected President of the United States
- December 20, 1860: South Carolina secedes from the Union
- December 1860: Senator John J. Crittenden proposes the Crittenden Compromise
- January 16, 1861: The Virginia Convention rejects the Crittenden Compromise
- January 1861: Kentucky, Missouri, and Maryland secede from the Union
- April 12, 1861: The first shots of the Civil War are fired at Fort Sumter
Key Points
- The Crittenden Compromise was an attempt to avert the secession of Southern states and preserve the Union.
- The compromise failed to address the concerns of both the North and the South.
- The secession of the Southern states and the failure of the Border States led to the outbreak of the Civil War.
- The Crittenden Compromise marked a turning point in the events leading up to the Civil War.
References
- "The Crittenden Compromise" by James M. McPherson
- "The Civil War: A Narrative" by Shelby Foote
- "The Union and the Border States" by Kenneth M. Stampp
- "The Crisis of the Union" by David M. Potter
