Emancipation Era
Chapter 12: Sectional Crisis 1849 ― 1860
Condemned Compromise 1849-1853
Bleeding Kansas 1853-1857
A House Divided 1857-1860
Manifest Destiny 1841 ― 1849
Civil War 1860 ― 1865
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Documents
Master Index
1860
William Yancey frames the sectional crisis as a “constitutional issue,” arguing that the federal government had been perverted from its original compact into an instrument of Northern domination hostile to Southern Honor. He contends that the Constitution, properly understood, is based on black inferiority, that recognizes slaves as property, that slavery is a state institution, that fugitive slaves must be returned, and that Northern refusal to uphold these guarantees releases the South from its obligations to the Union and justifies secession.
William Yancey
Speech on the Secession Crisis
Biographies
Dan Quayle (1947-) was an Indiana lawyer and politician who served in the House and Senate before becoming George H. W. Bush's vice president. He served from 1989 to 1993 and participated in administration work involving economic competitiveness, education, space policy, and other issues. After leaving office, Quayle pursued business, writing, and continued involvement in Republican politics.
Dan
Quayle
Al Gore (1948-) was a Tennessee congressman and senator who became Bill Clinton's vice president in 1993 and served two terms. His vice presidency emphasized environmental policy, government reform, and the development of information technology. After leaving office, Gore became a prominent environmental advocate and received the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Al
Gore
Mike Pence (1959-) was an Indiana congressman and governor before becoming vice president under Donald Trump. He served from 2017 to 2021 and chaired the White House Coronavirus Task Force while also presiding over the Senate. His vice presidency concluded with his role in the January 6, 2021 certification of the 2020 presidential election.
Mike
Pence
Barack Obama (1961-) was the 44th president of the United States serving from 2009 to 2017. Before becoming president, he worked as a civil rights lawyer before entering politics in Illinois and later serving in the U.S. Senate. His presidency was defined by the Affordable Care Act, the response to the Great Recession, continuing the War on Terror, and efforts to address social and environmental issues.
Barack
Obama
J. D. Vance (1984) was born and raised in Ohio, served in the Marine Corps, became a lawyer and author, and gained national attention through Hillbilly Elegy. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022 and became Donald Trump's running mate in 2024. Vance became the 50th individual to serve as vice president on January 20, 2025, and remains in office as of 2026.
JD
Vance