The Crittenden Compromise 18 DEC. 1861

Last-ditch effort to resolve the secession crisis of
1860-61 by political negotiation

Authored by Kentucky Senator John Crittenden (whose two sons would become generals on opposite sides of the Civil War) Resolve the crisis by addressing concerns that led the states of the Lower South to contemplate secession

It gives a window into what the politicians of the day thought the cause of the crisis to be

Offered on December 18, 1860, consisted of a preamble, six proposed
constitutional amendments, and four (proposed) Congressional resolutions.

CRITTENDEN RESOLUTION

ART. 1 PROHIBIT SLAVERY IN TERRITORIES ABOVE 36/30

LEGISLATURES DECIDE FOR STATEHOOD

BELOW 36/30 “SLAVERY OF THE AFRICAN RACE IS HEREBY RECOGNIZED AS EXISTING AND SHALL NOT BE INTERFERED WITH BY CONGRESS…”

ART. 2

CONGRESS SHALL HAVE NO POWER TO ABOLISH SLAVERY…”

ART 3.

NO ABOLITION OF SLAVERY W/IN D.C.

CRITTENDEN

ART 4.

TRANSPORTATION OF SLAVES

ART. 5

RECOMPENSE FOR FUGITIVE SLAVES

ART 6.

NO FUTURE AMMENDMENT CAN ALTER ARTS. 1-5

SECESSION

JANUARY 1861

SOUTH SECEDES

7^TH: SOUTH CAROLINA

9^TH: MISSISSIPPI

11^TH: ALABAMA

19^TH: GEORGIA

26^TH: LOUISIANA

1 FEB: TEXAS

FEBRUARY: SOUTH CREATES A CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

SOUTH SEIZES FEDERAL FORTS

SECESION AND WAR

4 MARCH: LINCOLN INNAGURATED

11 MARCH: SOUTH HAS A CONSTITUTION

10 APRIL: BEAUREGARD DEMANDS ANDERSON’S SURRENDER

12 APRIL: SUMTER FIRED UPON-THE WAR STARTS

17 APRIL:VIRGINIA SECEDES

6 MAY: ARKANSAS SECEDES

20 MAY: NORTH CAROLINA SECEDES

20 JUNE: WESTVIRGINIA ADMITTED TO UNION

21 JULY: BULL RUN (MANASSAS)