Road to Civil War Challenges to Slavery: Chapter 12, Section 4 Conflict often brings about great change. A new antislavery party and a Supreme Court decision divided the nation further on slavery.
The Dred Scott Decision Main idea: The Supreme Court s decision in the Dred Scott case resulted in ever more division in the country. Mixed opinions on John Brown... Seen as a political murderer by some Viewed as fighter for the cause of freedom by others
Republican Party Kansas-Nebraska Act caused Democratic Party to divide along sectional lines Northern Democrats leaving party Whig Party destroyed Differing views over slavery Free-Soilers, and Antislavery Whigs and Democrats formed Republican Party Challenging proslavery Whigs and Democrats Chose their own candidate to run in 1854 election Republican message: Government should ban slavery from new territories Showed strength in the North, winning control over House of Representatives
Election of 1856 Democrats vs. Republicans (no Whig candidate) Republican candidate John C. Fremont California explorer/settler (Bear Flag Republic) Slogan Free soil, free speech, Fremont! Democratic candidate James Buchanan Endorsed idea of popular sovereignty American Party (AKA the Know Nothings) candidate former president Millard Fillmore Grew as a party between 1853-56 Attacked immigrants Presidential vote divided on sectional lines Buchanan winning (almost all Southern state votes) Fremont, not a single vote below Mason-Dixon line
Millard Fillmore John C. Fremont James Buchanan
Dred Scott Until 1857, some slaves who lived in free states had successfully sued for their freedom Biddy Mason in California Dred Scott, went all the way to the Supreme Court Dred Scott Slave bought by army doctor in Missouri (slave state) Moved to Illinois (free state) then to Wisconsin territory (where slavery was banned) then back to Missouri 1846, Scott sued for freedom, claiming he should be free because he once lived on free soil
The Court s Decision Dred Scott s case attracted a lot of attention Immediate issue concerned only Scott s status Court had opportunity to rule on the question of slavery in other territories Chief Justice Roger B. Taney said Scott was still a slave, not a citizen, and had no right to bring a lawsuit. He was property, and the 5th Amendment prohibits Congress from taking away property without due process of law Also, Congress had no power to prohibit slavery in any territory, making Missouri Compromise and popular sovereignty unconstitutional Overall decision The Supreme Court protected slavery
Reaction to the Decision Court s decision divided the country even more South happy Court had reaffirmed what they had always believed, that nothing could prevent spread of slavery Northern Democrats pleased Restricting spread of slavery ruled unconstitutional Republicans and antislavery groups outraged The greatest crime ever committed in nation s courts
Bridget Biddy Mason Born a slave, worked in GA/MS Slave owner moved his family (and slaves) to CA to start a ranch and mine for gold Didn t work out, so they moved to TX That REALLY didn t work, as enslaved people couldn t be moved from a free state (CA) to a slave state (TX) Resulted in Biddy, her family, and other slaves gaining freedom Stayed in LA, worked for a doctor, saved money to buy home and helped many people
1. Why would the Republicans have very little support in the South? 2. Why did the Whigs not last as a political party? 3. What was Dred Scott s argument? 4. What different beliefs are seen in Dred Scott s argument and the Court s ruling? 5. How did the Dred Scott decision regulate the spread of slavery? 6. Describe the similarities and differences between the cases of Biddy Mason and Dred Scott.
Lincoln & Douglas Main idea: The Lincoln-Douglas debates helped Lincoln emerge as a leader. 1858, Congressional election got national attention Democrat Stephen A. Douglas vs. Republican Lincoln Douglas the Little Giant disliked slavery, but thought controversy surrounding it would interfere with nation s growth, and popular sovereignty was the answer Lincoln, mostly unknown, was smart, ambitious, and a successful lawyer
Lincoln s campaign started with A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved I do not expect the house to fall but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.
Lincoln-Douglas Debates Lincoln challenged Douglas to a series of debates, meeting seven times from August-October 1858 Thousands came to watch Main topic = slavery Douglas won congressional election by narrow margin, debates earned Lincoln national reputation
Raid on Harpers Ferry Southerners were feeling threatened by growing Republican power, violence increased their fears October 1859, John Brown led 18 men on a raid of Harpers Ferry, Virginia, their target a large arsenal Financed and backed by a group of abolitionists, Brown hoped to start a rebellion Brown and men were quickly defeated, and he was tried for treason and murder, and sentenced to hang Execution caused uproar in North Brown seen as hero and martyr Brown s death became rallying point for abolitionists South feared great Northern conspiracy against them
1. Would you consider John Brown a martyr? Why/not? 2. Discuss the stages in the development of the Republican Party. 3. Who financed John Brown s raid on Harpers Ferry? 4. How did the Dred Scott decision reverse previous decision made by Congress? 5. Why did Lincoln emerge as a leader after the LincolnDouglas debates?