2. Missouri Compromise:
Cali – free state
Review of Friday
Mexican Cession – federal land
Texas give up land east of Rio
Grande
Slave trade – no more in
Wilmot Proviso: document capital
stating that slavery and More effective fugitive slave
involuntary servitude were law passed
not allowed Fugitive Slave Act passed:
Free Soil Party – antislavery crime for runaway slaves
northerners that supported Uncle Tom’s Cabin – fictional
no slavery in any new story about slavery, riled up
territory added the northerners
Kansas – Nebraska Act:
Secede – formally withdraw
divide LP into 2 territories,
from Union vote on slavery
What states did that? Bleeding Kansas –
abolitionists and pro-slavery
3. Political Parties Undergo Change
Republican Party: a
political party united
against the spread of
slavery in the West
John Fremont – little
experience
James Buchanan:
democrat
Great deal of experience
Great Britain ambassador
during Kan-Neb act
4. Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott – slave of Dr. Emerson
Dr. Emerson died, Scott became
slave of wife
Scott sued for freedom
Court ruling: African Americans
whether free or slave were not
considered citizens of the United
States, and therefore had no right
to sue in federal courts. The
Missouri Compromise was also
ruled unconstitutional.
5. Dred Scott Decision
Courts reasoning: Chief Justice Roger B. Taney
wrote in the majority opinion that the Court did
not believe that African Americans were
included in the constitution’s definition of citizens
and that they, “had no rights which the white
man was bound to respect.” Addressing a side
issue in the case the opinion also stated that
Congress could not outlaw slavery in the
territories.
Fair? Not fair? Why or why not?
6. Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Historic debate between
presidential candidates
Lincoln stressed central
issue – spread of slavery,
wanted to stop it
Felt African Americans
were entitled to “natural
rights”
Douglas criticized Lincoln
and felt the nation could
not be half and half
7. Freeport Doctrine
Notion that the police would enforce the
voters’ decision if it contradicted the
Supreme Court’s decision in the Dred
Scott case
Put the slavery question back into the
hands of the American citizens
Good idea? Bad idea?
8. John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s
Ferry
Raid began when Brown
and his men took over
the arsenal in Harper’s
Ferry
Wanted to start a slave
rebellion
Brown was ordered to be
hanged for this uprising
Effective or not? What do
you think?
9. Election of 1860
Constitutional Union Party – recognized no
political principals other than the Constitution of
the country, the Union of the states, and the
enforcement of the laws
John Bell
Democrats – John Breckinridge
Republicans – William Seward, leading
candidate, chose Lincoln, appealed to more
party members
11. The South Secedes
Southerners Reaction: people in south
believed their economy and way of life
would be destroyed without slave labor
South seceded: Confederate States of
America
Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia,
Louisiana, and Texas, South Carolina
12. Questions to Answer from notes
1. What was the major issue of the newly formed
Republican party?
2. Who was Roger B. Taney?
3. Why do you think James Buchanan won the
election of 1856?
4. What was the major issue of the Lincoln-Douglas
debates?
5. Why did John Brown want to seize the arsenal on
Harper’s Ferry?
6. Why do you think some abolitionists disagreed
with what John Brown did?
7. What states made up the Confederate states?