1. The Sectional Crisis: Political Events of the 1850s

2. Directions: You and your group will present the life and work of an abolitionist to the class. FIRST: Read the materials you were given. You all have one secondary source and one primary source. Take notes about the important aspects of the person’s life and work. SECOND: Write a few sentences of background information about the person. Pay close attention to the events in his or her life that influenced their belief system about slavery. THIRD: Write a few sentences about the person’s activism about slavery. What type of activism was he or she involved in and how successful was he or she? FOURTH: Pick an excerpt from the primary source you were given that you feel best describes the person’s beliefs. You will teach the class this excert and make sure they understand what this person is saying. Give me the excerpt so I can include it in the class handout that will be filled out during each presentation.

3. I.The Compromise of 1850 WHY was a compromise needed? 15 free states & 15 slave states in 1849 and California was attempting to enter the Union.

4. What did each side want? John C. Calhoun versus Daniel Webster Who tried to work out a compromise? Henry Clay SOUTHERN STATES WANT Western territories open to slavery. Western territories open to slavery. Enforcement of fugitive slave laws.Enforcement of fugitive slave laws. NORTHERN STATES WANT Slavery abolished in Washington D.C.Slavery abolished in Washington D.C. California as a free state.California as a free state.

6. What were the final terms of the compromise? California admitted as a free state. Utah and New Mexico’s status to be determined by POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY. Sale of slaves outlawed in Washington D.C. New and “improved” Fugitive Slave Act with strict enforcement. What Senator sealed the deal on the Compromise? Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois (the Little Giant)

9. II. The Kansas-Nebraska Act WHAT: A bill to divide Kansas and Nebraska. It would repeal (nullify) the Missouri Compromise and establish popular sovereignty** in each state WHO: The “Little Giant” Stephen Douglass WHEN and WHERE: 1854 in the senate WHY: Now that the Missouri Compromise was nullified, the senate needed to figure out a new way to determine if new states would be free states or slave states. **popular sovereignty: Each state should be able to vote to become either a slave state or a free state.

10. II. Bleeding Kansas WHO: The Border Ruffians were Missourians who entered Kansas illegally to vote for it (Kansas) to become a slave state. WHEN: Between 1854-1861

11. WHAT: John Brown and his men killed 5 pro-slavery men at their homes. Brown believed he was called by God to fight slavery. Senators also became violent. Sen. Charles Sumner was beaten nearly to death by a congressman on the floor of the U.S. Senate. WHY: The debate over the expansion of slavery was becoming the most important issue in the country. Bleeding Kansas revealed that the problem may only be solved with fighting.

12. III. Dred Scott v. Sanford WHO Dred Scott was a slave from Missouri who was moved to free states with his owner. Sanford was his owner. WHAT 2 issues- Was Scott a citizen of the U.S.?, Did residence in a free state make Scott a free man? WHEN (was the case decided)? March 6, 1857 WHERE (was the case heard)? The Supreme Court WHO issued the court decision? Roger B. Taney WHY did the court decide the way it did? The court said that the Constitution protected property and that slaves were the property of owners even if they were in a free state. Northern states felt their rights were being violated.

13. IV. Lincoln-Douglas Debates WHO: Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglass were running for Senator from the state of Illinois WHEN and WHERE There were seven outdoor debates In 1858 throughout Illinois. WHAT was the difference between the two candidates’ positions on slavery? LINCOLN: Believed slavery was immoral Believed it needed to be outawed in the territories to stop its spread. Tries to reveal the fact that Douglas’ popular sovereignty views would ensure the spread of slavery. DOUGLAS: Believed in Popular Sovereignty. Thought slavery would die out on its own. Tried to make Lincoln look like an abolitionist.

14. WHY were the debates important? Douglas won the Senate race. BUT, the Democratic party became weaker and split because of the slavery issue. AND it drew national attention to Abraham Lincoln, making him a nationally famous figure in the Republican party.

15. The Raid on Harper’s Ferry What (was the point of the raid)? To steal weapons from the U.S. arsenal and then arm slaves as part of a rebellion. When (did the raid take place)? October 16, 1859 Where (was Harper’s Ferry)? Virginia Who (organized and executed the raid)? John Brown Why (did the raid fail)? No slaves rebelled with him, local militias fought back, and the U.S. Marines swooped in and captured Brown What happened to John Brown? He was tried, convicted, and hanged for treason.

16. Lincoln & the Election of 1860 WHO and WHY The Republican party chose Lincoln because: His reputation was fresh, new, and respected. He seemed more moderate than original front-runner William H. Seward. Lincoln wanted to stop spread of slavery, but he promised the South that he would not interfere with their slaves. WHO ELSE? Republican Party- Abraham Lincoln Southern Democratic Party- J.C. Breckinridge Constitutional Union Party- John Bell Northern Democratic Party- Stephen A. Douglas

17. WHAT did each of the candidates running for president believe about slavery? Lincoln- halt the spread, keep slavery in the south Breckinridge- Supported Dred Scott decision Bell- ignored slavery completely Douglas- supported popular sovereignty WHO won the election? Where was his support from? Lincoln won and his support was from the free states in the north. No southern states voted for him and many did even not put him on the ballot.

18. WHY was the election so important? The South believed they had lost their voice in government. South Carolina seceded (quit, dropped out) just a few days after the announcement of Lincoln as the winner. By inauguration day, 7 states had dropped out of the Union and formed their own country, called the Confederate States of America.