Steps Leading to Civil War Part 2

Forming the Republican Party Formed by… Northern Whigs, antislavery Democrats, and the Free-Soil Party Goal… Stop slavery from expanding into the new territory

Election of 1856 Candidates… Republican – John C. Fremont Democratic – James Buchanan Democrats campaigned that Buchanan was the only candidate that could save the Union Electing Fremont would cause the South to secede Buchanan wins

Dred Scott’s Story Dred Scott – a slave that was taken to live in a free territory b/f taken back to Missouri Scott sued to end his slavery, he said… The time he had spent in a free territory meant he was free The case went all the way to the Supreme Court

Dred Scott’s Case Dred Scott vs. Sandford Supreme Court has a Southern majority Supreme Court rules for slavery in the territories Buchanan suggests letting the Supreme Court decide on slavery in the territories Dred Scott vs. Sandford was the case that decided

The Dred Scott Decision March 6, 1857 – Chief Justice Roger B. Taney delivered decision According to the Constitution a slave was not a citizen Scott was property and had no right to sue His time spent on free land did not make him free Taney then addressed the Missouri Compromise’s ban on slavery… He said stopping a person from owning a slave above the southern Missouri border was unconstitutional  it was void Slavery now legal in every state!

John Brown’s Plan John Brown – abolitionist – b/l that God had raised him to break the jaws of the wicked Develops a plan… Seize the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia Free and arm the enslaved people of the neighborhood B/g a rebellion against slaveholders

John Brown’s Raid October 16, 1859 – Brown and 18 followers seize the arsenal Brown announces he has possession of the armory and if any citizens interfere he will kill them and burn the town Brown soon faces US Marines under the command of Robert E. Lee 36 hours after it had b/g, the rebellion ended w/ Brown’s capture

John Brown’s Consequences Brown was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death Northerners view Brown as a martyr in a noble cause The execution strengthened abolitionist feelings in the North Southerners felt that Brown’s raid proved that Northerners were plotting to murder slaveholders Makes them true, violent enemies

Election of 1860 Candidates… Stephen Douglas – Northern Democrat Supported popular sovereignty John C. Breckinridge – Southern Democrat Supported the Dred Scott decision John Bell – Constitutional Union Party (former Whigs) Uphold both the Constitution and the Union Abraham Lincoln – Republican Denounced John Brown’s raid, was not an abolitionist, confirmed the right to slavery w/i the Southern borders

Secession Begins Democrat vote split  Lincoln wins Republican victory = abolitionists victory to the South Southerners b/l they must secede December 1860 – South Carolina secedes from (leaves) the Union First state to leave, starts a chain reaction By February 1861 – 6 more states had seceded MS, FL, AL, GA, LA, and TX

The Confederacy February 4, 1861 – Delegates of seceding states met in Montgomery, AL Declared themselves a new nation… The Confederate States of America Drafted a constitution based on the US Constitution but w/ some changes… Guaranteed the existence of slavery in Confederate territory Banned protective tariffs President = Jefferson Davis Capital = Montgomery, AL

Lincoln Takes Office 1861 – Lincoln’s inaugural speech he addresses the seceding states directly Repeats his commitment not to interfere w/ slavery where it existed He intends to “hold, occupy, and possess” federal property in those states