Slavery Dominates Politics Chapter 15, section 3

Republican Party Forms *Whig party split over slavery issue! -Northern Whigs joined with slave opponents and formed the Republican Party. -gained support in the N. *1856 Presidental Election: Republicans: John C. Fremont Democrats: James Buchanan *wins *Fremont still won 11 Northern states showing how nation was sharply split on slavery.

Democrat James Buchanan Republican John C. Fremont Democrat James Buchanan Won election of 1856

Case of Dred Scott *Slave taken into free states by his master -claimed he was now free and sued for freedom *Case: Dred Scott v. Sandford, reached Supreme Court **Ruling: Not a citizen, therefore cannot sue in U.S. courts and were property (voted 7-2)

SOOOO…..What happened to Dred Scott? *The decision heightened tensions between the North and the South, causing outrage among abolitionists, slaves and their sympathizers. SOOOO…..What happened to Dred Scott? *Dred Scott, his wife and daughters were formally freed by his owner on May 26, 1857, less than three months after the Supreme Court decision. *Scott worked as a porter (carrier) in St. Louis for about 17 months before he died from tuberculosis in September 1858.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates *Rep. believed Dem. wanted to make slavery legal in all states. Main target: Senator Stephen A. Douglas (Democrat from Illinois) *1858, Douglas ran for reelection to senate. *Rep. Abraham Lincoln ran against him. *Had a series of debates about the expansion of slavery.

Abraham Lincoln Stephen Douglas

*Position?? Lincoln: Argued that slavery should NOT be expanded. Douglas: Argued that voters in each territory should decide the slavery issue for themselves. Who won?? Douglas won However!! The Lincoln-Douglas debates made Lincoln a national figure!!

Harpers Ferry *Abolitionist John Brown hoped to inspire slaves to rebel. *October 16, 1859: Captured the weapons in the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia *Sent word to arm slaves, slaves did not join the fight *Brown was captured, tried, convicted, and executed. *Brown praised in North, South furious at this

Abolitionist John Brown

Lincoln’s Election & Southern Secession! Chapter 15, Section4

Presidential Election 1860 *Republican candidate – Abraham Lincoln Northern Democratic candidate – Stephen A. Douglas Southern Democratic candidate – John Breckinridge Why two Democrats??? *Democrats could not agree on what to say about slavery! Northern Democrats: Support popular sovereignty (let people vote) Southern Democrats: Defend slavery

The Election of 1860 *Lincoln and Breckinridge had most extreme views on slavery. Lincoln: Against expanding into the territories Breckinridge: Wanted federal government to protect slavery in any territory. *Nation tired of compromise!!! -Lincoln won the North. -Breckinridge won the South.

Southern Democrat John Breckinridge Republican Abraham Lincoln

*North had more people…Lincoln won the election. *Lincoln said he would do nothing about slavery in the South. *White Southerners did not trust him. -Viewed his victory as a THREAT to slavery and their way of life! *Southerners warned: If Lincoln were elected, the Southern states would secede, or withdraw from the Union! Yikes!!

Southern States Secede *Dec. 1860 – South Carolina 1st state to secede *By Feb. 1861, six more -formed the Confederate States of America *Jefferson Davis President of Confederacy. Union Response??? -Northerners said unconstitutional! Pres. Buchanan said states didn’t have the right to leave the Union: federal government, not states, was sovereign.

Lincoln and the South *Assured South he would not abolish slavery *Spoke strongly against secession *Did not want to force the South to stay in the Union. *Several forts in South under Union control that needed to be resupplied. *Whole nation waited to see what would happen…..