1. Political Divisions
Chapter 15, Section 3

3. Political Divions Political Parties Undergo Change Dred Scott Decision
Lincoln-Douglas Debates

4. Political Parties Undergo Change
1854: Creation of Republican Party
Whigs, (some) Democrats, Free Soilers, and abolitionists joined together
Party based on stopping the spread of slavery
Republicans were seen as a 1 issue party (abolishing slavery)
Had very few supporters and most in the North

5. Political Parties Undergo Change
Election of 1856
Democratic candidate: James Buchannan
Republican candidate: John C. Fremont
American Party (know nothing party) candidate: Millard Fillmore
Buchanan won, by winning 14 out of the 15 slave states

6. Dred Scott Decision Dred Scott sues for his freedom
Dred Scott was a slave of an army surgeon (John Emerson)
Emerson had taken Scott with him to Illinois and Wisconsin (free territory) on tours of duty
When Emerson died, Scott sued for his freedom since he had lived in a free state

7. Dred Scott Decision Dred Scott sues for his freedom
Lower court ruled in his favor
Missouri state court over turned the decision
Scott’s case was appealed to the supreme court in 1857 (11 years later)

8. Dred Scott Decision Supreme Court Ruling
Chief Justice: Roger B. Taney (slaveholding man from Maryland)
Ruling:
All African Americans, slave or free, were not citizens of U.S., thus Scott had no right to sue in court
Because he returned to Missouri, he was still a slave
Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional , because since slaves were considered property, Congress could not prohibit someone from taking someone’s property into federal territory (Congress had no right to ban slavery in federal territory)

9. Dred Scott Decision Southern Perspective Northern Perspective
Loved the supreme court decision because it ruled in their favor
Northern Perspective
Stunned many northerners
Republican party was also upset because their platform was based on banning slavery in territory

10. Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Lincoln Douglas Debates: 1858 – Lincoln and Douglas debate for a seat in the U.S. senate to represent Illinois.
Lincoln – Republican candidate
Douglas – Democratic candidate

11. Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Lincoln’s Views in the Debate
He said Democrats were trying to spread slavery west
Explained African Americans were entitled to the natural rights in the declaration of independence
Douglas’s Views in the Debate
Criticized Lincoln for saying the nation could remain half slave and half free
Fear that Republicans would make every state a free state
Freeport Doctrine: police would enforce the voter’ decision if it contradicted with the Supreme Courts’ decision
Outcome of te debates:
Douglas won the Senate seat with his explanations of the Freeport Doctrine
However, because of the debates, Lincoln became a strong Republican leader to the party