1. “A house divided against itself cannot stand
“A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free…It will become all of one thing, or all the other.”
The Crisis Deepens

2. Political Changes
The Whig Party dies because they supported the Compromise of 1850
The Know-Nothings/American Party formed under the platform of anti-immigrants (nativists)
Republican Party: opposed slavery
Democrats: support popular sovereignty

3. The Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Were battling for a seat in the Senate, had opposing views on slavery
Lincoln: opposed slavery but took the middle road…don’t let it expand
Douglas: supported popular sovereignty
Douglas wins the debate but Lincoln wins lots of followers and a reputation

4. More Sectionalism The Election of 1856:
Republicans oppose popular sovereignty with Fremont, abolitionist
Democrats promise to not talk about the issue under Buchanan
The Dred Scott Decision: Scott had been taken to a free state and sued for his freedom, the Supreme Court ruled against him saying that because slaves were not citizens (property) they could not even sue
Also ruled that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the US territories

5. Freeport Doctrine
Lincoln cornered Douglas by asking him if a state could legally exclude slavery before entering statehood
If he said yes then he supported popular sovereignty
If he said no then he opposed popular sovereignty
*Lesser of the two evils!?
In the end Douglas said that he supported the Dred Scott Decision and that states could keep slavery out by refusing to pass laws needed to regulate it
Lost Northern Support!!
More candidates “throws their hat in” for presidency. Divides the southern (pro slavery) candidates too thin. Lincoln is a shoe-in!

6. John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry
Brown believed he was an angel of God, avenging the evils of slavery
Brown and his followers set out to seize the arsenal at Harper’s Ferry
Wanted to use violence to end slavery
Brown had little support from abolitionists
Was cornered, captured and executed
- What happens to Due Process?

7. “I’m doing them a favor!”
“I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think vainly, flattered myself that without very much bloodshed it might be done.” -John Brown, 1859 handed to the jailer on his way to execution
His thinking….
“I’m doing them a favor!”

8. The Election of 1860 Big Issue: slavery was an issue of states rights
Significance: pitted North against South
Republicans nominate Lincoln, keep slavery contained where it is but don’t let it expand
Lincoln wins but carried no Southern States…South is not happy
Causes Southern states to secede

10. Secession After Lincoln’s election, South Carolina seceded the Union
If a president can be elected without their support what does that mean for slavery?
Six other states followed
Felt that Lincoln threatened slavery
The 7 states form the Confederate States of America
Wrote a Constitution that gave all the power to the states and protected slavery
Elect Jefferson Davis as President

12. Lincoln Takes Office
Said he would not interfere with slavery where it already existed
Did not recognize the new Confederacy
Lincoln wanted to maintain control of Fort Sumter (guards the entrance to Charleston- major port of trade)
South Carolina was watching the Fort
Lincoln let them know he was sending food not troops to the Fort but SC is suspicious and attacked Fort Sumter (1st battle of Civil War)