1. Fugitive Slave Act (part of compromise of 1850)
A law stating
A person arrested as a runaway slave had no legal rights
A person helping a slave to escape or refusing to help slave catchers could be jailed

2. Fugitive Slave Act (part of compromise of 1850)
North’s View
South’s View
Outraged
Free African Americans could be forced into slavery
Most wanted to stay out of the slave fight (this forced them to get involved)
Many joined abolition movement (horrified by what they witnessed)
Most refused to support Act
Didn’t do enough to protect property

3. Uncle Tom’s Cabin 1852 Novel By Harriet Beecher Stowe
About a saintly slave and cruelty of slavery
Made the realities of slavery visible to the north (fear of sale, separations of families, harsh treatment)

4. Uncle Tom’s Cabin North’s View South’s View Eye opener
Millions more join the abolition movement
Lincoln later credits Stowe with starting the War
Felt like they were under attack
Didn't believe it was a fair portrayal of their society
“Most treat slaves as family”

5. Kansas-Nebraska Act
1854
Act that opened Kansas and Nebraska territories for settlement
Settlers would decide the slave issue (popular sovereignty)
Abolished the Missouri Compromise (36 30 line)
Stephen Douglas (Illinois)- pushed this bill through because he wanted to build a railroad to California

6. Kansas Nebraska Act North’s View South’s View Angry-
Allowed slavery to spread to the Great Plains
Undid the Missouri Compromise
Supported-
allowed for popular sovereignty
Supported states rights

7. Lawrence, Kansas Pottawatomie, Kansas
Settlers pour into Kansas ( )
some peaceful farmers looking for farm land
Pro-slave settlers (from south) funded by towns back home
Anti-slave settlers (from North) funded by abolition groups in the north
2 competing governments form in Kansas- one pro-slave one anti-slave
May 21, “border ruffians” from Missouri invade Lawrence, Kansas (home of anti-slave government) – burn and loot the town
May23, Abolitionist including John Brown invade pro-slave Pottawatomie, Kansas and kill 5 men suspected of pro-slave activities.

8. Lawrence, Kansas Pottawatomie, Kansas
North’s View
South’s View
Outraged by Lawrence
Raise money to replace damaged items
More “free-soilers” prepare to move to Kansas
Pro-slave bullies
Outraged by Pottawatomie
Shocked by bloodshed

9. Beating of Senator Sumner
1856
Senator Sumner delivers a passionate speech about what happened in Kansas
Calls out Douglas (Ill) and Butler (SC)
Copies of the speech circulate around the north
2 days later Preston Brooks (Butler’s nephew) attacks Sumner on the Senate floor with a cane
Beats him until he is bloody and unconscious

10. Beating of Senator Sumner
North’s View
South’s View
Viewed as an example of southern brutality
Brooks was a pro-slave bully
Some call for war
Many applaud Brooks for defending his families honor
Supported send Brooks new canes to replace the one he broke

11. Dred Scott 1857 Slave sued for freedom
Lived in Wisconsin (free state) with his owner
Returned to Missouri (slave state)
Argued that living n free state made him free

12. Questions for the court
Was Scott a citizen? Did he have the right to bring a case before the federal court?
Did moving to Wisconsin make Scott a free man?
Scott believed he should be free because of Missouri Compromise
Did Congress have the power to make any laws about slavery in the territories? Was the Missouri Compromise a constitutional use of power?

13. The Supreme Court Response
March 6, 1857
Scott could not sue for his freedom in federal court
He was not a citizen
He could not become a citizen (African Americans are not and could not become citizens)
Staying in Wisconsin did not make Scott free
Missouri Compromise was Unconstitutional
Violated the 5th Amendment (property can not be taken from people without due process)
Slaves are property and protected by the constitution
Congress should work to protect property right (slavery) not outlaw it in the territories.