1. Slavery Dominates Politics (15.2)
These events led to the
Civil War.

2. Political Parties

3. New Political Party
Kansas- Nebraska Act allowed citizens of each state to decide whether they would be a slave state or not.
Whig Party began to be torn apart- it was created in 1834 in opposition to Andrew Jackson but was split on ideas of slavery.
Southern Whig members joined the Democratic Party- very different from today’s party
Other’s joined the brand new Republican Party- very different from today’s party
anti-slavery
sectional (protected the North)
moral argument against slavery

4. New Political Party
1856 Election
John C Fremont- Republican- known for Western exploration. Wanted California and Kansas to be free.
James Buchanan- Democrat- little to say about slavery, wanted to maintain the union.
Millard Fillmore- American Party (nicknamed Know-Nothing Party)- anti- immigrant party that was divided over slavery.

5. New Political Party
1856 Election
Proved to be two separate races
North- Buchanan v. Fremont
South- Buchanan V. Fillmore
Buchanan won the Presidency

6. Dred Scott Decision 1857
Dred Scott was a slave who had lived in free states and sued for his freedom when his owner died
The Supreme Court – lead by Justice Roger B. Taney- said Dred Scott could not sue for his freedom because as an African he was not a citizen of the U.S.
This increased the abolitionist’s efforts to fight against slavery

7. Dred Scott Video

8. Lincoln-Douglas Debate
After the Dred Scott Decision, The Republicans charged that the Democrats wanted to legalize slavery in all states, which was untrue.
Stephen A. Douglas, who sponsored the Kansas- Nebraska Act, was a main target in 1858.
The Republican nominee to challenge Douglas’s seat was Abraham Lincoln.
From the beginning, Lincoln challenged Douglas’s thoughts that slavery expand everywhere.
In 1858, the two men held debates across Illinois in front of large crowds. This was the first debate system that is still modeled today.

9. John Brown and Harper’s Ferry 1859
John Brown, who had murdered several proslavery settlers in Kansas, added to the slavery controversy
Oct. 16, 1859, Brown led 13 whites and 5 African-Americans into an arsenal at Harper’s Ferry
He hoped local slaves would revolt and join them at the arsenal
No slaves joined their fight so the group was captured
Brown was tried for murder, treason and attempting to organize a slave revolt
He was hanged
Note: Northerners were very unhappy with the fate of Dred Scott and John Brown.

10. John Brown video