The Crisis DeepensChapter 8

Section 2

Birth of the Republican Party

Kansas-Nebraska Act finally split the Whig Party All Proslavery Southern Whigs voted for bill

All Antislavery Northern Whigs voted against it

Former Whigs, Free-Soilers, & antislavery Democrats join forces Possible names?

Fusion Party, People’s Party, Anti-Nebraska Party

Settled on “Republican Party”

Republicans Organize

Officially formed in Michigan in 1854 Chose Jefferson’s original party name

Feared Southern planters were becoming an aristocracy that controlled the gov’t

Absorbed most Northern Know-Nothings after the party split Nativist, Anti-Catholic views

Slavery should NOT be abolished in South…

…Just kept out of the territories Won many Congressional seats in 1854 Elections

The Election of 1856

Republicans John C. Fremont Western Explorer w/ little political experience

In favor of making Kansas a free state

Democrats James Buchanan Served in Congress for 20 years

Did not take a side in the Kansas-Nebraska debate

Thought making concessions to the South would save Union

American Party Millard Fillmore Former President

Hoped to attract former Whigs’ votes

Buchanan had solid support of the South Needed Pennsylvania (home state) and 1 other to win

Democrats say If Fremont (Rep) wins, the South will secede.

Buchanan Wins Inaugural Address Supreme Court should decide issue of slavery in the

territories

The Dred Scott Case

Dred Scott = slave Taken into free territory to live for 10 years then returned to Missouri

Sued slaveholder’s family for freedom

Claimed his time in free territory made him a free man

Case made it to Supreme Court

US Supreme Court, 1857 Majority = Southerners

Southern Congressmen pressured SC to rule in favor of slavery in the territories

The Dred Scott Decision

March 6, 1857 Chief Justice Roger B. Taney 7-2 decision against Scott

African-Americans were not citizens.

African-Americans could not sue in the courts

Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in the territories The Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional

The Dred Scott Reaction

Intensified conflict between North & South

Democrats cheered Southerners demanded the North obey the decision

Republicans decision was not binding Obiter dictum opinion not called for by circumstances of case

African-Americans if this is the land of the free, how can the gov’t say people can’t be citizens Many migrate to Canada

Kansas’ Constitution

Buchanan wanted Kansas to apply for statehood

Proslavery Legislature wanted to hold constitutional convention Antislavery Kansans boycotted

Proslavery legislature draws up the Lecompton constitution Legalized slavery in territory

Lecompton Constitution Debate

Each side held referendum (popular vote) Proslavery (Yayayayayayayayayayay!)

Antislavery

Buchanan accepted only the proslavery vote Senate votes to accept constitution

House of Reps. not so fast guys

Fist fights broke out on Congress floor

Stephen Douglas refused to support South

Lost favor w/ many Southern delegates

Kansas would not become a state until 1861

1858 Illinois Senate Race

Republicans nominate Abraham Lincoln

Stephen Douglas for Democrats

To overcome Douglas’ fame & to attract a larger audience, Lincoln challenges Douglas to a series of debates Douglas CONFIDENTLY accepted

Abraham Lincoln

Tall 6’4

Occupation Lawyer

Fun fact- Hid valuable papers in his stovepipe hat

Political career one term as member of House

Arguments Slavery is morally wrong (Eventually)

Opposed western expansion of slavery

Thought slavery would eventually die out on its own

Stephen A. Douglas

Occupation full-time Politician

Fun Fact- briefly dated Lincoln’s future wife, Mary Todd

Political career Senator for 12 years

Most popular Democrat in Congress

Hoped to be elected president in 1860

Arguments

Committed to principal of popular sovereignty

Defended Compromise of 1850

Endorsed Dred Scott decision

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

The two traveled to seven Illinois towns to debate critical issues (expansion of slavery, duh) Douglas “Lincoln & Republicans were abolitionists in disguise!”

Freeport, Illinois Lincoln traps Douglas w/ this question: “Could the people of a territory legally exclude slavery before achieving statehood?”

If Douglas says “Yes!” seems to oppose Dred Scott decision…loses Southern support

If Douglas says “No!” seems to abandon his principle of popular sovereignty

Freeport Doctrine

Douglas tried to avoid question…

…But ends up creating the Freeport Doctrine Accepted Dred Scott ruling (no ban on slavery in territories)

Citizens could still keep out slavery by refusing to pass laws needed to enforce it

“Slavery can’t exist w/o support of law enforcement”

Southerners were extremely angry

1858 Senate Election Results

Lincoln narrowly lost election to Douglas but…

Made Republican principles clear

Established national reputation for himself

Ideal debater w/ eloquence and force

Hurt Douglas’ chances in the presidential election of 1860

All Southern support vanquished after Freeport Doctrine

John Brown

1800 Born in New York

Fervent Abolitionist Thought he was sent by heaven to liberate slaves

Believed the only way to end slavery was thru bloodshed

Fought proslavery forces in Kansas Supposedly took part in the “hacking” of 5 proslavery men at Pottawatomie

Master Plan lead a slave rebellion using weapons from federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, VA

John Brown’s Raid

October 16, 1859

Brown and 18 followers seized the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, VA Intended to arm slaves from the surrounding area

No slaves ever joined the insurrection (rebellion)

US Marine force, led by Robert E. Lee, captured Brown and killed 10 of his men

Brown was found guilty of high treason and hanged on December 2, 1859 He never showed remorse for his actions

Reaction to John Brown’s Actions

Northerners regarded him as a hero & martyr Strengthened abolitionist feelings in North

Southerners believed this was proof that the North was plotting to murder slaveholders South = TERRIFIED OF SLAVE REVOLT

Southern delegates warned that war was being brought to their doorstep