DRED SCOTT – an African American who had been a slave and moved by his master to a state where slavery was illegal

DRED SCOTT CASE – Scott sued for his freedom, claiming that since he was held as a slave where it was illegal he should be free (1857)

Supreme Court ruled that Scott was not an American citizen because he was a slave and thus could not sue Northerners were outraged and Southerners were happy

ROGER B TANEY – Chief Justice that ruled in the Dred Scott case

ABRAHAM LINCOLN – Born poor in Ky. – had little formal education – became successful lawyer

LINCOLN DOUGLAS DEBATES – set the standard for modern day political debates Lincoln: Stop spread of slavery Douglas: slavery backward but not immoral

Douglas wins the election for the Illinois Senate (Freeport Doctrine) but Lincoln shows he has the potential to win an office in the future

HARPER’S FERRY – a United States weapons arsenal in Virginia

JOHN BROWN’S PLAN – Brown wanted to capture the arsenal and then help revolting slaves gain their freedom

JOHN BROWN’S ATTACK AT HARPER’S FERRY

John Brown’s plan does not work – no slaves revolt and join him Brown is arrested and charged with treason and murder – he is sentenced to hang kansas/videos#john-browns-raid

LAST MOMENTS OF JOHN BROWN kansas/videos#john-browns-last-speech

JOHN BROWN

The North feels Brown is a hero, the South is glad he is dead His death brings the slavery issue to the boiling point

Election of 1860 Democrats could not agree on how slavery would be explained in their PLATFORM

The northern and southern Democrats have two nominees Northern Democrats – Stephen Douglas Southern Democrats – John Breckinridge

Republicans – Abraham Lincoln Southern Democrats – John Breckinridge Northern Democrats – Stephen Douglas Constitutional Union – John Bell

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF

Lincoln wins many votes in the North and since the North has a larger population he wins the election

The South is afraid that Lincoln will now try to abolish slavery in the United States

SECEDE – to withdraw from the Union, split with the country South Carolina becomes the first to secede on December 20, 1860

In the next six weeks more states secede: Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas

These states form their own country – THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA

JEFFERSON DAVIS is elected president of the Confederate States of America

Northerners felt that secession was unconstitutional and the South did NOT have the right to leave X

Lincoln becomes the 16 th president in March of 1861

Lincoln tells the South he does not accept their secession

Civil War Begins Fort Sumter’s supplies cut off before Lincoln ever takes office Lincoln has to make a decision 1. Order troops to leave Fort Sumter 2. Fire on blockade -Be held responsible for starting war

Lincoln decides to send “supplies” in to the fort Forces Beauregard (Confederate General) to fire first shots A day after the bombardment ended, the Union Surrenders No one dies during the actual bombardment Fort Sumter