Causes of the Civil War

New Political Divisions Republican Party –Formed in 1854 –Formed by Whigs, Democrats, Free- Soilers, & abolitionists –Opposed extension of slavery in the West

Dred Scott Decision Dred Scott decision— 1857 Supreme Court ruling in the case of Dred Scott v. Sanford that denied African Americans rights as citizens Dred Scott

Dred Scott Decision Facts: –Dred Scott was owned by Dr. John Emerson, an army surgeon –1830s: Emerson posted in Illinois and northern part of Louisiana Purchase –1846: Scott sues for freedom claiming residence in free territory made him a free man

Dred Scott Decision –Case reaches Supreme Court in 1856 –Majority of justices from south

Dred Scott Decision Questions before the Court: –Does Scott have a right to a suit? –Does residence in free territory make Scott free? –Is the ban on slavery in parts of the Louisiana Purchase constitutional?

Dred Scott Decision –Does Scott have a right to a suit? NO—African Americans are not citizens and therefore do not have a right to file suit in federal court

“When the Constitution was adopted, they were not regarded in any of the States as members of the community which constituted the State, and were nut numbered among its "people or citizen." Consequently, the special rights and immunities guarantied to citizens do not apply to them. And not being "citizens" within the meaning of the Constitution, they are not entitled to sue in that character in a court of the United States, and the Circuit Court has not jurisdiction in such a suit. “ — Chief Justice Roger Taney, U. S. Supreme Court

“They [African Americans] had for more than a century before been regarded as beings of an inferior order, and altogether unfit to associate with the white race, either in social or political relations; and so far inferior, that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect; and that the negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit.” — Chief Justice Roger Taney, U. S. Supreme Court

Dred Scott Decision –Does residence in free territory make Scott free? NO—slaves are property –5 th Amendment: “No person shall be… deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.”

Dred Scott Decision –Is the ban on slavery in parts of the Missouri Compromise constitutional? NO—slaves are property and therefore Congress had no right to ban slavery in any federal territory

“The rights of property are united with the rights of person, and placed on the same ground by the fifth amendment to the Constitution, which provides that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, and property, without due process of law. And an act of Congress which deprives a citizen of the United States of his liberty or property, merely because he came himself or brought his property into a particular Territory of the United States, and who had committed no offence against the laws, could hardly be dignified with the name of due process of law. “ — Chief Justice Roger Taney, U. S. Supreme Court

Unconstitutional

Dred Scott Decision Reaction: –Southerners cheered –Northerners angry- fear slavery will spread

“We shall lie down pleasantly dreaming that the people of Missouri are on the verge of making their state free; and awake to the realty, instead, that the Supreme Court has made Illinois a slave state.” —Abraham Lincoln, 1858

Lincoln-Douglas Debates Abraham Lincoln –Longtime Whig who wanted to prevent the spread of slavery –Nominated by Republicans to run for Senator from Illinois in 1858 Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln-Douglas Debates Stephen Douglas –Democrat who represented Illinois since 1847 –Well known for Kansas-Nebraska Act Stephen Douglas

Lincoln-Douglas Debates Lincoln stated he believed slavery to be wrong in the Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Lincoln-Douglas Debates Stephen Douglas said that only citizens of a state or territory should decide the status of slavery in that state or territory- Freeport Doctrine

Lincoln-Douglas Debates Douglas won Senate seat Lincoln propelled to national spotlight

Raid on Harper’s Ferry John Brown Extreme abolitionist who is angered by Dred Scott decision John Brown (1856)

Raid on Harper’s Ferry Plans to seize weapons in federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, VA in order to arm the slaves so they can fight for their freedom John Brown (1859)

Raid on Harper’s Ferry Oct. 16, 1859: raid begins –Brown and his men captured weapons –Brown sent men into countryside to get slaves but none came

Raid on Harper’s Ferry –White southerners attack Brown –Brown retreats to a firehouse Oct. 17 th : Robert E. Lee ordered Marines to storm firehouse- Brown is captured “John Brown’s Fort”

Raid on Harper’s Ferry Brown is charged & convicted of treason, murder, and conspiracy to stir rebellion –Sentenced to death Hanging of John Brown Appearing in Frank Leslie's Weekly Illustrated Paper on December 17, 1859

“I believe that to have interfered as I have done…in behalf of His despised poor, was not wrong, but right. Now if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and mingle my blood further with the blood of my children and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments. -- I submit; so let it be done!“ "Old Brown has just been executed. We cannot object even though he agreed with us in thinking slavery wrong. That cannot excuse violence, bloodshed, and treason."

Raid on Harper’s Ferry Reaction: –Abolitionists saluted him as he died. –Southerners were outraged and feared another “John Brown” might emerge.