Political Divisions Chapter 15, Section 3

Political Divions Political Parties Undergo Change Dred Scott Decision Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Political Parties Undergo Change 1854: Creation of Republican Party Whigs, (some) Democrats, Free Soilers, and abolitionists joined together Party based on stopping the spread of slavery Republicans were seen as a 1 issue party (abolishing slavery) Had very few supporters and most in the North

Political Parties Undergo Change Election of 1856 Democratic candidate: James Buchannan Republican candidate: John C. Fremont American Party (know nothing party) candidate: Millard Fillmore Buchanan won, by winning 14 out of the 15 slave states

Dred Scott Decision Dred Scott sues for his freedom Dred Scott was a slave of an army surgeon (John Emerson) Emerson had taken Scott with him to Illinois and Wisconsin (free territory) on tours of duty When Emerson died, Scott sued for his freedom since he had lived in a free state

Dred Scott Decision Dred Scott sues for his freedom Lower court ruled in his favor Missouri state court over turned the decision Scott’s case was appealed to the supreme court in 1857 (11 years later)

Dred Scott Decision Supreme Court Ruling Chief Justice: Roger B. Taney (slaveholding man from Maryland) Ruling: All African Americans, slave or free, were not citizens of U.S., thus Scott had no right to sue in court Because he returned to Missouri, he was still a slave Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional , because since slaves were considered property, Congress could not prohibit someone from taking someone’s property into federal territory (Congress had no right to ban slavery in federal territory)

Dred Scott Decision Southern Perspective Northern Perspective Loved the supreme court decision because it ruled in their favor Northern Perspective Stunned many northerners Republican party was also upset because their platform was based on banning slavery in territory

Lincoln-Douglas Debates Lincoln Douglas Debates: 1858 – Lincoln and Douglas debate for a seat in the U.S. senate to represent Illinois. Lincoln – Republican candidate Douglas – Democratic candidate

Lincoln-Douglas Debates Lincoln’s Views in the Debate He said Democrats were trying to spread slavery west Explained African Americans were entitled to the natural rights in the declaration of independence Douglas’s Views in the Debate Criticized Lincoln for saying the nation could remain half slave and half free Fear that Republicans would make every state a free state Freeport Doctrine: police would enforce the voter’ decision if it contradicted with the Supreme Courts’ decision Outcome of te debates: Douglas won the Senate seat with his explanations of the Freeport Doctrine However, because of the debates, Lincoln became a strong Republican leader to the party