Slavery and Secession Chapter 10.4

Dred Scott Decision 1/2 1856 Dred Scott a slave from Missouri. Owner took him north of the Missouri Line, came back and owner died. Scott sued stating he lived in a free state for several years which made him free.

Dred Scott Decision 2/2 Chief Justice Roger B Taney stated Scott did not have rights because he was a slave and because his suit began when he was living in a slave state. Taney also ruled the Missouri Compromise line unconstitutional which is secured by the 5th amendment the right to own property. This allowed slavery to spread, abolitionists turned to the Republican Party.

Lecompton Constitution Fall 1857 the prospected government at Lecompton applied for admission in the Union. Free Soilers (outnumbered pro slavery 10 to 1) shot down the constitution because it protected the rights of slaveholders. Buchannan made a decision to support the pro slavery constitution because of his southern support and the low numbers of slaves (200). Douglas wanted popular sovereignty and had congress overrule the constitution.

LINCOLN- DOUGLAS DEBATES The debate was for the senate with Democratic incumbent second term Douglas and Republican challenger Lincoln. Lincoln successful lawyer and politician, previously in Congress for one term as a Whig and broke with the party after the Kansas-Nebraska Act and became Republican two years later.

LINCOLN CHALLENGES DOUGLAS Seven open-air debates held throughout Illinois, Douglas self confident pacing with fist pumping gestures, Lincoln calm and simple.

POSITIONS AND ARGUMENTS Douglas- popular sovereignty would eventually stop slavery. Lincoln- slavery immoral, based on greed, only legislation would stop slavery.

FREEPORT DOCTRINE Abe asks: "Could the settlers of a territory vote to exclude slavery before the territory became a state?" “Of course not as ruled in Dred Scott”. Douglas’ response which becomes known as the Freeport Doctrine, the government running the territory would hire police officials who would support the party’s agenda. Douglas won the seat.

PASSIONS IGNITE Harpers Ferry 1/2 John Brown reemerges with 21 men both black and white, they storm Harpers Ferry Virginia Present day: West Virginia

PASSIONS IGNITE Harpers Ferry 2/2 They seize a federal arsenal and form a slave uprising. After holding 60 at gunpoint, a total of 10 of Browns’ men were killed and Brown was taken into custody after the US Marines led by Robert E Lee stormed the engine house

JOHN BROWNS HANGING December 2, 1859 Brown was hanged with mixed emotion. Lincoln and Douglas condemned him while others had admiration for him. The North denounced the South and the South were in fear of more uprisings.

LINCOLN IS ELECTED PRESIDENT The Republican Convention of 1860 in Chicago The convention filled up within minutes with a 4,500 person delegate floor. Seating in the galleries was reserved for gentlemen with ladies.

SEWARD AND LINCOLN Senator William Seward was a great candidate on paper. Before the voting began Seward had already written his Senate resignation speech. Lincoln appealed to both because he did not want slavery to extend but appealed to the south because he did not want to end it where it existed. Though some stood behind him, the south basically disliked him.

ELECTION OF 1860 1/2 Four candidates’ total. Northern Democrats- Stephen Douglas Southern Democrats- John C Breckinridge Constitution Party- John Bell Republican Party- Abraham Lincoln

ELECTION OF 1860 2/2 Lincoln becomes winner but like Buchannan receives half the populations vote and no votes from the south having sectional support not even appearing on the ballot for most slave states.

SOUTHERN SECESSION Lincoln’s win pushes South Carolina to secede from the Union on December 20, 1860. On January 9, 1861 Mississippi followed Florida seceded the next day Within a few weeks Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas also seceded.

THE SHAPING OF THE CONFEDERACY 1/2 February 4, 1861 delegates from the seceded states met in Montgomery Alabama where they formed the Confederacy. Its constitution was similar to the Union except securing the rights of slavery, also expecting each state to individually govern.

THE SHAPING OF THE CONFEDERACY 2/2 Jefferson Davis would become president of the Confederacy and Alexander Stephens vice president. Davis stated "the time to compromise has passed".

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM Seven states seceded with eight slave states remaining, would they secede too? Buchanan made secession illegal but doing anything about it would also be deemed illegal. Washington DC was a southern city, mass resignations took place from southern officials.

The “gander pull” was a popular Southern pastime The “gander pull” was a popular Southern pastime. An old tough male goose (gander) was strung up and its neck slathered with grease. Male contestants, fortified with whisky, would ride under the goose, reach for its neck, and attempt to pull the head off. The ladies would cheer for their “knights,” and hope their man would be the one to present the head to them as a trophy.