Slavery Dominates Politics EQ: What effect did the issue of slavery and the election of Lincoln in 1860 have on our Nation?

Creation of the Republican Party Grew out of the problems caused by Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 Whig Party split Southern Whigs -supported slavery Northerners opposed slavery Southern Whigs - Few joined Democratic Party Northern Whigs and other opponents of slavery joined to create the Republican Party

FYI:Election of 1856 James Buchanan Wins! Republicans nominate John C. Fremont National Hero in explorations West Nickname “Pathfinder” Against slavery Democrats nominate James Buchanan Minister to Great Britain Claimed his goal was to maintain the Union Gained support from North and South Know-Nothing Party nominated Millard Fillmore President after Taylor’s death James Buchanan Wins!

List The Presidents George Washington John Adams Thomas Jefferson James Madison James Monroe John Quincy Adams Andrew Jackson Martin Van Buren William Henry Harrison (Died) 10. John Tyler 11. James Polk 12. Zachary Taylor (Died) 13. Millard Fillmore 14. Franklin Pierce 15. James Buchanan

Dred Scott Slave from Missouri who sued for his freedom after his master’s death His master had taken him to territory where slavery was illegal Claimed free territory = free man! Dred Scott V. Sanford reached the Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger B. Taney ruled against Scott Ruled that Scott was not a U.S. citizen and could not sue in U.S. Courts, Taney also ruled that Congress could not ban slavery in the territories, this violated property rights protected by 5th amendment.

Lincoln Douglas Debate Debate for the U.S. Senate Seat of Illinois Between Abraham Lincoln (Republican) and Stephen Douglas (Democrat) They addressed the nation’s most pressing issue: SLAVERY Lincoln called slavery “a moral, social, and a political wrong” Did not want to abolish slavery, but did not want it to expand Douglas believed in popular sovereignty – right for people in region to vote on a decision.

House Divided Speech Lincoln communicated his belief that the nation could not be half “slave” and half “free”. He stated, “A house divided against itself cannot stand…It will (must) become all one thing , or all the other.” Douglas won reelection, but Lincoln strengthen his standing in the Republican Party.

John Brown Attacks Harpers Ferry October 16, 1859 John Brown with 18 others capture weapons in the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry Kill 4 people Wanted to inspire slaves to fight for their freedom, but none join him U.S. Marines capture him and some of his men Brown was tried for murder and treason He was convicted and sentenced to hang

Election of 1860 Turned into 2 races for presidency North: Lincoln (Republican) and Douglas (Northern Democrats) South: Breckinridge (Southern Democrats) and Bell ( Constitutional Union Party)

Results of the Election of 1860 Lincoln wins Douglas in North and Breckinridge carried most of the South Because the North had more people than South… Lincoln WINS the Election!

Southern States Secede Southerners saw the Republican victory as threat to Southern way of life despite Lincoln’s statements that he would not abolish slavery. Southern States claimed States’ Rights They claimed they had entered the Union voluntarily and therefore also had the right to secede or leave the Union John C. Calhoun claimed states could make federal laws unconstitutional December 20, 1860 South Carolina became the 1st state to secede.

Confederate States of America Other states followed South Carolina in secession: Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas February 1861 seceded states met in Montgomery to form the Confederate States of America. The convention Named Jefferson Davis as President of the Confederacy and drafted a constitution.

Union Responds to Secession James Buchanan believed states had no right to withdraw from Union. THEN: At inauguration, Lincoln assured the South that he had no intention of abolishing slavery. He also spoke against secession He ended with a appeal to friendship, refusing to invade the South.