The System Fails Ch. 10-4 P. 363-368

Essential Questions Why did violence erupt in Kansas in the mid 1850’s? How did slavery affect national politics in this period? What problems did the Lecompton constitution cause? What important issues were discussed in the Lincoln- Douglas debates? How did John Brown’s raid increase tensions between the north and south?

Kansas Following passage of the Kansas- Nebraska Act, Americans from both sides of the slavery debate moved to Kansas to win the territory for their side. From the slave state of Missouri, pro- slavery gangs moved across the border to harass northerners who had come to Kansas. Arriving northerners formed gangs to fight against the southerners.

Kansas The violence in Kansas escalated quickly. Southerners ambushed and killed northern settlers. In response, northerners led by John Brown of Connecticut attacked and killed the southerners while they slept in their homes. Southerners, in return, burned the anti-slavery town of Lawrence. Hundreds were killed on both sides.

National Politics This issue further divided the country. In Washington, Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner was attacked by South Carolina Rep. Preston Brooks. Sumner had given a speech denouncing the Kansas-Nebraska Act, slavery, the south, and South Carolina. Brooks beat Sumner with a cane on the Senate floor until his cane broke and Sumner was unconscious. Southerners sent him new canes, with the instructions, “hit him again!”

National Politics In 1857, the Supreme Court ruled in a case that would be one of its most controversial cases ever. Dred Scott, a slave, was suing his former master’s widow for his freedom. His master, a surgeon in the US army, had taken him to Illinois and Wisconsin. He had married and had a son while he was there. He has even been rented out to another family in Wisconsin while his master moved back to Missouri.

National Politics He tried to buy his freedom but was denied, so he sued. Missouri’s court took his side, but it was appealed to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court said that: 1. Slaves, former slaves, and the descendants of slaves have NO CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. 2. The Missouri Compromise was UNCONSTITUTIONAL, and all territories were open to slavery.

Lecompton Constitution Meanwhile in Kansas, pro-slavery citizens (in the city of Lecompton) wrote a state constitution without the input of most of the state. It was approved by President Buchanan, who hoped that it would end the debate. Even Democrats spoke out against what was considered a serious violation of popular sovereignty. Congress sent the Lecompton Constitution back to the state for a vote, were it was defeated. Kansas remained a territory, open to slavery under Dred Scott v. Sandford.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates Illinois Democrat Stephen Douglas was up for reelection in 1858. He was challenged by a relatively unknown Republican named Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln publicly challenged Douglas to a series of debates – he had to say yes. Douglas favored popular sovereignty, majority rule, and local government. Lincoln was against the idea that a majority should be able to deny rights to a minority group. However, he did not think whites and blacks were equal.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates The national newspapers closely reported the debates. Douglas was one of the most important men in politics at the time. Also, he was short and stout, while Lincoln was tall and skinny; it was entertaining to report on the debates. In addition, the relatively unknown Lincoln did a fantastic job debating Douglas, who was considered one of the country’s best speakers. Although Lincoln lost, the debates propelled him to the national spotlight.

John Brown After killing southerners at Kansas, John Brown realized that he was carrying out a mission from God. He rallied a dozen or so supporters for an attack on the south. Abolitionists from New England and Canada sent him money and supplies. He planned to break into the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, VA, and steal the thousands of rifles. Then, he would distribute them to slaves on Virginia’s plantations. The slave army would move through the south, liberating slaves and growing their army, until the south recognized their freedom.

John Brown Brown and his allies ran into trouble when the townspeople learned of the attack and surrounded the armory. They barricaded themselves inside and fought with the local militia. By daybreak, US Marines led by Virginia’s Robert E. Lee had arrived. The Marines stormed the fort and arrested Brown.

John Brown John Brown was tried as a traitor. He never freed any slaves. However, an armed slave uprising was the south’s worst fear, and they began expelling northerners who had settled there. Northerners hailed John Brown as a hero and a martyr when he was sentenced to death by hanging. Brown admitted everything he was charged with, saying that he would gladly do it again, because slavery was evil.