Slavery Dominates Politics (Beginning of the Civil War Notes Part 1)

Slavery Dominated Politics Dred Scott v. Sanford Dred Scott was a slave F.A. Sanford was his owner Sanford took Scott to a free territory and then back to Missouri Scott sued Sanford for his freedom saying that he was taken to a free state, which made him free Supreme court ruled in favor of Sanford saying that African Americans were “a subordinate and inferior class of beings,” and, “[Africans had] no rights which the white man was bound to respect” Africans Americans were not citizens and therefore could not sue

Lincoln-Douglas Debates Lincoln challenged Douglas to 7 debates in Illinois Douglas accepted the Challenge Both skirted the line of the slavery issue

Lincoln-Douglas Debates Stephen Douglas Nickname: Little Giant Height: 4’6” Went to College in New York and became a Lawyer Demeanor: Short stocky man who spoke with enthusiasm Slavery Stance: Popular Sovereignty Popular Sovereignty would allow slavery to go away on its own Abraham Lincoln Nickname: Honest Abe Height: 6’4” Self-educated Demeanor: tall and gangly man who spoke and dressed plainly Slavery Stance: “The Union can not survive half slave and half free” Slavery was immoral Alton, Illinois

Passions Erupt Panic of 1857 1858 the year of talk 1859 the year of action Harpers Ferry John Brown and 18 men tried to seize the federal arsenal in the town of Harpers Ferry, Virginia, and this distribute those weapons to the slaves in Virginia and start a slave revolt Colonel Robert E. Lee stopped the rebellion, captured John Brown, and killed 10 of his men in the battle 2 months later John Brown hanged for treason What other event did John Brown lead?

Election of 1860 – 4 Canindates Democratic Party Split between the Northern Democrats and the Southern Democrats Northern: Stephen a Douglas – Popular Sovereignty Southern: John C. Brekinridge – upheld slavery Republican Party Abraham Lincoln – all territories be free Constitutional Union Party John Bell – constitution reform platform

Lincoln becomes President Lincoln did not win a single southern or border state Because the Democrats split, Lincoln was able to receive all the republican votes and win

Southern Secession Since an abolitionist won, the south felt like it has lost its power to influence politics What is an abolitionist? On December 1860, South Carolina was the first state to withdraw from the Union and other southern states follow Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas

Confederate States of America Confederate Constitution stressed that each state was “sovereign and independent” Elected Jefferson Davis as President of the Confederacy

Calm Before the Storm President Buchanan said it was illegal for the south to secede and it was illegal for him to do anything about it. President’s cabinet resigned Government officials in Washington DC resigned Union appeared to be dissolving Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as President in March of 1861 and reunified the North